Storage/SeatBoxes for Famous Bass

[manus]

I recently acquired a secondhand Famous Bass MK1. On the first few trips, I became aware of some stuff that are missing on the boat.

For one, there is no storage space for one's tackle, battery, fuel tank, etc.

I designed two boxes to provide proper seats and storage. The outside of these boxes will eventaully be covered in fibreglass and painted for protection. Seats will be covered in 3mm Extrusion rubber filled with foam.

Boxes fit snugly between the pontoons and are raised to be about 5cm above the pontoons.

 

[manus]

The first seat for the back, looks like this:

 

 

[manus]

The second seat for the front, looks like this:


 

 

[manus]

For the draughtsman around, please excuse my very rough sketches. I know what's going on there!

I have started constructing the shell of the boxes, using 6.4mm MDF (will post pictures later). Although they will be a bit heavy in the end, they need to be sturdy to carry my excessive frame!

Tonight the fibreglass covering starts.

 

[Shannon]

Manus, good luck on the project.

I'm sorry to do this, but I would rather warn you now before you've finished the job.
You can't use MDF board for anything on a boat, unless you are using it as a sacrifical mould. If you get the tiniest crack or hole in your sealing, the MDF board will soak up the water like a sponge and turn into mush.
You need to use Marine Ply or exterior ply at worst and it all needs to be coated in epoxy resin. Polyester resin isn't waterproof, only the gelcoat and flowcoat is.

The MDF will look good for a while because it's nice and smooth, but in a years time you'll have to rebuild the hatches again. Boat builders use MDF to make plugs because it is so smooth and easy to work with, they pull a mould off it and then throw it away.

Built correctly the Ply will only need to be filleted and taped in the corners and coated with resin, it won't need to be completely covered in glass.

If you want ideas on how to do the filleting and taping just ask.