I built nearly the same boat from a 26 ft sailboat in 2011. The old boat filled with a ft of ice was $250 in a two axle trailer :-) I DID keep my keel which had been cut down to about 12 inches. The keel was 3/4 inch steel 6 ft long. People said the top was to heavy, I argued the original top WITH a sail would be heavier and added pressures when sailing. I finished the inside with 1/4 inch underpayment (one good side) then used amber shellac to finish it off. The inside had been cleared and just had a floor of plywood. The boat previously used as a camper in a local lake. I used new unfinished upper kitchen cabinets (17 inch’s deep) to save room using amber shellac for them too. I added an old 8hp outboard but wish I has put on a 9.9 when I crossed Mobil Bay (Alabama) while spending the winter cruising from Biloxi to Tampa. The boat didn’t tip over but did roll a little when going thru 4-5 ft wakes left by huge shipping container ships in the bay. I removed one bench of the table, put up a wall then hung a 24 inch flat screen TV for entertainment and navigation and added a Small dorm size fridge. I covered the cockpit well with a plywood door setting it on top of the old seats, I stored a 12 gallon gas tank there under the new floor (added an additional outside vent) so I had less climbing around to do. Put two heavy patio chairs in deck and headed out for the ICW in Gulf Shore AL. With the 8hp I got tremendous mileage, better than 16mpg based on my GPS readings. Good luck, your boat is prettier than mine, you will get looks and questions endlessly.
Have you tested this boat with the keel removed? I would do that before you spend a bunch of time and money and then find out the boat is unstable with the keel gone. I had the idea to do this to have a sleep on slow speed fishing boat. However it is just an idea for me and I don't have the time to actually do it. Good luck with the project.
I have a 23 foot Paceship that I'm looking to do something similar with right now. I paid $50 for it 😃, it's perfectly fine, the guy just wanted to get it out of his hair because he already bought a 37 footer and can't handle 2 boats. The only issue with the Paceship P23 is all the standing rigging, the mast, the boom etc is all at the bottom of the waterway somewhere where it's moored, it's been down there for a long time, it's buried in the silt, not sure where it is now. So it's a motorboat now. Got a Johnson 9.9 on the back, it's a small boat, you can practically water ski behind it with the 9.9 back there, I love that other people are doing this too.
Glad I found this video I have 25 ft McGregor I wanted to convert to a just a houseboat didn't know if you could do it by not having a keel thank you for answering my question.
I have a 1990 Mcgregor 26 that I bought from a friend two years ago. In the spring I want to remove the mast and tiller. I'm planning to add a steering wheel to turn the Mercury 9.9 hp long shaft motor. I've never operated the boat under sail, motored only. I really like the idea of a trawler. I'll store the mast and boom in my yard should I ever decide to sell it as a complete sailboat again. It's nice to know others have similar ideas.
Add a keel of some kind or when you turn the boat will “slide” sideways causing you to make huge/wide turns.. in a recent 17 ft sailboat conversion to fishing boat I left about 6 inches of the center board below water, cut off the top level with the floor, screwed and fiberglass it in permanently. NOTE: in 2011 I converted a 26 Columbia sailboat just like in the video.. Good luck
Glad I found this! I'm going to start something similar with an Ensenada 20 (hopefully this spring). Now subscribed and will follow closely. Good luck!!
HINT: leave in some of the keel if you can.. a ft of iron/steel, even 6 inches on the bottom side will greatly help with stability and not interfere with shallow waters.
Thanks for the positivity! I had quite a few people tell me it will not work or look good....coming from someone that has never done it or knows how...lol! Thanks for watching and hang in there for more! :)
@@Youcan2Adventures Some people are just purists. Me I'm more of "let's make it useful and good looking", I'm building a foldown transom deck on my islander, just makes it alot more useful than side entry.
