Need Rebuild/Repair Suggestions and Ideas

[BA17]

After fishing the yacht hard for several years now it looks like it is time for some winter love. Trying to figure out what to do and what to change. There are several things that I know I want to do and countless items on the wish list. My boat is a 23 SF CC.

We pulled the T-Top out of the floor while fishing this weekend in Biloxi and I guess I am going to have to take it out to repair the floor and re-mount the top. While its out I think I want a smaller top and maybe even the key west style top. Can the top be cut off and an new one attached to the frame or can a new top be built off of the exiting frame without it looking too ghetto?

I have two fuel tanks, one (40 gal) in the compartment in front of the console and a 96 gallon behind the console and under the leaning post. I want to move the 96 all the way up under the console to the front compartment. The issue is, the batteries are down in the compartment in the console and we use inside the console for storage. Can storage compartments be added into the floor of the boat anywhere? I know the stringers prevent installing the side compartments like on a 27' contender, but has anyone added storage in the floor? The problem we always have is too little storage space. I need some creative solutions. How much space is between the bottom of floor and the top of the stringer?

I would also like to try to drop some weight from the rear end. I have a double potter bracket. How much weight would I drop if I went to an aluminum bracket? Good or bad idea?

Next on the wish list is storage in the console under the wheel and throttles. Right now I just have a open hole with one shelf. I have a piece of Velcro on the shelf and use Velcro on the bottom of tackle boxes. Any ideas or pictures? Trying to figure out whether to close it in and put in drawers and/or more shelves.

Any other suggestions? Any pics? I welcome any and all suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Old'sCool]

IMHO; Keep the bracket. My 23' deck sits on the stringer tops. The rest takes creativity. I moved my batteries and oil tank under console, to the front allowing ~ 12" in front of them for storage. Behind them under console holds "containers" that are easily removed; plastic milk crates and one lg. plastic bread tray. I made my rearmost bilge access hatch 2' x 3' and made a Starboard holder for two buckets for nets, etc. I think the top frame could be modified. Good luck and post pics.

[dandub20]

I have a 20 and between the stringers it's 25" wide and 15" deep, my fuel tank goes from front of console to about where my lean post is. I was thinking about puting a hatch in front of console for storage. My buddy has a 23' and his t-top ripped off the floor. He replaced his fuel tank and floor and put a metal plate under floor where consoles and thru bolted it. His space under the floor was almost same as mine.