Adding a 'raised' wheelhouse?

[BrianW]

Gents,

Just doing a bit of daydreaming about adding a raised wheelhouse onto our boat. That would free up some extra space which I could use for another stateroom or dining area.

But, I know that stability issues are very important, and things like that can't be taken lightly. What I don't know, is how much lee-way is built into a boat like mine, so I thought I'd ask you guys.

To help, here are three pictures of the boat...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P9100010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P9150006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P6220084.jpg

...I'd like the wheelhouse to be the same size as the aluminum fly bridge. Big enough for all the controls and instruments and perhaps a daybunk.

Thought?

[mmd]

If you are considering adding a new, full-height, wheelhouse on top of the existing one, I'd nay no, for both stability and aesthetic reasons. Unless the boat is still (or will) be used for commercial fishing, I'd reccommend gaining extra living space by adding a half-height deckhouse aft of the present one and converting the fish hold into a main salon. The roof of this addition will provide a lovely area for the dinghy, water toys, sunning, etc., and the space below will be volumnuous. Match the detailing of the existing deckhouse and it'll look like it was always there.

Just my opinion, tho'...

[BrianW]

mmd,

Your opinion is one of the opinions I was hoping to see posted here. I seem to recall you have some expertise in this area.

I'm not sure what happened to the middle picture above, it got resized a bit too small. (The original pictures are way too big to submit here.)

The boat will continue to fish commercially, so we can't convert the holds. The galley seating area is a bit small, and the head entrance is located on the outside, so a 'remodel' job of the interior is a long term (very long) project idea. I see so many boats with the wheelhouse located on top of the cabin, so I thought perhaps I could do that to this boat too. I wans't looking to go 'full length', just the area which is already surrounded by aluminum on the fly bridge.

I don't really have a good picture of that area right now, but these may help...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P9150004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P9150003.jpg

As far as looks go, I guess I need to learn how to use a paint shop program and 'draw, in what I'd like, then see how it looks. Of course, if it's too much weight up top, I just won't even consider doing it anymore.

Another option for adding staterooms for charters (which I may do, they are popular around here) is to have another baitshed built, then finish the inside with a couple rooms and maybe another head. It's fairly easy to remove and install the shed...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P9100013.jpg

and swap them out as needed.

Thanks for your help!

[bottompaint]

I would have no idea. But, thats a pretty boat, mister.

[JimD]

Originally posted by bottompaint:
I would have no idea. But, thats a pretty boat, mister.My thoughts as well. Got any pics of her without a pier in the way?

[ChuckG]

two thoughts, at either end of the boat:
1. How much of a foclse is there? Anyway of expanding that to the point of having a couple bunks and a closet, maybe with a doghouse going down from the fordeck>?
2. the other is, how much space is there over the lazarette? How about a deck break, just aft of the boom, and lowering the deck a foot or more, and then making your modular bait shack/cheechako stateroom?

Or not. I like the idea of swappable after deck houses, I was just trying to get the heavier one (the stateroom) down into the boat a bit.

Or another idea: Charge the crew for the adventure of going long lining in Sitka Sound smile.gif
Dang if I wouldn't almost pay you for a trip or two (especially if I came home with a hundred pounds of halibut - or whatever)

-cg

[BrianW]

JimD,

Searching my photo collection, I really only have one good picture of her without a dock in the way...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/Sitka_112.jpg

...although this one shows the boat underway...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/P8310114.jpg

Thanks for the compliment! I just needed a fishing boat, it was fortunate that she has the classic looks.

[BrianW]

Chuck,

The foclse is actually very big and roomy. There are six bunks, but two are short and only good for kids or storage.

The talk about chartering is a bit off topic (my fault!) as I really just want more room in the galley/dining area. I thought that by moving the wheelhouse up, I could free up some more space. As I only have a six pak/25ton near coastal license, there's already enough space for folks to sleep. Funny you mention tourist paying to commercial fish, as the State is trying to loosen the regs a bit to promote such a thing.

All the input has been against doing such a modification, at least not without an expert help to figure out the safety issue. Maybe not what I had hoped to hear, but reality isn't always kind. smile.gif

Thanks to all for the input!

[Bob Cleek]

Well, if you modify the boat as you suggest, you are going to add significantly to her weight up high and that's going to make major changes in her stability. She'll roll a lot more, maybe too much. You have that to consider if you want to keep your USCG certification. If she doesn't pass stability tests, your cert goes bye-bye. Generally speaking, this is not a good idea. BTW, imagine trying to sleep up top in any kind of a sea. The movement up there would likely be pretty hairy. If I were you and wanted to use the flying bridge in funky weather, I'd consider a canvas awning and side curtains. You could probably get away with a lightweight rigid roof on stanchions, but that's about it. The guy who designed that boat figured all this out a long time ago and it's worked well. Besides, to any practiced eye, it'd be butt ugly!

[Paul H]

Brian,

I'll cast the descenting vote to say a flying bridge could be nicely fit. I do concur that you will need a naval engineer to evaluate your current roll stability vs adding weight up high. You'll also get increased windage.

You can build a light structure out of relatively thin marine ply, as well as foam cored with even thinner ply. So long as you don't add more then a few hundred pounds up there it seems plausable. I'd venture to say the aluminum wind damm up there must be fairly heavy itself.

[Mike B]

You would definitely want to extend the mounting pole for your radar. NOT moving it could result in some rearranged chromosomes for you and your crew. :D Not sure how much power that model radiates, but I would guess its around 2 KW?

Standing in front of any side of a radome is a bad idea..especially when it's on.

I'm sure you knew all that...but wanted to share just the same.

Mike

[BrianW]

Hello again Paul. The weight of the current aluminum structure up there was one of the things that led me to believe a 'bit more' might not hurt too much. But, wiser men have told me otherwise. smile.gif I can't even afford to look up a naval architech in the phone book (or even spell the word correctly smile.gif )

Mike B,

The radome I believe your referring to is for the satphone. Not sure why the previous owner mounted it right there? But it will stay for awhile. I'm not likely to be driving the boat from up top, and talking on the phone at he same time. But maybe I need to watch out if the phone rings! :eek: