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Benefits/Drawbacks Deckover/Highsided hulls

C

COLD

Well-known member
I was just wondering if a deckover would be OK for the stuff up here? :idea: What are the attributes and drawbacks of the different hull designs? :?
 
Deck boats are usualy heavyer depending on the design, cost more .generaly they stay damp unless you keep it covered with the lids raised. anything that lands on the deck usualy goes through the prop. they do not take on water like a open hull can.they are easyer to get around on. I run a 8x16 bear deck hull and it serves me well it feels very comfortable in deep rough water. were most boats take on water and sink. Now weather it would be good for you I do not know for sure.
 
Yeah it's the rough water stuff I was wondering about, The only thing you mentioned is anything that lands on the deck goes through the prop! :(
 
Cold - I have seen deckovers that have piece of angle that runs across the boat just in front of the cage to divert water off the sides. Otherwise it will typically run off the back and maybe through the propeller. So you need to make sure the prop has at least 6 inches of deck clearance. Just make sure the cage limits things from moving between the deck and cage.

I have not seen any deckovers that were larger than 16 foot, but I am sure I will be corrected if I said they didn't exist. I do know that the concern about humidity inside the hull can be a big issue. Have seen them sweat so bad down here that life vests molded while stored in the hull. So follow Stans advice and make sure at least one of the deck openings is left open when stored.

In really rough water, I have seen (on smaller boats) the high sided boats sort of ride over the waves while they crossed the deck over. There appears to be a safety margin of them not swamping as easy, but it was not a very comfortable situation to be running up.
 
Yeah I looked at the sheriffs setup on that rescue and he was running a deckover. It would make for a very stiff hull, easy for me to build. I have realized my budget is lower than I want, I want all the good stuff! :twisted: 15' deckover could work! Offered the Caddy guy $100.00 and after he closed the hood :lol: we went back to his shop and chatted it up. Were still on speaking terms and told him I would think on it. 20000 miles on rebuild I think for about $400.00 I can have a serviceable DD caddy 500. That would include towing to my place and getting rid of the hulk. Can't look to egere. See where it goes in the next week or so! :twisted:
 
i like deck boats open boats scare me i got a 13 foot deck boat with 220 on it i feel safe just got to watch the pollimar
 
Hey Hogenstien, I'm just wondering what you mean about the poly? I do realize it would be pretty tuff to put nuts on the countersunk bolts. Will have to think on that. What considered good mechanical attachment for poly? is a Square foot pattern good enough? could always try the glue however replacement time would be a drag. Shure wouldn't want an engine of mine anywhere near a sand blaster.
 
I'm just wondering what you mean about the poly COLD-EH' mines rivited and its time for a new sheet its going to be a task thinking about getting new boat do you run stainless up there do to rocks
 
only thing I have always had is an automatic bilge..one of the drawbacks because you can't see if you got a leaker or not. Your friends will be jealous when your done running grass and all you have to do is put the cover on while they need to pull debris out from the goo in the back.
Much safer when it comes to rough water/accidental tipping of the sides etc. Build your prop guard to eliminate things going through the prop. . Good luck.
 
I have owned 2 deck over’s and by far preferred them to any of the open hulls I owned car motor or aircraft. The only one legitimate down fall I have seen with a deck over is you can’t store large objects in the bottom of the boat. However everything else about them is better. I got tangled up in a cable in front of a dam and if my boat wasn’t a deck over it would have sunk. I love my deck over because I use it to teach people how to drive and don’t worry about them sinking my boat. I would never let a rookie drive my boat if it wasn’t a deck over. I have yet to have anything go thru my prop because I generally don’t leave things on my deck. All I can say is if you want a 14ft or smaller airboat that is hard to sink and very safe get a deck over a small deck over is less prone to sinking then a larger high sided hull up to a point. I think the advantages depend on what you do with your boat a deck over is a safe small boat that is great for around three people thus you keep the boat a little smaller. If you haul a crew of 5 or so then your boat must be large, long and high sided and at that point your not concerned about a light, little nimble boat. I may be wrong but I’m guessing deck over’s originally came from people who wanted to run a small light nimble boat that was safe so instead of building a larger wider longer hull the boy’s in the glades just decked them over. Think about it all the old deck overs that are 20,30 plus years old that we still see running around all have four bangers on them. They new building a bigger heavier boat that is harder to sink would get stuck and wouldn’t run well with a 4 banger on them. So I’m saying if you want a boat 14ft or shorter boat a deck over is sweet option but if you want a large heavy boat to haul large amounts of people there is no point of a deck over, just build a large high sided boat.
 
I've had an eye on some of the Palm Beach styled deckovers. I do a lot of camping and I gotta ask. Do some of the deckovers have water-tight access through the top of the hull for carrying things "inside" the hull? I just dont see any practical way to go camping in one if not. Any solutions?

Scotty
 
I don't think they need to be water tight. Just a close fit will shed enough water. I've never owned one though. That's just my observation from seeing a bunch of them.

WHEN I finally get to own one of the deckover beauties, I think I'll try installing a bunch of those "Tee" shaped FLUSH mount tie-downs they sell for the sides (stake holes) of pickup trucks. A BUNCH of them. And then some spider-web bungee and you could probably haul just about anything above deck.

Need a tight fitting cage to keep something that may break loose from ending up in the prop for sure.

matt.
 
Since I want something bigger than a Palm beach (don't get me wrong, I want one of those too but first things first) I was thinking maby something like a flat bottom flats boat, mostly decked over with a self draining recessed passenger area and some sealed hatches. Ideas keep developing at least! :wink:
 
Moodfood, I agree with the flushmounts also. As long as it's tied down good, no problem, You could probably rig something for the cooler so you could get a beer with no more effort than on a high side :D !
 
I would not want to try and Tye 2 -10 foot gators or mess of fish to the deck and run back 15 miles at night and still have my catch
 
Croc1 - yep lots of truth to that. The second fight with those gators as they slide around could be lots more interesting than the first fight to kill & load them.

How do you to haul gators with a deck over?

Only saw them do it once (below deck) and it was a hassle to get them out. Then the issue of cleaning the blood out. Not if it was my boat. No way, no how, not in a deck over.
 
Most deck overs have compartments. Two types are the most common, the most common style is one hatch in front and two on the sides or the other common one is one large hatch in the middle. Another cool thing is when it’s raining my gear isn’t getting rained on.
 
Well I ordered some plans, Still wish shipping wasn't so expensive because the things I could do with some of those used hull prices, but! :x Bigger than I was thinking but it's a flats hull and I will do a deckover with about a 4" drop for pasenger area, self draining and a few hatches. Can't wait to get my plans and then order my Epoxy. But why does it have to be so much work? :cry: I'll get into the work aspect and post progress. Supposed to hit 30 below thursday which is my first or four off so I think I will delay checking if the Caddy runs good! :evil:
 
COLD-EH
JUST WANTED YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOW THAT I HAVE A TRANSPORTER THAT CAN AND WILL DELIVER AIRBOATSTO ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE U.S..I know of 1 gent who wants a boat but shipping to where he is about $3,000.00 from Fla. to New Jersey.(WAY TO EXPENSIVE).I could of done it for about 1/2 of that price.Which makes it affordable to get used boats shipped to ALL of U.S. :D
Just wanted you to have the option along with everyone else.
 
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