Wellcraft V20 Pilot house

[Big D MacG]

I hunted high and low for sliding windows, came close on a couple. I wedge the front door open if gets to hot. Would need sliders first and build pilot house around them. As it is the front is the full hight of a 4x8 sheet of aluminum. Also I was trying to find sliders with the slope of the front window. Custom-made windows were around $1,200. I almost sloped the window forward but made problems with the door swing.

[Pep930]

Hello,

First time posting or replying I'm pretty new here. Signed up and got real busy at work so have not had a chance to be on much. I have 2 v20's an inboard v8 and a outboard 140 Suzuki. Not as much of a following here in Northern Ca but I do spot others from time to time.

Would you be interested in selling the pilot house or detailed plans if you have them? Great looking boat either way I have always wondered what it would look like done right

[bradford]

Welcome Pep.

[Big D MacG]

I know I said earlier that I would be interested in selling pilothouse but when I add things up it would not be cheap. I built it by the seat of my pants with no plans. First off you need to find a good fab shop with a sheer and bender. I had a shop bend the front and both side for me and the bill was $700 not including the aluminium. I made him use the full width of the sheet for the front and then cut and bend the sides to match. Once I had the 3 pieces home I cut out the windows using a 5 inch hole saw to get the radius and a skill saw to cut the rest. The sides side pieces have 1 inch bends on all four sides and the front piece only folded on top and bottom. After cutting windows out I measured the holes and ordered tempered glass witch was cheaper. In the end I would just find a glass shop to cut safety glass, a little more money but fit the first time. The glass and rubber to mount glass was around $1000. They wanted around $700 to paint but found good deal on powder coating but was still $600. At this time I don't think I want to build another one. It was a good project and not all that hard to do if you have the time. Take the windshield off find a good sheetmetal shop and show them the pictures. Sheetmetal shop, powdercoat shop, glass shop and some upholstery work for the side windows.
My bill was.
$700 aluminum
$1000 glass and rubber
$600 powder coat
#700 sheetmetal shop
$300 hinges bolts and rivets
$200 upholstery
2 guys for 20hrs
I think it would be worth $5500

[Big D MacG]

That's Canadian money. Canadian dollar only 70cent American

[Big D MacG]

If I was going to do it again I would slope the windshield back a bit more and put a little more effort into the brim. I would also think of sloping the back in a bit at the bottom, looks to straight down, but I had a back curtain in mind. I also sealed l that front slidding hatch and it no longer moves, there is no way of stopping the water from coming into that hatch. This year I'm going to fiberfill it good and get rid of the wood sliders on the front. I saw a good ladder a guy made for getting out to the front that I also have plans for. Go ahead and build one,it makes the boat one of a kind. Lol or two of a kind.

[Big D MacG]

[Big D MacG]

New stairs

[Big D MacG]

Installed some fans. A little foggy in the mornings

[Big D MacG]

The stairs lift up and slide under. Just some aluminium angle for a track to hang from.