On the video I am watching you are installing the steering. NOTE; You are putting the steering cable on the wrong side :-( That will require you to steer just opposite of most boats and cars. Actually I did mine conversion the same way (left side) because the hatch door to the galley on my sailboat was offset, not enough room in the right side for a wheel and seat.. STEERING… I went to a boat junkyard and bought 3 stainless steering wheels 18,20,24 for just $25 each. I didn’t need three but the cost on Cabbalas was about $140 each! It’s fun watching you figure it out.. doing quality work too
Lol... trust me I tried it out several times and you turn right on the wheel or lever and it pulls the cable pulling the motor to face left making the boat turn right. I wish I had a boat boneyard to buy the right steering unit, but where I am there are very few boats even though there are a few large lakes fairly close. Thanks for watching and commenting.... I would love to see your conversion also :)
Why not just mount your long shaft outboard on the notch in the transom rather than build a bracket? Having it mounted on the transom will make it a lot easier to use. Just remove the traveler if it's in the way.
I had thought the same initially, but the notch on the transom is few inches too high and the prop will not be in the water. I thought of cutting the notch out and lowering it also. The problem with that is to get it low enough I then have to cut the floor of cockpit and the angle would be wrong to get efficiency from motor and if I got the height wrong I would have to cut more of the transom. If I get things wrong with the bracket I built.... easier to adjust up or down. Thanks for watching. :)
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I built nearly the same boat from a 26 ft sailboat in 2011.
The old boat filled with a ft of ice was $250 in a two axle trailer :-)
I DID keep my keel which had been cut down to about 12 inches. The keel was 3/4 inch steel 6 ft long.
People said the top was to heavy, I argued the original top WITH a sail would be heavier and added pressures when sailing.
I finished the inside with 1/4 inch underpayment (one good side) then used amber shellac to finish it off.
The inside had been cleared and just had a floor of plywood. The boat previously used as a camper in a local lake.
I used new unfinished upper kitchen cabinets (17 inch’s deep) to save room using amber shellac for them too.
I added an old 8hp outboard but wish I has put on a 9.9 when I crossed Mobil Bay (Alabama) while spending the winter cruising from Biloxi to Tampa.
The boat didn’t tip over but did roll a little when going thru 4-5 ft wakes left by huge shipping container ships in the bay.
I removed one bench of the table, put up a wall then hung a 24 inch flat screen TV for entertainment and navigation and added a Small dorm size fridge.
I covered the cockpit well with a plywood door setting it on top of the old seats, I stored a 12 gallon gas tank there under the new floor (added an additional outside vent) so I had less climbing around to do. Put two heavy patio chairs in deck and headed out for the ICW in Gulf Shore AL.
With the 8hp I got tremendous mileage, better than 16mpg based on my GPS readings.
Good luck, your boat is prettier than mine, you will get looks and questions endlessly.
Have you tested this boat with the keel removed? I would do that before you spend a bunch of time and money and then find out the boat is unstable with the keel gone. I had the idea to do this to have a sleep on slow speed fishing boat. However it is just an idea for me and I don't have the time to actually do it. Good luck with the project.
I have a 23 foot Paceship that I'm looking to do something similar with right now. I paid $50 for it 😃, it's perfectly fine, the guy just wanted to get it out of his hair because he already bought a 37 footer and can't handle 2 boats. The only issue with the Paceship P23 is all the standing rigging, the mast, the boom etc is all at the bottom of the waterway somewhere where it's moored, it's been down there for a long time, it's buried in the silt, not sure where it is now. So it's a motorboat now. Got a Johnson 9.9 on the back, it's a small boat, you can practically water ski behind it with the 9.9 back there, I love that other people are doing this too.
Looks like a great project- look forward to the next videos!!
It's a bit of a project for sure! You will see in my next video of what I am dealing with.... it's an adventure for sure! Thanks for watching :)
Glad I found this video I have 25 ft McGregor I wanted to convert to a just a houseboat didn't know if you could do it by not having a keel thank you for answering my question.
