AluminumAlloyBoats.com

I was going to wait few years to do this but with covid etc had the opportunity presented to get it done now.

So here are a few pictures to date and a few originals. Boat was an ex military boat that built in Bellingham by ACB, kind of a tank looking build.

Fuel tank was a single 120gal tank I am replacing it with 2 new tanks 70gal each and moving them back 30" aft.
Overall new added weight will be not as bad as I first thought, as the original center console and seat / t top were all very well built and heavy plus we removed a raised subfloor in the v berth area and exposed a lower deck. So overall adding about 400lbs to 600lbs max by the time it is done. Boat currently is 6300lbs before we started.

Currently I am going to leave the sides open, I plan to do large sliding side windows that are removable, and also going to leave the back wall open ( do a zip up back canvas window wall) as I really like having an open boat feel and max visibility. But need to work on those next fall.

Boat has collars so it has good walkability along the side, and I like the fact the driver/passengers can jump right out onto the pontoons when docking /fishing/just floating around.

Windows will be acrylic for now and we have designed an easy install method. My only worry is how long they last with wipers ( but I summertime boat and will only have wiper on drivers side).

V berth will be 7ft long by 6ft wide with an easy access hatch to the front deck. Front deck is sunken to allow safe place for kids to travel and to allow fishing from.

Besides that learning lots about aluminum boats some good some bad.

Nice looking project!

great looking project, how are you getting ride of any water that you take over the nose?

There will be 2 bow pit scuppers ( yet to be installed but an easy project).

Thought I would add a few more photos of the semi completed project. Took a little longer and more than I thought it would but we had it in the water for this summer and had some great times on it. I gave it into a professional shipwright builder in January to help it along and they really dropped the ball, and everything thing they did I needed to modify or fix but what is done is done.

Some nice custom additions including boarding/swim ladder, a dual prawn pulley arm and winch, slide out removable anchor pulpit, and a frameless back bimini that is good for high speed travel and wind ( boat can go 70klm/hr but I run it low 40s typically). Some shoch absorbing seats, few lock off storage lockers.

New gas tanks and plumbing , all new electrical, paint and new tubes ( already had them from previous owner). Did a large amount of corrision repair under the old tank areas and other hull areas, drilled and burred out all the corrision and had them tig filled up.. Then needed to repaint the bottom due to the welding. So hopefully good for long time.

Next step will be to put side windows and finish off the interior for longer trips. Though I like the canvas sides and back door and just camp on it for now is fine too.

Looks very nice! What brand of windows did you install? Don't see square corners real often it seems.

I just did DIY acrylic windows and a bolt on inner frame. I did get quotes for the windows but the homemade route was just easier to do and cost alot less ( cost for all four was under $150). They will be easy to replace if I find they get to scratched up, but I don't even have wipers on yet.

If I do replace them I will maybe go with safety laminated glass from my regular supplier. I am not sure if there really is a difference in marine glass vs regular laminated glass? Anyone know?