382 Project Boat - How to do the top sides?
 

Hi all,
I posted this in the wanted section to answer a fellow members query, but figured more people would see it here - and possibly you can give me your thoughts.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/w...-contents.html

Now I have to make more decisions on how to finish the sides.

I have taped in some possible lines -

1) a higher fill - extending the existing line from the back to the top of the wind deflector.
2) a medium fill - splitting the difference - and
3) a low fill - with more angle. Going from the top of the wind deflector to the bottom of the rear top cover.
Basically make it look like it has two steps like some of the Cigs.
Personally I like that one.

The next question I have - is do I do it with FG or just framed thick black tinted acrylic?

Should I keep the deflector white or go black?
Or spluge and have a go at continuing the deck painted flames up the deflector.
Or more likely get someone to do it for me.

Is the deflector still too high?
But the current height offers good protection, and I can still easily see bow, even seated.
I can and probably will put a small clear acrylic windsceen on it, just to help wind deflection.

I got the idea for the deflector & going black from the red boat.
I liked the black look ....... just trying to copy it somewhat.

Lots to think about - any opinions?

One thing I do really like is the deflector hides the sharp curve around where the windscreen went.
It now has a much wider base, and is flatter a lot larger, coming down to the deck just behind the deck hatches. Thus giving the 382 a whole new appearance.

Here is a picture - thanks to NaplesImage.com.
Of the cig with a small winscreen & the step in the side lines - like my prefered option.
For this minute anyway.

Any suggestions on which way to go forward with the sides & deflector ?

As you can see, I just try to create based on the best of what everyone has to offer.

Constructive criticism is welcome.

I guess another option would be to leave like it is, maybe slightly lower - and just paint it black, like a windscreen and leave it as is. No sides?
But not sure if I like the square look though.
Might grow on you.
I'll look again tomorrow.

what did you use for the front of that fairing? It kind of looks a bit old school, like sixties European race boat old school (sorry not trying to slam it). The heavily rounded top doesn't seem to compliment the rest of the deck. That shape is not going to do much for deflection either, fairings need abrupt angles to push the wind over the cockpit. laminar flow will put the wind right on you.


Again, not trying to slam the project just trying to get the ball rolling here to see if we can help :cool:

I , agree with Dave considering a very slight flair or gentle cove at the top of the wind screen will push the air up and over.

Thanks for the input guys.

Well to be honest, I used a wind deflector off a Kenworth Truck as a base and just cut it down.
Hows that for lateral thinking. :silenced:

It is extremely well made out of ~ 1/4" FG, and reinforced for strength. Even has FG angular reinforcing in the bolt areas.
I considered making one from scratch, but the complex curves just thru me, as I wanted to copy the red boat.

I guess I'm old school - I like the curves - the way I look at it, anyone can build a box.

I was looking for templates to do the curves when I came up with this idea.
The truck wind deflector kind of appealed to me as all I had to do is cut was it down & bolt it on.

This was the look I wanted, just didn't quite happen.
No where close actually.................. lol.

Here I cut and paste the windscreen off the red boat onto a 382.

Another thought was to just run x 2 stainless steel hand rails off it to behind the passenger seat, then down to the deck.
That would break the square back edge & give the passenger something to hang onto.

I can easily put a clear acrylic windscreen on this to deflect the wind.
Like the one in the Cig picture.
There is a nice sturdy lip to bolt it to.

The one thought that keeps poping into my head is that is still too high and that's why it jumps out at you.
If it was - say half this height it would probably look a lot "cooler", but offer little protection.

I guess I have to sort out my priorities.
But I want both!

Guess I'll go sit in a chair & stare at it for awhile, and see what other crazy ideas I come up with.

fixx
 

whayt in the hell is that ugly thing on the deck??

So I guess that means 1 vote for either lower it, or can the idea!
:-)

At the end of the day, I don't have to actually do anything.
I could leave it as is.
That's another possibility.

That would look like .............

fixx
 

oops sorry open mouth and inserted my foot,,i just read the rest of the trend...

yes cool idea but does not look rite on that boat..

i like the windshield look the best on this boat..

A replacement windscreen for a Formula Fastech is ~ $12,000 trade price, plus dealer mark up & freight.

That's just not in the budget.
Hence the plan "B"s.

Personally I like the FG deflector idea.
It actually looks better in person than in the photos.

I think I just need to get the height right and somehow get the sides to blend in with the existing boat lines.
I try not to think Fastech, & just think performance boat.

I dont know much about fiberglass (except for motorcycles), but I would think you could mock up a lite ply fairing to get the exact shape that youre looking for, then lay it up in glass?

True, or use and shape foam, cover with foil then FG over that.
Or FG with epoxy resin as that won't eat the foam.
I may go that route yet.
I'm just playing to see what works.

This was just a quick - easy - possible solution I had to have a look at.

Been sitting & pondering - 4 cups of coffee later - no solid solutions.
Just more issues.

I moved it back ~ 6" - it looked better.
But that puts the inside lip over the doorway a little. That's ok so long as I don't reduce the height. Anyone less than 6ft 2 wouldn't touch it.

