New Site!

Here is a new Site I created for this build and design.

Longfin Marine

Specs, drawings and more info may be available here.

More Express Design Ideas

With some further collaboration and combining ideas, development towards an optimal layout is found. These renderings show the center console from the previous post was shifted to the right, and made wider to take more electronics. The tackle centers where pushed aft and will eventually be trimmed by six inches to allow for more helm area while still keeping the tackle centers at a functional size. There is a single seat in front of the helm to allow one person to sit, or storage of bags or miscellaneous gear, and also allow rear access to the electronics via a weather tight, removable access panel.

Further ideas include removing the pedestal chair and integrating the tackle center and a leaning post with a backrest into a single large unit. Adding a switch panel on the side inboard side of the starboard interior wall for switches and other misc items.( gloss wood back plate??). Having a wooden helm pod for the helm wheel.
VHF panel facing upward, below the helm flush mounted, for vhf below, while secondary vhf will be in overhead box.
































And this last picture... The goal of this build...boat some 300#+ Thunnas!

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Location:Rhino V-Ray Rendered Images

Express Design Ideas

Since this past summer, and several trips offshore in not the best weather, I have decided it would be more practical for this boat to be an express. Having an express provides more shelter, and cover from the sea and elements. This will allow for a more comfortable ride and expand the seasonal operation.

These renderings provide an idea of what the design of the express layout will be.









This layout will provide benches on the outboard side of the helm area with tackle centers aft of these benches. These tackle centers could have a live well, freshwater, or sink, tackle draws for inshore/offshore gear, and possible other items. The benches will provide an enormous amount of storage which will greatly add to the organization of the boat.

The helm itself will most likely be A mini console with enough space for the primary gauges, primary electronic display, the wheel, switches, and throttles. On the hard top, there will be an electronics box which will contain two VHFs a secondary Nav display and possible a MF/HF radio for long range communications.

This profile display is just a mock up, the rendering was done with the top designed for the center console layout, it was just used to provided a profile similar image.








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Frame Fairing Continued

Spent most of the day Fairing the frames in preparation for the bottom plating. Went through several belt sander belts since it regularly clogged up from some of the glass.
In retrospect, having this hut from the beginning would have been a much better idea. The wood does not age or deteriorate from water or the sun exposure. This would of prevented applying some of the glass coatins which was used on the frames and side plating to protect the wood from the elements.

The keel was also shaped to receive the plywood.
Next step will be shaping the Chine.







































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Frame Fairing for the bottom Shell Plating

Hut Construction II

Shrink-wrapping the temporary hut for protection from the environment, allowing us to some what have climate control.

Hut Construction

Construction of the temporary hut was built, using 2" PVC and 2x4 plates with 4x4 supports.