Hey everyone, I've been lurking on this site for quite a while now, trying to learn as much as possible before I potentially start my own V-hull conversion. I am by no means an expert carpenter/fabricator/engineer, but I would like to give it a shot.
I found a boat for sale nearby that is in my price range. Its an old Aerolite (or Aeroliner?) 16' aluminum V-hull with a 9.5hp Eska (Tecumseh) motor. Aside from the poorly done interior, it appears to be in decent shape. However, it is a closed bow with a steering wheel (it has a tiller motor so the steering wheel is for appearances only now). Does anyone have any experience with removing the closed bow on one of these or something similar? I assume it can be done, it would just need to be braced up a little bit. Or would a guy be better off just cutting out a section of it and leaving some for structural support? I'd like to have a bit of a raised casting deck in front, and the rest of it would be a relatively open floor.
If I do buy this boat I'll try to post some pictures because I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions...
Thanks for now.
I found a boat for sale nearby that is in my price range. Its an old Aerolite (or Aeroliner?) 16' aluminum V-hull with a 9.5hp Eska (Tecumseh) motor. Aside from the poorly done interior, it appears to be in decent shape. However, it is a closed bow with a steering wheel (it has a tiller motor so the steering wheel is for appearances only now). Does anyone have any experience with removing the closed bow on one of these or something similar? I assume it can be done, it would just need to be braced up a little bit. Or would a guy be better off just cutting out a section of it and leaving some for structural support? I'd like to have a bit of a raised casting deck in front, and the rest of it would be a relatively open floor.
If I do buy this boat I'll try to post some pictures because I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions...
Thanks for now.