Conquistador

I am in the process of restoring a 1973 27 sport. I am at the point of trying to figure out how to make it where I can drive while standing. The original floor height makes it way too high for this. I don't want to cut down the 18" center keel stringer or the 7 1/2" secondary stringers which provide the main longitudinal strength, so I am left with possibly making a cutout between the two. It looks like I could make a platform 8 1/2" below the normal floor level for standing. I am thinking about installing drop down bolster front seats with a hinged cutout in the floor that I could fold out of the way when I want to stand. Has anyone done this type setup or have any other ideas? Bill

Conquistador

Thanks for the response. I like to stand sometimes - not all the time. The plan I have would allow me either to sit or stand. Today I built the support brace and plates for the sub-floor which will also be a storage area that will be off the bottom. It is exactly 8 1/4" lower than the existing floor - enough to make a big difference. I will also glass in a back crossmember to add strength and provide the back of the compartment. I will likely carpet the area after I glass it all in. By the way, if anyone needs some new fuel gauge inspection ports, I bought some extra ones (chrome on brass) from a supplier since they are no longer made. Here are a few pictures. Bill

Stormrider

Here is a pic of what it looks like to stand in the boat.

h2oboater

Or this way..

Stormrider

were the floors lower on the race boats... seem deeper.

Conquistador

That guy looks like he is maybe 6'4"+, but it also shows exactly why I want a lower standing platform to drive from. With some decently high bolster seats to help encapsulate me and the lower floor, I can't see why it would be a problem to drive while standing.

Thanks
What a great set of pictures of the way it can be done. Bill

socalstone

As someone on OS said a few years back..... "he sticks out like a boner in sweatpants!"

Stormrider

I don't think mark is that tall.
Has he shrunk over the years?

Smarty

I will try to post some pictures of the Hairy Canary's floor, it had floor cut-outs, which I loved. I could sit in the seat, or drop out the bottom seat, to make it a bolster when I was racing (or my father was racing), or wanted to stand when planing the boat.

I am in a sit down boat now, and I was used to/conditioned to drive that 27' Magnum with those floor-cut-outs, I prefer boating that way with the floor cut-outs, you can stand and sit lower, eat less wind (in theory, not in reality).

My father was standing in this picture.

Stephen

dammmagnum

Hello Bill
I cut out the floor on my 27 Sport and then glassed in wood boxes that I made, I glassed the outside of the boxes and dropped the floor about 8 inches, I had a drop down bolster setup also. Used 3/4 marine plywood. The cut outs were only in the front of the cockpit where the seats would normally be, a little less then 2 feet long. The rest of the floor was kept at the standard height.
Thank you
Jim