litefab88 Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Hey all, i need some advise. I just purchased a caribbean belmont that i picked up for a ripper price. The old man and i needed a boat that he could tow to SW rocks from vic and something i could fish portland, berma, and bass strait makos with. I will be making a ally hardtop with clears. New 140hp four banger and id love to fab up a ally pod with intrigrated duckboard and trim tabs. Reason for pod is to give a longer footprint in the water and i could get rid of rear seats and transom well and replace with kill and live bait tanks. I would make pod fully sealed and follow shape of vee. My question is this..... will it muck up the ride of my hull. Or will this be the right move to convert her into the offshore beast. Ill post progress of build if anyone is intrested. Cheers Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antonywardle Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 it will give you more room and a longer length is good in rougher seas No idea how the rdie would change. There is a place in qland that makes pods. They send you a list of things that they want measured, then they build it and post it down to you. Sounds like you can do all that yourself I'd be interested in seeing the progress. I had a ranger 24 with an inboard that I was thinking about doing it on. Didn't happen in the end, the inlaws took it back home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litefab88 Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 Im starting the ally hardtop this weekend. Ill post progress Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greyfox Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Be interested in the hardtop , I have thought about this option too, keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I run a Haines 635L which was built with an ally pod - original from Haines. The pod is exactly as you describe with integrated duckboard on each side. I have a 200hp (175kg Merc) bolted to the pod. +1 for antonywardle comments about more room and longer water line length. I have had friends on my boat comment that my rig is very "roomy" (about 2x2m fishing area) and has a great ride compared to other boats they had been on out wide. I have been in some nasty weather and she rides true coming down the back of sloppy waves with no broaching. But you will find with the motor hanging about 1m further back that she will ride lower at the stern at rest unless you make the pod big enough to float the motor. Hence, one thing I would recommend is to make the pod as large as possible to give you more buoyancy at the stern - if you look at all the new ally / fibreglass boats with pods most have now designed a pod that runs across the whole stern. In my experience, with the duckboard and clear internal access to the stern you will also find that you WILL use the space. eg. I find that 3 blokes can and do tend to stand across the stern (180-200kg)....and then I have also fitted 3x batteries across the back (60kg), plus a 15hp 4-st Aux (50kg) - not just for safety but for trolling out wide, and I also have my live bait tank sitting out back on the duckboard where it clips into place (40kg). That's a lot of weight to float out back - I have countered some of that by installing a +100L fresh water bladder out front under the bunks for better balance, but most recently I fabricated two floatation tanks that I bolted under the duckboards to the pod giving me about 90kg of lift at the back at rest - in addition they act a bit like trim tabs to give me better hole shot performance. I've attached a few photos to help visualize - showing the boat from different angles and the pod pre and post the floatation tanks - but my summary would be to make the pod as big as possible. Cheers Zoran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antonywardle Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 That's a nice looking setup Zoran! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Great Boat, I bought one new in 1987. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Thanks guys. I've had mine since 1996. The set up has evolved. Repowered, retrailered, recanopied - can't fault the hull performance and she takes me to Brown's and back just nice. I have found the whole pod design works great. As you can see, with the rear seat folded the deck area is huge for a sub 7m boat with a full cabin (2 x 7ft V bunks). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litefab88 Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Im inspired.thanks for the info mate. Bigger is better makes sense. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 (edited) I've posted this picture before ... best of luck with your pod...... and tight lines !!! PS - If you want to come and take measurements of my pod, make cardboard templates etc. Just PM me. Cheers. Zoran Edited April 29, 2016 by zmk1962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litefab88 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litefab88 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litefab88 Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Finally got a start on the hardtop last night. Ill try post some more photo's tonight including my seat frames Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antonywardle Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 update? I like looking at what people get up to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litefab88 Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 Hey Antony, Hardtop is complete i just need to finish wiring of lights and clears are getting made as we speak. I will take some picks when its finished and im gummy fishing with the swags rolled out. Ill also show some picks of my seat and esky setup Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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