Some dimensional help please

[skovian]

Hey guys,

As some of you know I'm putting together a site to develop a Carolina sport fishing boat, www.opensportfisher.org There is some content, but I'm still developing it. If you would be so kind, I need a little guidance.

How far from the waterline is the aft deck? This is for a 35' - 42' boat, BTW. Is the aft deck sloped in order to drain any water from rain or spray? I would think it would drain from the tuna door.

Thanks,
Michael

[CaptainCJ35]

I think in general there should be slight pitch to the sides, and a slope toward transom. This will move water towards the scuppers on either side of the boat. Deck height, gunnel height, and total freeboard has trade offs... higher is dryer, but harder to handle fish in the water for C&R purposes.

[skovian]

It's good to get some input.

I was thinking something like that, but I have never seen scuppers on this type of boat. Certainly never on the sides of the deck going overboard, but maybe drains in the extreme aft, outboard corners draining somewhere? The only hull penetrations that I have seen on the transom are for the exhaust. Do the scuppers drain there? My first thought is "no." Maybe another pipe exiting below the waterline or something?

I was thinking about maybe having the deck start at about eight inches above the waterline with a quarter-inch per foot rise forward to the cockpit and maybe the same thing or a half-inch per foot crown athwartships. Does this sound about right?

Thanks for the info, and feel free to visit the site anytime.

Michael

[CaptainCJ35]

Boats will always have scuppers... its the fastest way to drain water in the boat from heavy seas, backing down on a fish, etc. The scuppers are almost always in the corners of the transom. The drain holes are above the water line, but you might not spot them against the boot stripe or may look like a bilge pump drain.

[seapower]

Make sure you have plenty of scupper area to get rid of water fast. You can have flapper's on the outside that keep the majority of water coming aboard when backing down or simply laying to. I would strongly suggest you climbing on board several boat's to get different idea's about how to get water off deck. Having drain's in the corner's that lead to plumbing then over board (in my opinion) are way less than sufficient. Regardless of what you use a boat for it is imperative to get water off deck, like right now! Worry about handling your fish only after you've built a sea worthy boat. The unexpected can and will happen! Frank

[plyand glass]

Hey skovian,
gotta agree with seapower,the scuppers have to be oversized
because even smaller boats can have the cockpit become "surcharged " with more water than 2- 3" scuppers can handle , especially if they are plumbed to a pump or sump box arrangement. larger boats that are in comercial or charter situations are REQUIRED by the coasties to have a specific size of 'freeing port" area and also hatches in cockpit that open to the lazzarette dog down or some sort of catch mechanism with a sealing gasket.you charter guys on the site help me out here but this is what ive been told.as far as pich on cockpit deck, it depends on how the boat is going to sit in the water because if the boat gets the machinary placed wrong or sits "BOW DOWN" at rest you'll end up witha minnow pond at the forward bulkheads. best thing is check out other boats in this size and also consult with a reputable designer and or builder.