I have a 1990 Mcgregor 26 that I bought from a friend two years ago. In the spring I want to remove the mast and tiller. I'm planning to add a steering wheel to turn the Mercury 9.9 hp long shaft motor. I've never operated the boat under sail, motored only. I really like the idea of a trawler. I'll store the mast and boom in my yard should I ever decide to sell it as a complete sailboat again. It's nice to know others have similar ideas.
Add a keel of some kind or when you turn the boat will “slide” sideways causing you to make huge/wide turns.. in a recent 17 ft sailboat conversion to fishing boat I left about 6 inches of the center board below water, cut off the top level with the floor, screwed and fiberglass it in permanently.
NOTE: in 2011 I converted a 26 Columbia sailboat just like in the video..
Good luck
I just got a 19ft O'Day for next to nothing.
Maybe to much to make it sail again, you showed me the way.
It might make a good Mississippi mud puppy.
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching and hope to see your build.... just gotta do it. :)
Looking forward to seeing the progress.
I may even bring it up your way to see in person! Once finished of course....oh and when it warms up!
@@Youcan2Adventures You guys are always welcome cuz. The Great Lakes are.... well....great! You won't be disappointed.
I think it's a great idea.
saw you on Facebook now subscribed. Looks like you've got good plan. We're onboard.
Wow... thanks for following and subscribing! I hope the plan goes through as planned...lol!
Glad I found this! I'm going to start something similar with an Ensenada 20 (hopefully this spring). Now subscribed and will follow closely. Good luck!!
Welcome aboard! Thanks for finding me and stay tuned as I have come a long way since this video!
Jim, hope to see what you do with your Ensenada. I have a Balboa 20 (related boat) that I might consider converting too.
HINT: leave in some of the keel if you can.. a ft of iron/steel, even 6 inches on the bottom side will greatly help with stability and not interfere with shallow waters.
Nice! Looking forward to following. I’m doing something similar.
Thanks for watching so far! Glad you like it! What are you working with or on? Would love to see it
Cool how did it handle the wind
Not a problem at all..... even seen 45 miles per hour wind!
That'll look pretty nice with a platform step setup on the transom
Thanks for the positivity! I had quite a few people tell me it will not work or look good....coming from someone that has never done it or knows how...lol! Thanks for watching and hang in there for more! :)
@@Youcan2Adventures Some people are just purists. Me I'm more of "let's make it useful and good looking", I'm building a foldown transom deck on my islander, just makes it alot more useful than side entry.
@@PennWolfsSailingAdventures Would love to see it!
On the video I am watching you are installing the steering. NOTE; You are putting the steering cable on the wrong side :-( That will require you to steer just opposite of most boats and cars.
Actually I did mine conversion the same way (left side) because the hatch door to the galley on my sailboat was offset, not enough room in the right side for a wheel and seat..
STEERING… I went to a boat junkyard and bought 3 stainless steering wheels 18,20,24 for just $25 each. I didn’t need three but the cost on Cabbalas was about $140 each!
It’s fun watching you figure it out.. doing quality work too
Lol... trust me I tried it out several times and you turn right on the wheel or lever and it pulls the cable pulling the motor to face left making the boat turn right. I wish I had a boat boneyard to buy the right steering unit, but where I am there are very few boats even though there are a few large lakes fairly close. Thanks for watching and commenting.... I would love to see your conversion also :)
Why not just mount your long shaft outboard on the notch in the transom rather than build a bracket? Having it mounted on the transom will make it a lot easier to use. Just remove the traveler if it's in the way.
I had thought the same initially, but the notch on the transom is few inches too high and the prop will not be in the water. I thought of cutting the notch out and lowering it also. The problem with that is to get it low enough I then have to cut the floor of cockpit and the angle would be wrong to get efficiency from motor and if I got the height wrong I would have to cut more of the transom. If I get things wrong with the bracket I built.... easier to adjust up or down. Thanks for watching. :)