Charles Neuman Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 I notice that some people have an aft seat rather than a deck. The seat makes the boat look a little more open, but it does sacrifice some storage space. Any other pros and cons I should consider? Thanks, Charles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Jones Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 not a lot of sacrifice. The one I'm building for a customer has no aft deck- just a seat. But he's having a hatch installed in that seat to access storage below it. You'll only lose a couple cubic feet at most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffM Posted December 10, 2005 Report Share Posted December 10, 2005 I like my aft deck. I perch on it sometimes for the view. Also, I suspect boarding over the transom is a little easier with the deck than without--no sharp edges to climb over. My lazarette hatch is in the bulkhead, and I find the storage it affords to be very generous: the lazarette is about as big as the forepeak, and much more accessable underway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted December 10, 2005 Report Share Posted December 10, 2005 You can have a little of each- a seat higher than the other seats. The helmsman can see over taller passengers. Getting over the transom is no problem I've found it the best way to launch. Set the sails push and jump in. I took the idea from the Haven 12 1/2 -not a bad design to steal from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Neuman Posted December 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2005 That's a good idea for the raised seat. When you make it with a seat instead of a deck, do you place the aft bulkhead in the same place (as opposed to having a different bulkhead placed further aft)? I assume so. That would give an aft seat that is about 2 feet deep, which is deeper than the side seats. I can't quite read the dimensions of many photos, but that seems like it's reasonable. Charles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Williams Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 I did a raised seat approach on my CS17 with the large folding hatch, I've got great access for my ice box (presently under construction), my trolling motor and the battery. I believe the seat will be my favorite perch when sailing next summer! I'll post some finished shots in a couple of weeks. I found mocking things like this up with cardboard and duct tape is a good first step. Seeing it in 3D really helps sort out questions like you're having! Good luck. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 Yes, just pretend that you are doing the standard aft bulkhead and trim it down to the height that you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Neuman Posted December 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 Thanks everyone! The plans show how to make the transom frame stronger if there is no aft deck. It also says to make it even stronger if there is an outboard. What modifications are necessary for a small outboard, such as a 2 or 4 hp? Also, as long as I'm bulking up the transom frame, I might as well consider making it solid. Anybody do that? What would be the suggested thickness? 3/4"? Thanks, Charles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer Posted December 12, 2005 Report Share Posted December 12, 2005 Don't do the solid wood transom as there is lots of potential for solid wood to swell, shrink, cup or move at the seams, whereas the ply transom is dimensionally stable and seamless. Just put the 1 x 6 across the top of the transom and a vertical 1 x 6 capped with 1/4" ply for the outboard. Most builders put the outboard out to the side so that you don't need to unship the rudder when you mount the outboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Niemann Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Here are some photos of what I have done for the transom and motor setup. I don't know how it will work in the long run but the plate on the aft transom is a cutting board I swiped from my wife's kitchen. Maybe she won't miss it. The cost was right. I hope it is ultraviolet proof. We will see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I have used those plastic breadboards with good luck. They are very much like Starboard which is the industry standard for shop built fittings on boats . There is one point I would like to remind everyone of, the mizzen sheets like to foul on anything that they can. I have found it necessary to keep the stern clean of anything that can catch a sheet. I don't use stern cleats preferring to put U-bolts on the transom to tie the boat to. Outboards are just to designed to snarl the sheets. Round over the top aft end of the rudder/ tiller. The sheets won't foul while tacking but when you gybe the sheets will hook on anything that is not rounded over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Niemann Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 Thanks Graham for your input. Stinkpots are always a problem with sailboats. I don't like them much but decided it would be nice to have when the wind died. In fact, this is my first sailboat ever to have a motor in about 30 years of sailing. On the environmental side, I am just finishing a set of oars to the plans I received from Graham. I will post a photo later. One other thing I will mention. When I met Graham at the WaterTribe event last year he pointed out to me that the U-bolts on the transom should be mounted vertically so that's what I am planning to do. Net, mizzen sheet will not foul the U-bolts or the rudder tiller. Of course, I am sure they will somehow miss the motor also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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