I just picked up a 24 fly a few months ago that was in rough shape and I'm trying to turn it into a do-it-all rig. Boat came with a diesel that needed a rebuild so got that to a machine shop and now I'm looking at offshore-proofing this thing while I wait for the engine to come back.
I feel like a great modification would be to raise the deck 3-4 inches. With the diesel in the back, the two small scupper holes that are there now sit right at the water line with nobody in the boat. Opening one of the plugs with someone in the back would be like putting a 1" hole in the boat. Raising the deck would allow me to move the scuppers up above the swim step and make the boat self bailing. I could also build a better engine hatch seal, shorten the engine box, and possibly have some more room for fish box/bumper storage.
I have two questions about this. First, I asked a professional fiberglass/boat repair guy how he would do it, and he said to just epoxy fiberglassed 2x4's right onto the existing deck and build the new marine plywood/glass deck right on top of the old one! I want to know if anyone else recommends this? It would save cutting out the old one and might be less work but there would be lots extra weight left on the boat and I'm worried that water and whatever else would pool up between the old deck and the new deck and cause problems. I also would lose the possible benefit of more room for fish box. I want to know if anyone else recommends this way of doing it?
Second, if I were to cut out the old deck and build the new one without it, how would I go about changing the structure/supports to raise it 3-4 inches? I've read about people screwing wood into the stringers to raise their height and building on that. Has anyone done this that can explain the process step by step or show me pics?
I guess I have a third question and that's whether anyone would recommend just leaving the boat as is. Like how often is water really coming over the gunwales/transom? Is the benefit of this project worth the work? I'll definitely waterproof the deck hatches and engine box no matter what but relying on bilge pumps to save my ass if (when) shit hits the fan isn't appealing to me.
What do yall think?
-Mark
I feel like a great modification would be to raise the deck 3-4 inches. With the diesel in the back, the two small scupper holes that are there now sit right at the water line with nobody in the boat. Opening one of the plugs with someone in the back would be like putting a 1" hole in the boat. Raising the deck would allow me to move the scuppers up above the swim step and make the boat self bailing. I could also build a better engine hatch seal, shorten the engine box, and possibly have some more room for fish box/bumper storage.
I have two questions about this. First, I asked a professional fiberglass/boat repair guy how he would do it, and he said to just epoxy fiberglassed 2x4's right onto the existing deck and build the new marine plywood/glass deck right on top of the old one! I want to know if anyone else recommends this? It would save cutting out the old one and might be less work but there would be lots extra weight left on the boat and I'm worried that water and whatever else would pool up between the old deck and the new deck and cause problems. I also would lose the possible benefit of more room for fish box. I want to know if anyone else recommends this way of doing it?
Second, if I were to cut out the old deck and build the new one without it, how would I go about changing the structure/supports to raise it 3-4 inches? I've read about people screwing wood into the stringers to raise their height and building on that. Has anyone done this that can explain the process step by step or show me pics?
I guess I have a third question and that's whether anyone would recommend just leaving the boat as is. Like how often is water really coming over the gunwales/transom? Is the benefit of this project worth the work? I'll definitely waterproof the deck hatches and engine box no matter what but relying on bilge pumps to save my ass if (when) shit hits the fan isn't appealing to me.
What do yall think?
-Mark