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Guys,

Another thing I am working on is a 25 mako cabin converstion to an center console. Basically cut the cabin off and am in the process of building new gunnels. CRAZY I know but for some reason I love it! below are a series of pics and the mold that I have built and layed up the new gunnels in.

Massive undertaking and some great progress

Started working on this project again. Need to post some photos. This is close to the end result I am after.

I bet yours will look a lot nicer than that !

Did some some vacuum bagging today. Made the forward bulkhead that will make the anchor locker. Mold was a flat piece of melamine. You can see spiral tubing for vacuum lines and the double sided tape that is used to secure/seal bag. The second photo is the peel ply coming off the part 4 hours later. Came out great.

Going to be really nice layout Daytrip. I wish you success. This is a very interesting project to do, i thought of doing this many times to my project.

Thanks GradyGuy. Definitely something to do only if you like projects! Would be way easier to buy one but I would want to toy with the layour anyway. I like making them lighter and doing everything I say I would have done if I built it.

what are your plans for fuel tanks?

Not sure Joel. You have suggestions? Any ideas on where the center of buoyancy might be? I know that is tough but isn't it usually at 1/3 the length?

What do you think Joel? I have a sickness I know Video of it running ==>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vjXXN5t9Hw

is that a bertram? I think it looks fantastic. Are you goading me into a bigger rebuild project ?

I would guess that is might sit a little high with all that weight removed. I saw a really sweet 25' that someone lightened up and put twin 115's on, looked awesome but the chines were completely dry. Im interested to learn more about it

Man that Moppie's got a great attitude

shine wrote:is that a bertram? I think it looks fantastic. Are you goading me into a bigger rebuild project ?

Mmmmhmmm...saw the Seacraft on craigslist....

It is a 28 bertram. I just bought a hard luck case 28. My neighbor is selling me his 250 yamahas with 350 hrs on them. Stoping the mako and starting this one. Want a 25 mako?

You cant go wrong with the motors Looking forward to seeing what you put together. Are you changing it to a CC?

I am still trying to figure it out Joel. I like the idea of a "fish around type" center console in some ways but the "moppie" look is also appealing. I really like the shade of the moppie layout better but the 180 degrees of fishing is a down side. Here are the two leading concepts. I have others that show a express layout that has a fiberglass dogger but it is not great looking in my opinion. What do you think?

It has enough beam to make the walk around pretty functional. I like this a lot more than the mako.

So you think the walk around? Your killing me. That is just more work....maybe. What do you think about bracket vs transome mounted?

I'd keep the bracket for sure. Nice boat, much better than the Mako.

is it currently an express?

What do you think about bracket vs transome mounted?

If it were mine...... i would plan to use it for family snorkeling/swimming and a bracket is just so nice for that.

are the motors 30" shafts? If they are 25" you might have to put them pretty far apart if they are on the transom. On a bracket they will be higher, so that might let you bring them closer together.

I vote #1 with the bracket.

The engines are 30" shafts. The hull is currently the flybridge cruiser. I don't want the bridge in order to make it easier to trailer and get in tight places. Plus I want to make it lighter.

You like the open fish?

The engines are 30" shafts

nice

The hull is currently the flybridge cruiser.

So starting from what you have now, its going to be a lot of work to make either the express or a CC .

make it easier to trailer and get in tight places.

Its going to be a pain to tow because of the beam. Isn't it going to live at a dock?

Plus I want to make it lighter.

That should not be difficult I would guess you could take a couple thousand pound out without much effort

Noles309 wrote:

shine wrote:is that a bertram? I think it looks fantastic. Are you goading me into a bigger rebuild project ?

Mmmmhmmm...saw the Seacraft on craigslist....

Seacraft is at a point where it can still fetch what i have in it, so that's the reason for listing.

Joel,

Here is a 26, same designer as 28, converted to open fish. They did a nice job on this one. First pic is running 50mph according to poster.

i like it. What size motors?

There is similar bertram 25 here in Vero, converted to CC, it has a 300 hpdi on a bracket, looks really nice. I think your 28 is a foot wider.

One thing that interests me is that its able to can carry a lot of weight if you want. A second set of props and you can load it way down for island trips

That's a great hull to start with. Always been one of my favorite boats. There is a guy in Vero who made a mold with an attached bracket. He has built one express from it. I'm looking for his web site. Depending on how you want to use it the fish around is sweet, like Joel said there is plenty of beam. Defently a bracket.

It would probably be the ticket. The 26 above has a pair of 200s on it.

here is a guy in Vero who made a mold with an attached bracket. He has built one express from it. I'm looking for his web site.

I have seen that boat out at the boat buoy and also at the local boat show, its beautiful ! Unfortunately he was the victim of the same ring of motor thieves as was I. They stole the boat out of his shop and later is was recovered, stripped

It was for sale on CL a couple months ago. I think the business was called treasure coast boat works, in Sebastian





I love the walkaround boat

with a second look, I can see the hull is not 100% the same above the chine. The might have started with a 28 bertram to make the plug, but the tumble home and bow are new.



either way, the layout and style is perfect and the bert 28 has the same beam so you could fit that wide console

That is nice. Was there a cabin or below deck storage?

yes, try a search for Ellig 28, there are some old listings of one that was for sale in Stuart

I like that!

might make a call and see if they have tooling for that console

they have a ton of pictures on their facebook page. Really nice work.

[quote="shine"]with a second look, I can see the hull is not 100% the same above the chine. The might have started with a 28 bertram to make the plug, but the tumble home and bow are

That's it. He also added a lifting pad to the bottom.

I actually would guess it was the 25s bottom based in the chine "pattern". The one thing I don't like and really don't see the value in with the fish around is continuing the sides of the console past the door and steering station. Makes it more confined ? I was thinking of stop the sides at the back face(door and steering station) then have a rocket launcher/seating station?

You think I should just core the transome with meranti or go to HDfoam?

I think I am going to do something like this. Extend stringers up to deck hieght. I am also going to extend them throught the tansome and make the braket/transome set back.

I think I am going to do something like this. Extend stringers up to deck height. I am also going to extend them through the tansome and make the braket/transome set back.

sounds like a good plan. I would bring them up the transom too, making "knees". Will you box the transom in and make compartments?

The one thing I don't like and really don't see the value in with the fish around is continuing the sides of the console past the door and steering station. Makes it more confined ?

I guess you were coming from wanting an express it wouldn't be a loss, enclosed from weather. If you were coming from the CC view, then I suppose there is no reason to have the "express-ness"

You think I should just core the transome with meranti or go to HDfoam?

money: big difference in favor of meranti. You would need at least 2 full sheets of very expensive foam
time: about the same
re-sale: foam wins out

For my own boat, i would use ply

I am with you on the Ply. And in reality I am not going to redo the wood stringers so eitherway there will be wood in the boat which is no issue for me with the epoxy. The ply is soooo much easier to work with. I am leaning towards transome, below deck bulkheads and stringer added hieght as plywood, decks and console as foam.

Do you have a shop space lined up ?

Right now it is in the alleyway behind my Mom's house. I will bring it up to my place and either put it on the lift or next to the house after the exterior is done.

I was just curious where you will do the work, its not going to fit in a garage