Closed bow to an Open Bow

waveboy9813 · Criminal Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 64

Do you think you could take your closed bow boat cut a hole in the front and then add interior. If it could be done does anyone have any idea how to do it?

dirtysparks · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 2428

Yes, you could totally do it. Do it right now. It will look sweet. And it won't effect the boat's stuctural integrity either. On the other hand.......yeah, you probably shouldn't. Buy an open bow.

Jama · Soul Rider Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 476 City: Knoxville

waveboy9813, are you being serious?

waveboy9813 · Criminal Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 64

Well Jama it was just an idea. I would buy an open bow but I'm a poor college Student Sad

. But I would still like to know if anybody has done it and If the did it how they did it. But I'm guessing it cant be done by your feedback.

OUwakeboarder · Outlaw Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 153 City: Moore/Norman

yeah I read somewhere on here that guy did it to a malibu on here. Use the search

ATROPINE · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 197 City: Logandale, NV

It has been done. Search on malibuboatowners.com. the finished product turned out pretty nice.

Tyler T · Posted: Apr 09, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject:

Most closed bows are nothing more than an empty space with a gas tank occupying them. Cutting out the top would most likely have little to no effect on the structural integrity of the hull. This is most absolutely can be done. In fact, my dad has done it to two boats. Granted, they were old aluminum boats he uses for fishing and the end product wasn't very pretty, but it most certainly can be done.

Liquid*Force*Rider · Posted: Apr 09, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject:

waveboy9813, If you do this take some pics of the progress. Cool

waveboy9813 · Criminal Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 64

I cant find the thing that you were talking about on malibuboatowners.com. If you could paste the link that would be great.

thanks
scott

ATROPINE · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 197 City: Logandale, NV

I just went to the malibuboatowners website and found that it appears to be under some renovation currently. I'll keep checking in and try to post a link when it is back up and running. I don't remember the guy's name, but the boat was a response and the conversion basically turned it into a response LX. He did a very professional job and it did not appear to damage the structural integrity of the boat.

waveboy9813 · Criminal Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 64

well thanks again. Ya just paste the link here when ever it comes back up.

Thanks
scott

RufioSwashbuckle · Posted: Apr 10, 2005 7:44 pm Post subject:

check with whoever you bought the boat from , or the manufacturer to get blue prints from them , to see whats inside.

dirtysparks · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 2428

Ok, sorry for the dickhole comment, I didn't think you were being serious. Now if you want to make your closed bow an open bow you'll need quite a bit of planning and practice.

Basically your talking about cutting a hole around the bow. Then you'll be left with quasi-sharp edges, which if you want to do a good job this is where it will come into play. I would roll the edges mating it up with another piece of fiberglass taking it down the side. This will give you some rigidity to the hole you just cut plus give you some backing for your interior. Otherwise I could see the front flexing and flopping around a lot. You could possibly re-use the fiberglass you cut out of that space to create the inside wall mating up with where you cut it off.

I would use some sort of backing between where the two edges meet....that could be fiberglass or some marine grade wood, depending on how technical you want to get. Of course you could just cut a hole in it and throw in some interior but that could get ugly. In my experience I would venture to imagine that some structural integrity would be lost. These older boats were designed this way. This is why I would reinforce the inner walls of the boat from the cut line. Also it will make it easier for you interior to match up and overlap the cut line so that it would look nice and clean. Good luck, keep us posted, and gather up some pics!

blairpoelman · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 595

My dad's boat is a 27' Fountain - was a closed bow but he had it opened up. The shop that did it is very skilled and does very good work - they are in Orem, Utah. You can't even tell that it was once a closed-bow. The key is to have it cut in the right place and whoever is doing your interior has to work hand-in-hand with the shop doing the cutting. It was not cheap, but it is excellent work.

It's just a little bit scarry now sitting in the open bow of a boat doing 85 MPH.

In this case, I think you'll end up having to do a new windshield and dash assembly unless you don't want to have a walk-through to the front.
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30 ROCK DICUSSION

waveboy9813 · Criminal Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 64

see i would round the edges and I would also reinforce it pretty well. I have a buddy that has a body shop. So if i did it would do it right there with some professionals around.

shaggyboarder · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 1:22 pm Post subject:

Hey i like your idea i was thinking about doing something like that with my 83 supra but i have no connections with n e one in that field of work
if you do it def post some pics good luck

CrescentBarBoy · Criminal Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 55 City: Mount Vernon

Dude i bet i could be dun but i wouldnt even think about trying it incase you **** up your boat....... my advice is to use a saw and eyeclasses haha

Beaver · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

It think it could be done.If you do post some pics.