Steps to straight hull, anyone done ?
07-03-2011, 12:23 PM
#2
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The Great Lakes Caster Fountain was a Non Stepped boat and was converted to a single step. They won a championship in Key West with it. It came out really well. It is a huge task but can be done.
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07-03-2011, 01:28 PM
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Wow, good results. I suppose that there are not any pics of that converting job.
07-03-2011, 01:46 PM
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much newer. If it so the boat change could cost more than 20000$.
I have done many glasfibre jobs.. so no way i can save money with changing the boat.
It would be nice to know how many mph can reach more with steps compare without steps in same boat+same engine/drives.
07-03-2011, 02:43 PM
#7
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Before you start this one, take a look at an older (non-stepped) Fountain or other V-bottom. Now find a stepped version of that same model. (And remember, Fountain went through at least 3 major generations of steps.) I think you're going to quickly find that the stepped hull looks nothing like its non-stepped ancestor. It's not just adding a step. It's more like cutting the bottom out and starting all over again. And if you don't know exactly what you're doing, you will end up with one evil handling boat - with significantly reduced resale value.
07-03-2011, 03:38 PM
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Nah, it's easy. Just re-engineer the entire stringer system, bottom design in terms of strake location, length, height, etc, bottom angle before and after the step - oh, you might want to determine whether you need one step, two, or more.
Then it's just little stuff like working out the center of gravity, balance, and maybe rearranging the interior due to work done moving the stringers. Don't forget about making sure the bilges still drain properly and that there is no way for water to collect in the hull.
Piece of cake, a little JB weld and some duct tape and you're good.
Then it's just little stuff like working out the center of gravity, balance, and maybe rearranging the interior due to work done moving the stringers. Don't forget about making sure the bilges still drain properly and that there is no way for water to collect in the hull.
Piece of cake, a little JB weld and some duct tape and you're good.
Last edited by dockrocker; 07-03-2011 at 05:30 PM.
07-03-2011, 03:41 PM
#9
i know the crazy folks at Activator grafted a 29 activator bottom into a 30 superboat.....it was a huge undertaking that probably cost as much as building a new boat but its definetly a conversation piece.....