If I reduce the height, then I have to leave it forward where it was so you don't bang your head when exiting the cabin.

But .... I think it would look better - lower - both from the outside & inside.
Drop it about 5" for a lower profile look and to better match the deck on the inside drivers side.

I think, if it was a windscreen, the height would be good. But it's not.
So I am leaning towards lowering it.

A lot of the performance boats only have the deflector raised a few inches off the deck & they look good. Just offer zero protection.

But .... once you cut, it's a pain to go back!
But .... I guess the safe way is to do it in stages.
Cut & look. Cut and look.

But .... right now if I leave as is, maybe take 1" or 2" off the height, I can fill the area in on the back side & I would have more room for gauges, multi purpose screens, GPs etc etc, than I could use and the "gap" would disappear.

I figured out one issue - that is why it jumps out so much right now.
The deflector is actually bright white.
The rest of the boat is an off white.

Hmmm .... more coffee required !

As I read the earlier posts sounds ike you got a great deal, but what was the shipping cost?......Austrailia is halfway around the world from Trenton........I think you should cut her down and flair it out a bit longer, it would resemble the red boat more.

Scippy - shipping costs - you don't want to know.
But that's only a piece of the pie.

You can take the US boat prices and almost double them by the time you get them here, after paying shipping, import duty if applicable & sales tax.
That severly limits one choices, or at least my choices.
So when you guys see a nice $80,000 used boat, I see a $150,000 boat.

"I think you should cut her down and flair it out a bit longer, it would resemble the red boat more"

I agree.

something like a lower version of this

Possible change the curve the other way as well.
To make both curves match.

Time to go cut & play some more.

fixx
 

between this guy and smokengun you should be able to find a wind screen..

http://www.texasboatrepos.com/vehicles

Cheap boats / parts - wow !
I'll keep this site in mind.

Well, after looking at the 382 poker run boat thats for sale on that that web site, I decided to bite the bullet and cut off another 6 inches from the height, but keep the length.

This is about as low as it can go now.
When I'm done fine tuning the fit, the inner lip will be about 1/4" above the drivers side consol in front of the compass hole. Without cutting the lip.

Now I'm back to square one ..... how to do the sides.

- Do I do them with FG or just framed thick black tinted acrylic?

Should I keep the deflector white or go black with black sides?

I can still put a small, angled clear acrylic windsceen on it, just to help wind deflection like some of the Cigarettes have.

Time to go tape up the ideas we discussed earlier and have a look.

I tried the reverse curve ending at the passengers seat.
Looked like **** to be honest.

Full length down the side looks ok now.
The two slopes almost match.
The tape line & the rear engine hatch side scoop covers.

The lines down the side are now getting closer to the 382 Poker boats look.

Now, white or black, FG or dark black acrylic?
Acrylic would be so much easier to do ..........

One more photo for today.
Another shot of todays final height, with taped in sides.

Seems like I do a lot more contemplating, than actual work.
Lucky it's on my own time.

Personally I'm happy with the new look.
It no longer looks like a fishing boat, like at the start of this thread.

I'll tackle the sides again tomorrow and see how it all comes together, then I can decide if I'll keep this approach or toss it and start from scratch again.

I think you've achieved the look with this latest rendition....low slung & sleek!.....I'd finish the sides in FG (it so much more forgiving to work with, forget about plexy) I'd taper it right back along the gunwale and be done with it. Paint it a white single stage and move on to the next project.....Where you pleased with Als custom upholstery?.....looking to have someone due my Mag 27.........your boat rocks!

Thanks Scippy.

I cut patterns all day today.
In the end I came to the same conclusion you did.
We need to go with FG as you suggest.

The main reason is to keep the curve & curl coming around the corner to the sides from near the top.
This area still needs to be curved in 2 different planes to look smick.
I'm onto it .......

Jeff at Al's Custom Interiors did a great job.
I supplied some SS drop down frames and Jeff worked his magic.
I had Jeff do the entire cockpit area.
The boat was a shell full of holes & came back with the cockpit completed.
I got exactly what I wanted and what we discussed.
Which was the wrap around seats & the 3rd person center insert for the front.
The same as the Outerlimits.

I wish Jeff could have had the boat longer to do more work,
but my shipping dates limited how much we could do.
I'll take a picture or 3 tomorrow if your interested.
But have a look on his website.
There are lots of pictures of his work there.

40gt,

Is it Al's custom interior in Mt. Holly?......it's a bit south not exactly in Trenton though. anyway, it's only 32 miles from my house.
Good luck with the "sleek" fairing, it's going to work out great!

http://alscustominteriors.com/intro.html

That's the one - ask for Jeff.
He was very helpful and answered all my questions, before & after the job.

Al's Custom Interiors

1240 Monmouth Rd

Mt Holly, NJ 08060

Phone 609-267-4255

email [email protected]

As you can see I have a few more holes to fill yet.
But I'm getting there.

Thanks 40gt.....every bit of effort you put into this boat will be well worth it in the end. interior looks great! .........thanks for all the added info.