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
Make it a sit down ,,with some nice highback seats,,,,u will get used to it.
I never going to go back to stand up !!!!!!!
Its just so much easier to run and allot better for your back and knees !!!
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
Last edited by Conquistador; 06-14-2009 at 09:58 PM.
Here is a pic of what it looks like to stand in the boat.
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by h2oboater
Or this way..
Thanks
What a great set of pictures of the way it can be done. Bill
were the floors lower on the race boats... seem deeper.
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).
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
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
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