Almost new boat and new to the forum

[Gundog]

Cutting it in half and adding on seems radical but they do it quit often to large commercial boats so if it is done right it should be fine. I will say if I were to spend the money to cut it in half I would add 4 feet I doubt it would cost any more.

Mike

[Sea Lion]

Mike
Thanks... I start preparing the boat for surgery on Mon. I'll post pictures as it progresses. Two reasons for not extending it 4 feet instead of 2 feet: 1. It might tip the scales to where I need larger motors. 2. It might mean I need a longer slip. Other than that I just don't need the deck space, not that it wouldn't get used. If I used the boat commercially it might be different, but then I would probably have gone for a different boat.

[Sea Lion]

Mike

One other reason is I can use the same trailer.

[goatram]

Sitting and awaiting for more updates.

[Sea Lion]

I pulled over half the vinyl off today... It already looks like a different boat.

[Sea Lion]

The vinyl is off and I'm working on pulling the motors. I'll start posting pics as soon as I start doing something fun like cutting.

[welder]

Waiting on the pictures....

[Sea Lion]

OK... The boat is in the welding shop. I've changed the trailer set up to accommodate the added length of the boat. Then laid out the cuts and other items we're doing to the boat. Am I out of my mind, we cut a perfectly good boat into two pieces. Then started cleaning things up. What a process, this thing is pretty well put together and Hewes made it hard to cut apart. I wanted to have the two 60 gal fish tanks move back with the stern, leaving room for a new hatches on the port and starboard in front of the fish boxes. I'll put my house batteries in the port hold and a basket to hold produce in the starboard hold. We'll maintain the integrity of the self bailing diamond plate deck and use lids to match the existing lids. More pics by the end of the week.

I will post more tonight as soon as I make them smaller

[Sea Lion]

Four more pics.

[welder]

Cool pictures and looks like a clean job.

[Sea Lion]

the last couple days work

[Sea Lion]

three more pics

[Sea Lion]

A week into the project and we are putting her back together. The first bottom plate is tacked in. Due to building the transom box down to the bottom of the hull I need to lower the motors, so had to cut down the mounting plate and re-drill the holes.

[Sea Lion]

Today's progress so far.

[pjay9]

AWESOME!!!! All I want is a hardtop enclosed cabin...yours is so sweet! Great pics! Pls explain why you had to redo the transom engine holes in more detail...didn't quiet get what you meant. THX Capt PJ

[goatram]

I second Capt PJ's Question.

[spoiled one]

How hard was it for you to start that first cut? I don't think I could do it. This will be one tricked out Hewes!

[goatram]

Pete once you make your mind up the first cut is the easy part. Trying to explain the WHY of your MADNESS is the most difficult and frustrating of it all.

[Sea Lion]

Rub rails went on yesterday. After thinking about it for a year, when it was time I just picked up the saw and cut, then there is no turning back.

When I built the transom box down to the bottom of the hull last year, the motors were to high. I only had an inch of adjustment down. I needed two and maybe three. Hewes had the motors in the right position for the slanted transom box. I cut 2" off the mounting plate so I'd still have adjustment, filled and re-drilled the holes.

I've got a busy day in the shop making the new chine and lifting stakes. I'll post more pics tonight.

[Sea Lion]

Started to finish out some of the stuff tacked together.

[JETTYWOLF]

all this was for what??????? Making boxes, in the deck elsewhere After the first cut photo, ya lost me.

Ouch that's gotta hurt.
The wallet too.

But then again. as we say round here, "those dern rich Alaskans".

BTW, what do you do?
Does this boat "work" for a living or will work for a living?



How did ya take off the original paint job? Have it Blasted off?

[Sea Lion]

The boat came with vinyl side panels, with a little warming it came off pretty easily. About 6 hours for the first side and about 4 for the other and transom. I like the "alloy" look. If Hewes wants I'll put some kind of logo back on the boat, but their regular logo won't fit with the rub rails.

All of this was basically to end up with a longer deck and to carry more stuff better, with more places to put stuff, and there is a lot of storage on the boat. I need to remember to go" lighter". Hopefully the boat will preform as well or better when we are done as it did when I got it. I think the proportions are better now. It just looks better.
A normal trip for me is 7-14 days. With the new fuel tank I should be able to leave Valdez and go around Knight Isl. and return and not be burning fumes.

The boat doesn't work but I won't rule that out in the future. I just quit working, not sure I want to do that again, but make me an offer I can't refuse!!!

I couldn't afford a Sea Wolf, which would have been my first choice. I got a really good deal and just after the price of aluminum almost doubled. With the modifications I've made, the two 150's and the 12,000 lb. trailer, I'll have less in it than a similar boat without the modifications and a two axil trailer would cost today. Now the boat is mine and so far I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out.

[goatram]

all this was for what??????? Making boxes, in the deck elsewhere After the first cut photo, ya lost me.

No Guts No Glory.

He got what he wanted and he did it himself. Not everything needs to come from a Factory or have had to be Paid for. Sweat and Dirty Hands equate in to a Job Well done.

Cool Project

[Sculpin]

all this was for what??????? Making boxes, in the deck elsewhere After the first cut photo, ya lost me.

No Guts No Glory.

He got what he wanted and he did it himself. Not everything needs to come from a Factory or have had to be Paid for. Sweat and Dirty Hands equate in to a Job Well done.

Cool Project

X2 BIG TIME!!!! Very cool project. I started following it awhile back and just got caught up. It looks freaking awesome. Well done so far Sea Lion. Can't wait to see the rest. Thank you for documenting it so well with the pictures

[Napa Mike]

Hey Sealion:

Your project is incredible! Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. How did you get the skills needed for this project? You may have answered this before, but, are you a boat builder/welder/iron worker, etc.?

Best regards,
Mike