Sailboat to Motorboat conversion update

[JimD]

So I'm converting our Glen-L Minuet sloop into a a motorboat with something approximating a wheelhouse. Eventually there will be two steering stations, sort of. A wheel in the sitdown headroom wheelhouse and tiller steering from the cockpit. First step was to build a motorwell:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pde6bc90b18fa521f878f2888927c3ce1/ea6fdde1.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:viewExifData())

Then a new cabin. With a little imagination you can get an idea of how the wheel house will look. To try to keep the windage and weight aloft managable the house is very small. Only 40" inches wide and about 15 inches above the main cabin as can be seen from the corner posts sticking up, and 3 feet front to back. Just cozy sitting for Cathy and I who are not big people. One entirely unplanned consequence is that if I put my feet in the bilge one on either side of the centerboard trunk (which I'm leaving in for now) there is actually standing headroom for folks 5'8" or less!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p90854a930c4ce3a0c2816e96189f0366/e8935c32.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:viewExifData())

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pf014db87057b747452a52dcf68a28e05/e8935c18.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:viewExifData())

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pde97ed60f793ed764d69784af9e98cbe/e8933385.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:viewExifData())

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p7d765f0c0ae3d118fa4a8d4dcd290cce/e8906b6a.jpg (javascript:viewExifData())

A hatch to let the rain in:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pfec3081d434cf9ccae4785a9a0b03504/e8906b5f.jpg (javascript:viewExifData())
And why does so much work always seem like so little accomplished when the photos are posted? :confused: :( :mad: :D

[Thorne]

Looks like a fun project -- and good idea to leave the CB in place as you may need it in rough conditions even under power.

Will you drop in a larger poly/plastic fuel tank? Any additional ballast?

[JimD]

Looks like a fun project -- and good idea to leave the CB in place as you may need it in rough conditions even under power.

Will you drop in a larger poly/plastic fuel tank? Any additional ballast?

In the first photo you can see where the fuel tank will go - in the new plywood box beside the motor well. The top will be a hinged lid. There will be plenty of ballast. First, the CB weighs #120, then there are two Minnkota batteries to operate the trolling motor and lights, which is another 120, and I have also cast over #150 of scrap iron in cement blocks to fit neatly in the bilge beside the CB trunk and under the batteries if required.

[John B]

All right then, I'll do it.

whats the story Jim me old lad?
How come ?
gone off sailing?

[JimD]

All right then, I'll do it.

whats the story Jim me old lad?
How come ?
gone off sailing?

I'm not quite sure what you're talking about, John. But I'm glad you've decided to do it.

[John B]

I meant why are you converting from sail to motorboat? You've got a special job in mind? local conditions suit it better? you're starting up a fish'n business? stuff like that.
Curious, thats all. Its raining and cold and miserable here and the forum is on its slow day and I'm being all inquisitive.

[JimD]

I meant why are you converting from sail to motorboat? You've got a special job in mind? local conditions suit it better? you're starting up a fish'n business? stuff like that.
Curious, thats all. Its raining and cold and miserable here and the forum is on its slow day and I'm being all inquisitive.

Oh, I see. Well, local conditions are a big factor. Winds around here can be very fickle. There are a lot of quite narrow passages and often strong tidal currents. Plus Swmbo isn't too interested in sailing. Also, we decided we needed more creature comfort than the original cuddy cabin could provide for weekend trips so building up and out seemed like the way to go. I think I will still put a very reduced cat yawl sail plan on her, the main for down wind assistance and a tiny mizzen to help keep the bow pointed into the wind for times when that is advantageous. Once this is done I will hopefully turn the sights toward a microcruising sailboat for myself. We have decided not to start up a fishing business as I'm allergic to fish.

