Glen-L.com

Since the end is in sight of the build of my 18" runabout, I figure it's time to start dreaming about my next boat.

I would like to build a Riva Aquamarina type. Here is a link to a Hacker-Craft that is a bit longer but similar ( http://www.hackerboatco.com/html/30__sport_2.html ). I've been looking at the Glen-L Riviera as a base for the modifications. It looks like it would be great except for the lack of depth. Since the sun deck would have to be recessed into the top deck above the engine, and since the Riviera is already a tight fit with the engine height, I see a problem. I figure I would have to increase the deck height about 6" - 8".

To do this I could simply increase the height of the sides of the frames. This would be simple. The problem would be that I would loose some of the curvature of the sides of the hull. For example, if the frame bowed out 1" at its center over a height of 25", and I then increased the height to 32", the 1" bow at the centre would look less round. To illustrate further, if I exaggerated the height to 10' then the 1" bow would be unnoticeable.

With the increase I am planning the loss of curvature would be small, but I was wondering if anyone has a method for maintaining the curvature when increasing the frame height.

I would also add an extra false frame at the rear to obtain the sloping transom. This would increase the buoyancy at the rear slightly as well as shifting the CG, but I don't think it would make a significant difference. Any thoughts?

Bruce.

I think you will be surprised with the boat you will end up with. I see the rear longer the front longer and sides higher. This will make the boat look narrower and like it's top heavy. One thing that it won't look like is the same boat with higher sides!

Sounds to me like you need a professional to first mock up a drawing to see if you like what happens to the boat in order to raise the sides.