Here's what I'm thinking
 

I'm starting to draw up plans for my spring project on my 74 CC and was wondering if the group had some insight on an additional side project I've been considering.

The basic driver for the project of ripping up the deck is to *move the below deck, 55 gallon, fuel tank farther forward by 2 - 3 feet *to better balance/level the boat when it sits in the water. *Although is may sound extreme, I'm not happy with the way the boat sits and handles since I installed a 26" setback bracket. * *Besides, *when I fish off the stern, *the additional weight lowers the hull in the water enough to *allow water to enter through the *scuppers and that in itself drives me nuts!

However, with the deck up, now would be the time to make all the interior mods I want before refitting and painting the interior once and for all.

The question I have for the group is you think that if I remove the casting deck, making the deck one continuous level , *the strength or integrity of the hull upfront will still be sufficient to punch through waves after wards. *I know that several years of the newer CC were configured this way but does anyone know if the hull was beefed up to support it?

Since my boat is wrapped up for winter, I used a pic of On_The_Fly rig to show what I want to do.

Current configuration
http://members.cox.net/douggross/asis.jpg

Here's a mock up of what I want it to do. *Remove the deck and add a small locker with a hatch up front to store the anchor and such.

http://members.cox.net/douggross/removed.jpg

Any input/suggestions would be appreciated.

Kamikaze

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

I think you will be fine with the casting deck removed as it is part of the liner and not the hull its self.
The hull is the same no matter what you have, CC Cuddy or Dually.
The liner has been changed a few times in it 30+ years, and I might be wrong but I believe they made a non casting deck, at some point?

As for the moving of th gas tank, I have been on a CC and they ride real nice!! Much better then the Cuddy's! I think the cuddy has to much weight forward there fore it slaps much more in the slop.

I to have a set back bracket on my boat, and feel that it does ride a bit better since I moved the I/O out of the boat, and the weight of the motor out of the boat.

So yes the moving of the tank will help, but how much should you go inn order to achieve the right ride??

Also the more you move to the front, the more the tank is going to take a beating! The further back the softer the ride.

How about leaving the tank were it is or moving it up just a bit, and moving the CC up so when you are driving your weight will be the ballast you need?

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

Call Stinky to come with his Chain Saw and Pink thongs.

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

Where and how do you fish the boat, and what is the power going to be on the bracket?

Airslot

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

Kamikaze, I believe that MJ is correct about it being in the liner and not part of the hull, but I believe it does add rigidity to the hull forward. It is a question that I would post to BS and get his take on it.
But thinking about what you want to do, you could still add rigidity to the area by going down the side and across the floor, under it, and up the other side. Sort of like you see the Maycrafts and similar with the supports protruding out slightly the whole length of the boat along the sides.
How will you do it to seal the liner and keep its integrity once you cut it out?

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

Macjoe: Console is where it should be, but tank is really to far aft. If you look at my rig on the trailer and see where the axles are. You would be surprised to know that it is very light in the nose with a full tank of gas! Tank has got to go forward, but moving the console up a bit is possible as well.

Airslot: CBBT and surrounding area for fishing and a 150 Johnson for power,

Willy: I was going to cut and grind the deck even with the liner. Smooth and fair as needed, and then paint. Suspect I'll have to strength the deck underneath, but that was part of the plan to make it self bailing with a drain channel around the outside edge of the hull. I wasn't assuming cutting and repairing the deck from the liner was going to be that big of a deal? Although I like your suggestion of interior support channels. They wouldn't get in the way much given the bow flair and amount the cap comes in up front. I could tuck them in out of the way.


Kamikaze

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

Looking at On-The _Fly photos, are not sure the is a liner in a CC. Looks like the deck its just applied to the hull?

http://www.carolinayachtenterprises...._rebuild3.html

Kamikaze

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

Look at the 2nd pic down on the right, you can see were the liner is attached.

Wish there was a way that you could do the math to see how much weight you moved forward, to how much the bow would come down?

to much your going to be screwed, to little you going to stay the same?

you could move the tank and see what it gives you. then before you bolt the cc down permanent, then if its not enough you could adjust forward or back a little the cc to make up for it??

what we need is a math wizard here!!

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

have you tried to move some weight around in the boat to see what happens? It might be easier too relocate a pair a of batteries fwd of the tank, at roughly 70 lbs each, it would be like removing 20 gals of gas on the rear and placing it fwd of the tank, I don't have a CC, so i don't know where your batteries are now, but it sure would be a lot easier than moving the tank. I hate the idea of removing the liner, its not because of the job itself, its just that you usually uncover something that wouldn't have bothered you if you hadn't known about it. I've seen alot of projects abbandoned after removing the liner.

Re: Here's what I'm thinking
 

I think I'd head to Lowes or Home Depot and get a few 50# bags of play sand. Go to the ramp and play around with moving 300 lbs of sand forward of the tank and see how she sits. The reason I asked about power was to determine weight and the bracket. The reason I asked where you fished (and power), I was wondering if you might want more fuel ie bigger or second tank up front. The boats that don't have the casting deck have stiffening ribs up front.

Then again, you may do well to put the batteries under the console. If you move the console forward a foot it will help more, and give you more fishing room in the stern.

Lots of option here...

Airslot