1976 Proline Flatback Scooter Build

[Richiebe]

Hello everyone, well let me start by saying i have restored a couple 222 flatbacks and a 24 proline flatback. But on this build im going a completly different route and was told by many that this is the site for tips n tricks by  very knowledgeable people. So a couple years ago i was in texas and meet some guys who where taking the aquasports and prolines and cutting them down to make scooter style boats and i must say i liked them very well, so a couple weeks ago i found a 20ft proline flatback for cheap and well i grabbed it just for this build. The problem is i cant get in touch with those guys and i dont know what height i should cut it down to?  By memory i want to say it was like 9 or 10 inches from chine?  It has been a few years since i had my last 222 and i cant remember how deep the chine was underwater with a 200vmax, any help would be greatly appreciated. I hope to have this build completed in the next few months i will post pictures of the build as it progresses.

[Richiebe]

Guess i should have added this will be a complete composite build , foam flotation, 8" wide box stringers and bulkheads and polyester resin as its not in the budget for epoxy.

[mshugg]

Should Be an awesome build!  I'm looking forward to seeing your modifications.  Unfortunately, I can't help you with the waterline, but someone will chime in soon.  I think one of the 196 rebuilds showed a conversion to a flat's skiff.

[Richiebe]

This is the style of boat im shooting for.

[Richiebe]

Here is what i was thinking,  cut down to 13" following the chine lines of the boat with a rolled gunnel. A deck height of 12" leaving a 1" gunnel all the way around with notches at transom for any splash. No deck hatches other then bildge access which will be raised to the conture of transom. All storage ,baitwell, batteries, tackle boxes will all be in the raised console. Under floor fuel tank will be slightly forward, and baitwell will be in front of raised console to level the boat a little more.

[mshugg]

Instead of a rolled edge, why not some kind of shear clamp.  Since you’re going composite, use Coosa or foam 1x2 and wrap the glass from your deck down onto it.  Stronger than a rolled edge, and you won’t need a mold to roll the edge.

[RickK]

Sign me up for watching this build.
I grabbed a couple photos off the web on these type of boats and it certainly doesn't look like there is much hull in the water - I think your estimate of 13' may be about right




It appears most of these type boats don't have much engine on them, so you might actually fly with a 200WMax on it

I think a shoe box joint might be the easiest and strongest for the deck to hull.  At the speeds you're going to seeing, I thing the strongest way is the way to go.

[Richiebe]

Well talked to a buddy and he messured his water line for me, he has a 300 verado, twin power poles, porta bracket, hyro trim tabs, closed transom and baitwell in rear and has a waterline of 9"-10" i wont have that much weight hanging off the back  so im going 13"  .... if i went with that edge which i do like the idea as it would be much stronger what about a wire chase? i have four lights for each side that i was going to hide under the rolled edge similar to these but in green.

[Richiebe]

  Well no turning back now.... cut to 13" , hull looks completely different.

[RickK]

Sure does.  You can see in the top pic how the prow is lower than the rest of the hull, maybe 6"(?) - see how it drops down in the hull? So that in mind, do you really want to follow the chine?  From the side I'm sure you still have the classic proline sheer (I can see it in the 2nd pic)

[Richiebe]

Yes i did notice that when i cut it down, i just dont feel comfortable redesigning that angle. Any i deas RickK on how to measure it out? Thought about it last night maybe measuring up from the old floor to edge in the rear and following that measurement all the way around.... maybe i mark it out and see what it looks like.

[RickK]

I think the boat is going to sit on her lines regardless of what you do - meaning the part that droops below the waterline still will. Does that affect your "skinny" water ideas for her? Maybe. This hull is pretty much a FB model so it won't jump up on plane - they just go faster through the water with the prow cutting the water in front.
If you want the top sheer to be horizontal to the water you might want to carefully float her as is and walk around in the water and mark the waterline and even measure the same height from the water for the sheer?  Just thinking aloud here.
It is definitely going to be a different looking boat but that's what you wanted. Does it look bad right now - no but I think you had a lower boat in mind.
Maybe Chris can jump in here too and offer some ideas.

[ftac03]

Check out Mowdy boats and El Pescador boats. They are both cut down flat backs, or started out that way anyway. Gunnel Height around 15" would be standard. You can see these boats have a 20" transom . The transom is about 5" proud of the gunnels.

[Richiebe]

I’m the worst at remembering to take pictures and keep up on post. But I am still working on the project a few hours every weekend I didn’t take pictures of the stringers but they are composite along with the floor only wood is transom and raised deck.

[Richiebe]

All the flooring was done with 2 layers of 1708 on bottom , 4 layers of 1708 along with 2 layer of 1 1/2oz chopped strand mat on top.