seriously, I do want the feedback -
for the stern, I'm thinking rebuild the interior like Trayder's, the seat boxes being rebuilt up to full height, tops flush to the transom, and matching the crowned transom typical of SeaCrafts.
I'm thinking raise the inner wall bottom of the outboard cutout up some, and then create either a slide in, or a hinged, full height splash well gate.
Included in this is to remove the baitwell from the port side seat box, and remove the battery from the starboard side seat box, and have those just be basic mechanicals space, and storage, with hatches on the front sides, again like Trayders, but I should be able to fit larger hatches, as I'm not raising the floor up like he did.
Next, I look at this boats tall seat pedestals, and see other boats with boxes under the seats, and short pedestals, so I'm looking at this view
and thinking of doing the same - boxes that start about at the front edge of the existing pedestal attach to floor point, and extend back about 36" - 42", and a little higher than the inner liner side wall. The existing stern seat box lids will be attached to the aft end of these boxes, for access.
One side can be a full size fishwell. The other side I'll partition, and have a dual battery setup under the seat lid - this will get me readily accessible dual batteries, moving them forward from the stern, without an excessive length of cable run. I'll probably move the main electrical distribution junction into that box, as well. The rest of the box can be additional storage space.
This will also get me two rear facing seats, right behind the existing seats.
Some things I wonder about
: which side should be the fishwell - I'm thinking port side, batteries in the starboard side.
Also, should I plumb the fishwell for fill and drain? I could go down thru the floor, out to the stern, and use the existing baitwell's drain port inlet hole - how complicated does that plumbing need to get? Or just do a simple drain out the side, like the original Seafari optional galley seat, that had the sink in a box under the flip up seat? It's easy enough to fill the box with a few 5 gal pails.
With that size box, say half full of water, and some fish, will that weight, mid boat above floor level, create funny handling ? I wouldn't think so, no worse than an additional person moving about the boat, but just want a sanity check...
In the stern reconfiguration - can anyone give some fabrication recommendations - I'll go with glass over ply wood, not any of the more expensive composites, but not really sure what thicknesses / layups I might want ??
all input welcome - Thanks !!
Bill