Cockpit space and offshore brackets

[Sjoman]

So far I like just about everything about my 1996, 21’ SeaArk Commander except for the cockpit space.
The way I see it I have three choices. 1) Leave my boat alone and live with the cockpit the way it is (probably not going to happen). 2) Make the slopwell narrower and shorter (it is big enough for twins 32”x62”), increasing the cockpit on each side and in front of the slopwell (she is beamy enough being 8’6”), possibly putting up a hinged door/divider for when I need to tilt the motor up, for even more space. 3) Get rid of the slopwell altogether and either extend the lower part of the hull and mount the Merc further back (the way SeaArk does it on their newer models), or mount an offshore bracket to the transom.
I have read many pros and cons about the offshore brackets and I guess I am interested in additional opinions.
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l63 ... 1.jpgphoto

[goatram]

Link not working.

Major redesign trying to make the Cockpit/Dance Floor/Aft deck. Moving your engine aft to a offshore Bracket will completely change the performance of said Boat and would need a lot of support engineered into the boat.

[Sjoman]

Trying the link again:
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l63 ... 1009-1.jpg

[Chaps]

From the pic it looks like your scuppers are right at the waterline so if you hang the motor out back your deck will be wet due to the stern setting lower

[johncar]

Yes I can understand why you would be tempted to do something. That well does appear to eat up a lot of cockpit real estate. Lots to think about though with the changes to the balance of the boat going further to the stern and if you are going to need any more boyancy back there. Steering, control cables, wiring to be extended.

[Sjoman]

Going under the knife tomorrow. A bunch of cutting and slicing will be done to decrease the slopwell and increase cockpit space. Paint, beaching plate, hull stiffeners, bow rail, corrosion repair, kicker bracket and fish box are also on the list. If all goes well it should be back in 3-4 weeks. Now the biggest decision is, what color?

[Chaps]

How about bare aluminum? I know someone that can get that done for you

[johncar]

Good luck with it all, Looking forward to the updated pics in a few weeks

[pjay9]

Going under the knife tomorrow. A bunch of cutting and slicing will be done to decrease the slopwell and increase cockpit space. Paint, beaching plate, hull stiffeners, bow rail, corrosion repair, kicker bracket and fish box are also on the list. If all goes well it should be back in 3-4 weeks. Now the biggest decision is, what color?

So why aren't you adding a bracket with a hull extension, which will add more floatation, similar to what goatram did to his NR. And the way my Raider is built and many others! Then you get aft wave intrusion resolved and massive dance floor. Aluminum sounds good, too!

No paint or vinyl sticky stuff!


Engine/hull extension





Good luck and keep us posted with pics! Capt PJ

[speedboats]

I'd agree with pjay. Why not go for the bracket? Perhaps not the full hull extension as his boat, but incorperating a 'swim-step' either side of the pod would add the required stiffness to the transom / bracket arrangement. Then 'box in' the swim step down to the transom (about 1 3/4" from the bottom to let the water break cleanly off the hull when underway) and seal them to get you added bouyancy when at rest. You can then lift your motor about 1 1/2" per 1' moved astern, which helps get it out of the water. Fill in the sides from the coaming to the swim-step to create a portifino style transom which would increase the profile look of the vessel. It would make the boat look longer and sleaker

[dawgaholic]

Speedboats, I'd like to see more of that boat, particularly the transom and the fishing setup in that enormous cockpit. Very sleek and attractive boat.

[Sjoman]

How about bare aluminum? I know someone that can get that done for you

Tell me more, PM sent

[Sjoman]

So it has been decided and the project has started. I will go with a larger cockpit area and a very small slop-well, with a door towards the cockpit so we can tilt the motor all the way up and still make the well as small as possible. While we are at it, paint is on the agenda (light gray hull, black bottom, white top and dark grey nonskid surfaces), so is hull stiffeners, new bow rail, hull repair, kicker bracket, in floor fish box, relocation of batteries, beaching plate etc.
So far the hull has been blasted and motor removed for the surgery. Not too much corrosion and hopefully we can fill most of them rather than cutting and pasting.

[Sjoman]

Gaining lots of room in the cockpit. We will now have 26" on each side of the slopwell.

[Chaps]

Are you doing the work yourself?

[Sjoman]

No I am not. It's being done by Kyle Klopfer, formerly from Klopfer boat works http://www.klopferboatworks.com He is now working out of the Seawolf facility in Burlington WA

[Sjoman]

Well it's not world peace or anything but we are making some progress and gaining a lot of cockpit space

[JETTYWOLF]

"before and after"

Damn, they sure did love the theory "wasted space" didn't they?

Mucho better, I can see.

Dang, in progress pics are so cool!

[Sjoman]

This is a slow and very frustrating re-build, but slowly things are coming together. New hull stiffener, bow rails, kicker bracket and swim step are the latest additions. Completion including paint is set for July 1st but I have my doubts. I hope it gets done in time for King season specially since I sold my 1925 Pacific this week.

[Illgotoo]

Peter: New work is looking good. So you opted for a hull stiffener?

[Sjoman]

I put on the hull stiffener so we could pull out some indentations that we think was created at the factory level. It will also help to protect the paint when docking since I'm such a klutz. In addition I think it gives the “Ark” a pretty cool look.

[JETTYWOLF]

I really wish I could find someone round these parts that I could trust to do something like "hull stiffeners" aka: rub rails on my boat.

But as seen before, looks like ya have to refinish afterwards Nyalic coating.

Ya'll got it way better up there. People understand alloy boats.

Guess if I could ever get to Louisiana, I could go to a builder there and they could do nice rails for me like you have.

I'm no fabricator or anything, but don't some people just stich weld them on. I like yours and I like that ole SeaArk.
Was just telling a guy who sells the small SeaArk jon-boats here in may area about how we have SeaArk nutz on AAB...and that the big boats have a real following.

I guess now you'll have to delete that 19 Pacific in the signature......

[Sjoman]

We have paint and should have it in the water soon, I hope very soon

[Kingcrab]

Looking Great!!! Are you going to put the Scotty's on their also? Lots of Kings around these days!!!

[Sjoman]

Scotty's are going back on. Backed up by a Merc 9.9 Pro-kicker together with a new pot-puller.