Adding a pilot house

[kcLanier]

I own a 1997 Luhrs 320 open and live in the Pacific Northwest of the US. I am looking to see if it is possible to replace the isenglass eclosure with a pilot house type structure. I have not desire at this time to reconfigure the interior of the enclosure. I am looking for suggestions and direction. I love the boat and the Hull rides incredibly smooth in these North Pacific waters. Thank you in advance for your input and assistance. I have enclosed a photograph of the boat.

 

[AndieMac]

Hello and welcome to the forum....

It may depend on the particular skills and charge rates of the available tradesmen/shipwrights in your immediate area, as to what you ultimately choose to build the pilot-house in.
Would you be content with the more angular appearance that alloy (once insulated, lined and powder coated) or timber framed plywood and resin would provide or perhaps the curves of moulded GRP?

I gather the intention is to keep the spotting tower/bridge structure above?

Have you seen pilot house additions on other such vessels, they appear to be a popular style of boat in the US.

 

[lenseman]

. . . . I am looking to see if it is possible to replace the isenglass eclosure with a pilot house type structure. . . . . . . I am looking for suggestions and direction. . . . . . . . .

Welcome to the forums.

My only consideration is that you might have a stability problem due to raising the Center of Gravity with any change in superstructure?

Just a thought.

 

[Bajansailor]

David raises a very valid point above re how the centre of gravity of the boat would rise if you built a 'solid' pilot house.
I think you also have to consider the visual appeal as well.
If you built a 'solid' version of what you have at the moment, it would probably look as if you had plonked part of a caravan on top of the boat - yet with those flexible 'roll up' side screens it looks much more appealing visually.
And the cost of retrofitting a new pilot house is likely to be considerable.

Do / did Luhrs build a similar size version with a pilot house?
If yes, it might be worthwhile looking around to see if you can find one (or something similar) for sale - it would probably be less expensive (and much less hassle) in the long run.

 

[vas]

+1
for increased COG and overall weight on a fairly small boat.
I guess Luhrs doesn't have a solid pilothouse version in this size, if they do, they must have done other alterations to keep weight down and definitely lower the "roof" of the pilothouse so to speak.
A draft of under a metre and a solid superstructure of 3+ is not a good idea imho. Again imho it will look pretty awful unless a lot of effort is given into curved framework out of grp and similarly impossible to obtain curved windshields (perspex as glass will be too heavy). I can understand it's a utilitarian conversion you are talking about, but I doubt you'll get something good out of it (in terms of aesthetics, utility, cost and resale value!)

cheers

 

[AndieMac]

I think you will find as with other brands like Wellcraft and Pro-line in the walk-around fishing style, this boat will be quite beamy for it's length.

Yes it may be an expensive retro fit, but imo the boat has a good wheel-house foundation/plinth with the deck level curves just forward of the helm.

 

[kcLanier]

I know I am branching into an area no one has gone with on a Luhrs before.
I think she has plenty of power to handle the slight increase in weight

 

[ari]

I think you also have to consider the visual appeal as well.

Agree with this. I've never seen a retro fit wheelhouse that looked in keeping with the original boat's lines.