Thread: 16' Sylvan remodel project- Need a boat name.

Remember the yellow deck board in the last set of pics. I carpeted the cabin and dropped them in place. I discovered a nice below cabin deck section that is 22" wide and about 7' long including the space under the front lower deck. I added in floor rod storage space. Figured this is where I will store all my spider rods and trolling rods. I had to remove the original seat base aluminum supports to have complete access to this space.

Took a long time to get the bow live-well/bait-well in just the right spot. Originally the live-well/bait-well was on the port side of the boat. I moved it to the bow, had to add 11" to the bow deck to accommodate my front deck plans. Part of the problem was a 3/8" height difference between the live-well and side raised deck support riveted to the boat by the manufacture. Problem turned out to be my deck board under the live-well went too far forward. Further forward it went, the higher the hull stringers rose in the bow. Cut that deck back a couple of inches and the live-well sits level with the hull mounted side raised deck supports.

Poop deck area has an anchor storage box, starting battery/storage box, and stern live-well. I built a 2" raised platform for the captains chair. What can I say, I'm short and couldn't find/afford a 15" under powered removable seat pedestal for Springfield Marine seats. Don't worry, the platform is made from 1/4" thick 2" boxed aluminum that came out of the boat. Served the same purpose in a different area of the boat. Plus I added plywood so the aluminum will never compress. Then bolted it to the deck with 5/16" bolts and nylocks, all stainless steel.

An area of great concern was floatation. I left all the foam that was injected under the original deck. However there was plenty of loose foam stuffed between the side storage compartments. I managed to stuff all of the loose foam back in, plus I added 3/4 of a 4x8 sheet of 1 1/2" hard foam behind the poop deck storage compartments. Both side of the bilge area under the splash-well now have foam. I also added foam under the very tip of the front deck.

Pictures below. Note: there is a ton of stuff to put back into the boat.

Next step was to install the bow sub-structure. I used aluminum I removed from the boat and the live-well/bait-well. I had to carpet the lower bow deck (live-well is sitting on it) Under the lower bow deck is the front half of the under cabin deck rod storage locker. That also has a carpeted floor and if you look close you can see it in the picture. Also notice I carpeted the sides of the boat from poop deck to under bow deck.




Below picture is the poop deck. Storage, stern live-well have been installed. You can see the ends of the foam on both sides. Notice in the center of the picture is a white container at the back of the below deck rod storage, that is the gas tank. I left it visible when you open the below deck rod storage. I figured IF I ever doubted my gas gauge I can lift the hatch and take a quick look. Also notice the hole in the port side of the bulkhead for the below deck storage, that used to be the drain for the live-well when it was mounted on the port side.




Look close at the pictures. You can only see the fill line for the bow live-well. Actually just the last 12" where is stubs up from the cabin deck to the top of the live-well on the starboard side. Best seen in the first picture. I ran the plumbing under the main cabin deck on the starboard side, both fill and drain lines. Both lines are 3/4 CPVC from the transom to the live-well. Drain line is accessible from the under cabin deck rod storage locker. The overflow discharges on the port side of the live-well (visible in top picture) and exists the boat in the original location. The discharge hose isn't connected in the pictures, and the hole in the side of the boat still has carpet over it. At this point I didn't cut it out. Carpet adhesive was still wet.

Here is a unique name for her. "Now What?"

That is what your wallet says everytime you go to buy something for the boat. "Now What do you need for that boat?" LOL Of course you could also call her "Sylvia" since she will take all of your money.

Wow, all I have to say is wow. You have completely transformed that boat. I had no problem the way it was, but dang, it's gonna be so much better now. Can't wait to see final product. Oh, when you opening the custom boat fabrication shop? Just askin' cause I might can bring my other boat to you for some mods! lol

Super job. Glad to see you taking the time to do it right the first time. Looks very good.

Originally Posted by Slab

Wow, all I have to say is wow. You have completely transformed that boat. I had no problem the way it was, but dang, it's gonna be so much better now. Can't wait to see final product. Oh, when you opening the custom boat fabrication shop? Just askin' cause I might can bring my other boat to you for some mods! lol

Funny you should ask. The wife and I were just talking about me starting a custom boat fabrication shop. I will be glad to rig it any way you need.

Say Ed, did you ever fill the gas tank in this boat? IF so, how long did a tank of gas last? I ask because I appear to be getting great fuel mileage. I filled her up before my first trip out. All it had in her was what you left. Cruised from one Mascautin ramp to the power station on Clinton Lake and back and still have a full tank per the new gas gauge. I figured that has to be incorrect and pulled the gas gauge out to see how much I had before empty. I'll be dipped, it was still full. The gauge did more a little bit, but nothing like I was expecting.
If memory serves me well, when I topped her off I added about 9-10 gallons. Figuring this may be a 12 or 15 gallon tank.

Thanks Skeetbum and Ship.
I have a plan and knew what I wanted to install before I bought the boat. The only surprise cost was all the stainless steel hardware. I bought a ton of screws, plus used most of the old hardware. I couldn't reuse the old rivets, hence the new screws. I had to go with screws because I couldn't find rivets for 5/8" thick plywood. Old plywood was 1/2" thick.

You know it Skeetbum. Unless I win Loto, this boat will last me a long time, probable 15 years or so. I'd rather take my time now, and spend the money now than regret it for the next 15 years, or remodel it again before than. Besides, I don't play Loto.

What I paid Slab is going to end up being about 1/4 the cost I will have in this boat. Electronics ain't cheap. I could have bought a new boat and rigged it the way I wanted, however I would end up spending 2 to 3 times the money I will have in this boat. I was looking real hard at the Alumacraft Classic tiller model. Package deal is about 15K plus electronics. However the Alumacraft classic doesn't have a rear live-well, in-floor rod storage, or three seat pedestals on the bow. Actually I couldn't find a boat that met my needs. They just don't make a 16' with the features I wanted. I could find most of the features in a 17' or 18' boat. But those won't fit in my garage. I'm also the type that prefers to pay cash. I have very few loans and only 1 credit card.

Originally Posted by Hanr3

Funny you should ask. The wife and I were just talking about me starting a custom boat fabrication shop. I will be glad to rig it any way you need.

Say Ed, did you ever fill the gas tank in this boat? IF so, how long did a tank of gas last? I ask because I appear to be getting great fuel mileage. I filled her up before my first trip out. All it had in her was what you left. Cruised from one Mascautin ramp to the power station on Clinton Lake and back and still have a full tank per the new gas gauge. I figured that has to be incorrect and pulled the gas gauge out to see how much I had before empty. I'll be dipped, it was still full. The gauge did more a little bit, but nothing like I was expecting.
If memory serves me well, when I topped her off I added about 9-10 gallons. Figuring this may be a 12 or 15 gallon tank.

Yeah, that boat never used any gas. I only put in 10 gallons at most at any one time. And that seemed to last forever. Like I said before, I loved that motor. Started instantly, and ran on virtually no gas. That v-bottom cut the waves so much better ( and tracked so much straighter) than the modified-v hull on my tracker. Hey, now that I think about it, I want my boat back. OK. See you at Illinois camp, I'll pick it up then! lol