BEACH CATAMARAN MOD
Well here we are again with another big project idea that presented itself as an opportunity after a general search on Craigslist. As many of you know, we recently got into boating not too long ago and started things off with a modification of one of our kayaks by turning it into a trimaran with the construction of a bolt on frame with pontoons and the addition of a homemade mast and sail to propel the craft.
As far as the opportunity project, we recently ran across a beach catamaran that was available on Craigslist for the low price of $150. The craft is 13 ft long by 4 1/2 ft wide. The craft comes with everything to make it ready for sail as is. The only problem that I have with the craft however is that like most beach cats, they are too narrow for the height of the mast and the sail used, so these boats when sailed under the most optimum conditions, the operator can "fly a hull", which is when the craft's sail catches the wind from either side and causes the boat to tip up on one hull with the other one "flying". Not an experience I care to have. So with that in mind, I plan on modifying this boat.
As far as the opportunity project, we recently ran across a beach catamaran that was available on Craigslist for the low price of $150. The craft is 13 ft long by 4 1/2 ft wide. The craft comes with everything to make it ready for sail as is. The only problem that I have with the craft however is that like most beach cats, they are too narrow for the height of the mast and the sail used, so these boats when sailed under the most optimum conditions, the operator can "fly a hull", which is when the craft's sail catches the wind from either side and causes the boat to tip up on one hull with the other one "flying". Not an experience I care to have. So with that in mind, I plan on modifying this boat.
Side shot of beach catamaran.
How do I plan on modifying this boat do you ask? Well, the obvious part of the modification is going to involve widening the boat to the maximum allowable width of a boat for trailering, which is 8 feet. In order to do this I will have to essentially cut this boat in half and construct a new deck/midsection that will place the two hulls at the 8 foot distance I seek while providing the larger floor plan that I seek to create a boat that can carry a couple of people, mast and sail, maybe even a small cabin or structure of some sort, and even a trolling motor or the small outboard motor that we have in storage in our shed that actually is intended for a sailboat.
In order to do all of this, I will also have to possibly make some internal modifications to the boat, like the possible addition of styrofoam, be it peanuts, or even the spray can shit to fill the hulls with the lightweight material in order to create the extra buoyancy necessary to support the added weight of the wider deck and other amenities previously stated. I will also have to make some minor fiberglass repairs to the tops of the hulls that's present due to the normal wear and tear that such a boat can have. Of course in the process of making the new deck, I may very well end up having to add some structural supports in the fiberglass body anyway so having to either cut or otherwise make changes to the fiberglass body will pretty much be expected. I already have some fiberglass cloth for some other boat projects, and will just need some marine epoxy to allow me to make the patches that are strong enough to be worthy of marine use. Stand by for more to come as this project progresses.
In order to do all of this, I will also have to possibly make some internal modifications to the boat, like the possible addition of styrofoam, be it peanuts, or even the spray can shit to fill the hulls with the lightweight material in order to create the extra buoyancy necessary to support the added weight of the wider deck and other amenities previously stated. I will also have to make some minor fiberglass repairs to the tops of the hulls that's present due to the normal wear and tear that such a boat can have. Of course in the process of making the new deck, I may very well end up having to add some structural supports in the fiberglass body anyway so having to either cut or otherwise make changes to the fiberglass body will pretty much be expected. I already have some fiberglass cloth for some other boat projects, and will just need some marine epoxy to allow me to make the patches that are strong enough to be worthy of marine use. Stand by for more to come as this project progresses.