[JimD]

I saw these two boats a couple days ago. They have nothing to do with my boat except they both have wheelhouses:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd3b10b3adfbea668a72c81de916b5162/e8906127.jpg (javascript:viewExifData())

[P.L.Lenihan]

This is going to look either super-duper very neat or a total eyesore. I'm leaning heavily of the very neat side of things :-)
You mention that you'll have two steering stations......it does not appear the tiller arm off the motor has much room to swing sideways for steering or are you planning on keeping the original sailing tiller?
Have you got a sketch of your intended profile?
Fun stuff Jim and do not worry,when you are all done and launched, nobody will believe how much work went into her below all the fancy paint work :-)

Peter

[JimD]

This is going to look either super-duper very neat or a total eyesore. I'm leaning heavily of the very neat side of things :-)
You mention that you'll have two steering stations......it does not appear the tiller arm off the motor has much room to swing sideways for steering or are you planning on keeping the original sailing tiller?
Have you got a sketch of your intended profile?
Fun stuff Jim and do not worry,when you are all done and launched, nobody will believe how much work went into her below all the fancy paint work :-)

Peter

Peter, yes, asthetically there was quite a lot to consider. Part of the challenge is that it's such a small boat and also because its already a boat that was designed to look and function another way so there are certain things about her shape and setup that I'm stuck with just have to do my best with. Also, she's in the garage and can't come out until the work is mostly done so I can't really tell what she looks like. There's a lot of guess work and making decisions as I go along. I have a hunch she'll look a bit funky but as you say, with the right paintjob almost anything can look charming. As for the steering, the motor is pretty well fixed in place. So the steering wheel will turn the rudder, not the motor. I still hope to get her in the water this year so I think the steering wheel will not go in until next year. Rudder tiller steering only from the cockpit for the rest of this year.

[RobertZ]

Jim,

As another Minuet builder, who has really appreciated your responses to my questions in the past, could you elaborate on the 150# scrap iron/cement comment above. Is this something you added for stability after the fact. Was there something about the Minuet's sailing characteristics you disliked that lead you down this route? I just asl as mine is at the framing stage.

Regardless, this is a very interesting project you have. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

Robert

[donald branscom]

Jim-

I would NOT add the pilot house. I would not ad the second steering station in the pilot house.

What i would do is add a sliding stick on the tiller so I would be able to steer while standing in the companionway. Just a nice dodger over the companionway.

Check it out... stand in the companionway looking forward and just extend a stick back to the tiller. see what i mean.

You will stay dry behind the dodger and you will be warm.

Tou can put the dodger down on nice days nd it will make it easier getting in the garage too.

photo coming........hold on

[JimD]

Donald, how long am I supposed to hold on here? :D
...I have decided not to go ahead with the wheel house although I think it could have worked out ok since it was very small, just cozy room for Cathy and I to sit rubbing shoulders, nothing more. We are on the same page as to a tiller extension and a dodger. I have made the companionway as big as possible. Posted pics on another thread but here's another:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pdba2eb4b5c83d70ec7a976e5e165a25e/e7e7c5e3.jpg (javascript:downloadOriginal())

[donald branscom]

OK Jim
http://i14.tinypic.com/66nk5c5.jpg

Here it is <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i14.tinypic.com/66nk5c5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

[donald branscom]

OK ....lets hear it

[JimD]

OK ....lets hear it


(drum roll)... ta daaaa!

Yep, something just about like that should work nicely.

[donald branscom]

(drum roll)... ta daaaa!

Yep, something just about like that should work nicely.

Also the dodger can have flaps that extend past the house onto the cockpit coamings if you want.

[JimD]

Also the dodger can have flaps that extend past the house onto the cockpit coamings if you want.

I'm thinkin' a hard dodger that could still be removed would be very nice aside from the obvious drawbacks of taking it off for storage in the boat somewhere. But I have a hunch it would stay up most of the time, sort of semi permanently. I think we will have far more occasions to use it that to not use it.

[Lew Barrett]

Jose Cuervo umbrellas.

[JimD]

Jose Cuervo umbrellas.

http://images.tikibars.com/mgen/digimarc.ms?img=master:PEI001.jpg&h=250&w=250 (http://www.tikibars.com/patio-umbrellas/aluminum-umbrellas/partyfavorite6ftpalapapatioumbrella.cfm)

I think it might clash with the colour scheme, Lew.