Depends on what kind of boat, tin or glass. A fiberglass boat will have foam under the deck that has to be removed, alot of the stringers are molded into the hull, gas tanks, electrical, plumbing for bilge and livewells, ect. Can it be done ? yes is it worth it probally not. If its a jon boat or deep v tin boat you still have all the structural elements to deal with, might be a little asier but still the cost and time involved would probally not be worth the outcome
Depends on what kind of boat, tin or glass. A fiberglass boat will have foam under the deck that has to be removed, alot of the stringers are molded into the hull, gas tanks, electrical, plumbing for bilge and livewells, ect. Can it be done ? yes is it worth it probally not. If its a jon boat or deep v tin boat you still have all the structural elements to deal with, might be a little asier but still the cost and time involved would probally not be worth the outcome
The interior should give no structural support to the boat, its purely cosmetic. The interior of a glass or deep V is just treated 1/2 or 3/4” plywood with carpet glued to it.. within that is your storage bins (made from aluminum most likely) which screw into the plywood from the bottom lip, same with the livewell(s). You might have aluminum reinforcement on the back deck near the transom, do not remove it.
If it is a riveted jon boat with “benches”, those are structural.. do not remove them.
Your decks will most likely be filled with foam inserts, replace them when you are done before you close it up.. that is your flotation (all boats under 22’ have to have it), its supposed to keep your boat afloat when completely filled with water.
Depends on what kind of boat, tin or glass. A fiberglass boat will have foam under the deck that has to be removed, alot of the stringers are molded into the hull, gas tanks, electrical, plumbing for bilge and livewells, ect. Can it be done ? yes is it worth it probally not. If its a jon boat or deep v tin boat you still have all the structural elements to deal with, might be a little asier but still the cost and time involved would probally not be worth the outcome
The interior should give no structural support to the boat, its purely cosmetic. The interior of a glass or deep V is just treated 1/2 or 3/4” plywood with carpet glued to it.. within that is your storage bins (made from aluminum most likely) which screw into the plywood from the bottom lip, same with the livewell(s). You might have aluminum reinforcement on the back deck near the transom, do not remove it.
If it is a riveted jon boat with “benches”, those are structural.. do not remove them.
Your decks will most likely be filled with foam inserts, replace them when you are done before you close it up.. that is your flotation (all boats under 22’ have to have it), its supposed to keep your boat afloat when completely filled with water.
The deck of a fiiberglass boat is molded to a topcap that is in turn screwed onto the hull( bottom). The compartment openings are molded into the topcap and the empty space is filled with spray in foam and then the plastic inserts are put into place. There are stringers molded into the hull of the boat that you shouldnt cut into if moving a storage compartment.
Check out Bass Boat Central they have a section dedicated to restoration. It’s amazing how some of the guys on there can turn a crappy old boat into a gem!!
Is there any way that someone could completely redesign the topcap? By that I mean, if i were to take my uncles boat and i wanted to move the livewell that is up front to the back and then add some more storage up front?
Do you know someone who works with metal? It should be 1/4” alum, which can be cut and tig/mig welded. If its wood (doubt it) you could unbolt it and do it yourself.. its going to be bolted to the stud on the bottom of the hull.. Its all purely cosmetic, none of it is structural.. the alum base is to support the deck and you probably have one to cover the gas tank also.
Not sure you guys know this, but most companies outsource their hulls.. they will get shipments of hulls to the factory and then do the interior work themselves. My ranger is on an alumacraft built hull, they shipped the hulls to flippin arkansas where ranger does the interior.
Is there any way that someone could completely redesign the topcap? By that I mean, if i were to take my uncles boat and i wanted to move the livewell that is up front to the back and then add some more storage up front?
