Plan B's side console to Centre Cab conversion

[Matt76]

Some of you have been following my build thread over the last year or 2 so I thought I would show you what I have done to Plan B now. It started out as an open side console, and was built that way because I wanted as much room as possible. The romm was certainly acheived but the wind in my face on longer trips gave me the shits big time. Sam at Performance plate boats built the boat originally and right from the start he told me it should be a centre cab, but I knew better right? haha.

Anyway I had decided to sell it and build a 6m centre cab but I have quite an emotional attachment to the boat now, so it was decided to keep it and attack it with an angle grinder!

This is how it was originally built:

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6960/24993410150194212904719.jpg

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2192/19947310150110835934719.jpg

This is after Sam has cut the console and raised floor out:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4209/41735310150643144379719.jpg

We had to cut out the existing gunnels and narrow them up to make enough room to walk around, and left the outsides of the original raised front floor for the walk around.

I didnt take too many build pics unfortunately, Sam did all the metal work on it so I didnt get too many chances to take pics.

This is when most of the metal work was done:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8060/40506910150669865679719.jpg

[Matt76]

A few more pics of it nearly complete:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6676/18278810150913487369719.jpg

Bunk cushions, clears etc by Jamie at A1 marine trimming

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8520/52692110150944939809719.jpg

Sitting proudly on a new FMS trailer, which is sensational by the way!

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7889/55433910150903494234719.jpg

Rewire and extra lights etc was done by Pete at Valet Boat services, as well as a nice new anchor winch which should stop fights when the missus is sent up to get the anchor!


A massive thanks to Sam at Performance Plate Boats at Brendale, with all the negativity surrounding manufacturers lately hopefully readers will enjoy seeing a very happy customer and the results of a skillfull builder. I was worried that the modifications would make the boat look like a modified boat, but there are very few things left as a reminder of how it used to be.

The boat is currently getting the last few bits and pieces done and will very soon be ready to hit the water once again in style!


Edit: I will hopefully swap some bigger pics in when I can to get a better look.

[Eug]

I've been waiting for this thread to pop up Matt! Can't really see the details but looks good from what I can make of it.

[Chimo]

Looks good; well done all.

Cheers
Chimo

[astro66]

looks good matt...

[FisHard]

Cool job! I would love to do that to my centre console! Was it economically viable to do it?

[Dantren]

Looks Great Matt. Definitley some positive attitudes & quality workmanship there mate.
You've made some serious changes to the original powerplant, hull & trailer.
With the benefit of hindsight(and excellent welding & grinding skills), would you start again next time or do the modifications?

Time to get that tub out on the water!

[fisho8]

Plan B has come off very Nice Matt looks great mate and well done to PPB on the modification great stuff.:)

[Grand_Marlin]

This would be one of the neatest boats I have worked on.
Matt's ideas, combined with Sam's construction abilities have given a big boat feel to a small / medium sized boat.
If you get the chance, have a look over it... The deck space is huge for a boat this size, it has all the features you need on a boat and it still has a good size cabin and a walk around deck... Amazing!

Cheers

Pete

[Axl]

Looks great Matt76 I bet your glad you didnt sell her now, well done to all.

[Matt76]

Looks Great Matt. Definitley some positive attitudes & quality workmanship there mate.
You've made some serious changes to the original powerplant, hull & trailer.
With the benefit of hindsight(and excellent welding & grinding skills), would you start again next time or do the modifications?

Time to get that tub out on the water!

Yeah lots of changes mate, all for the better so far! The conversion itself really wasn't near as hard as I thought, mainly because i got someone else to do it lol. But seriously it turned out to be the best way rather than selling and building another, I am lucky enough to have been able to do a couple of contra deals for some of the trades involved so cost wise wasn't too scary.

[Matt76]

Sam from PPB and I went out in the bay this afternoon for a test run, and it went beautifully!

I was pretty sure that the extra weight towards the nose would be a good thing and it is indeed, the boat is nice and settled and trimming the motor in was enough to bring the nose down into small lumpy swell that we had in the bay today and stop it slapping around. Comfort is good in the cab and the wind protection was terrific.

I am really happy with the modifications and the boat in general, Now to dust of the fishing rods!!!!