Rebuild 1976 170

[sfmudder]

Have a 1976 170, boat seems to be rather solid with sof floors. I am going to remove the floor and check stringers. I am thinking of making this a tunnell hull boat. Has anyone ever done this? What would be the negatives? I appreciate any and all feedback.

[jjsnjax]

Setting aside the practical issues of how you would create a tunnel and still have a strong hull, you should keep in mind that a tunnel will cost you a significant amount of flotation.  This is relevant because the 170 was already designed for the lighter engines of the 70's.  Might I suggest instead that you add the transom bait boxes and a jack plate.  I did this on my 170 project...now gone to become an engine for my 20 project.  The effect was similar, the 6 inch plate shifted the engine back and boxes seemed to funnel water allowing a higher engine setting.  If you do this, be sure to raise the deck when you replace it or your drains will be underwater from shifting the engine back

[sfmudder]

Thanks for the input, it currently has the bait boxes on both sides and I have a jack plate to put on it. Mostly looking for anyone that had done anything similar, I am very much leaning to not do this and simply replace and raise the floor, install jack plate and repait. This boat has the rigging trough, have people replaced the floordone away with this and run a rigging tube?

[RickK]

The first time I replaced my floor I left the trough.  On this rebuild of her I left it out and put in rigging tubes.