Closed off my splashwell

4

416rigby

New member
I got real tired of the bending over to gut/filet fish in the splashwell. I was killin' my back. I also wanted to improve the wasted space here, so I looked through all the tables folks have made for this area and gathered ideas. I then made a prototype out of a sheet of OSB that I had lying around. I needed to work out any issues first. The actual table was made from 1/2" poly. A local restaurant supply place had cutting board material in 4x8 foot sheets and the whole project was right under 300 bucks, including stainless hardware. I screwed the pieces together with #6 inch and a quarter screws. Added a couple rod holders I had, and we're set up even better for trolling.

What a huge difference in usable space. It's awesome. It can be removed easily by tilting it into the cockpit until the locking hinges disengage and simply slide it sideways and off it comes. I'm sure there will be some tweaking, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Rick

Here's a peek. Pics in our projects album.
Finished_product_7.sized.jpg
 
Lanlocked":1l4fzhqn said:
What a cool Idea.

Do you have any more pictures? I could use it double duty to hold my Honda EU200 Gen set.
Click to expand...

Did you notice the ones in 416Rigby's album? It shows a good many views, plus the filler piece on its own. If you haven't seen them: Click on the boat name that's over in the left margin of the person's (in this case 416Rigby) posts, and it will take you to their album. In 416Rigby/Foggy Dew's album there is a sub-album for "Projects" and they start on Page 3 of that album.

Sunbeam
 
Rick, nice job, great to see it finished. Now you have storage space below it too. And keep the water from coming over the splashwell.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Very Nice Rick,

I too have been working on ideas for this space. It's Totally wasted space for us fisherman. I like your idea and have saved the pics. Maybe build the same with a bleeding box and bait box with lids. Have everything drain into the splash well. Thanks for sharing as this may have to be my winter time project. :)

I really like how you have the hinges so they will come off for cleaning or storage. Also If I ever do sell Sea Wolf there's no major changes if someone wants an original boat. Again very nice.
 
Mike - this image in his folder should make it more clear. The locking hinges are designed so that when the piece is rotated, it can be slipped off to one side.

Finished_product_3.jpg
 
I'd strongly suggest making up an OSB or plywood working prototype so you can try various ideas before going with the real thing. I just nailed it together with my brad gun. Easy to modify with another variation. Then you can make cardboard patterns for your final product.

Originally I wanted it to hinge on the centerline as well, so I could bleed/gut into the splashwell and keep the cockpit clean. In the end I went with the simpler version. I got the hinge idea from a table I saw at the local marina on a center console boat.

Future additions will be a washdown system and scent bottle storage. I'm thinkin' a small fence on the aft edge is in order, too. I can see a nice king slipping out of my hands and ending up back in the water. :roll:
 
rogerbum":1iqdalwf said:
Mike - this image in his folder should make it more clear. The locking hinges are designed so that when the piece is rotated, it can be slipped off to one side.

Finished_product_3.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks Roger for the close up. I have seen those hinges and know where to get them. Rick really hit on a great setup for the splash well. :thup Its one of the best I have seen. I have held off for some time looking at all the different options many of the CB have come up with. Rick, I too feel you will need some kind of fence on the aft edge. I really like having a bleeding box that I can drop a fish in, cut a vain, and let them bleed out. All the mess stays in the box which would drain out a hose that went to the outside of the boat. By doing this a BIG part of the clean up has been averted. From my measurements I believe I can also add a bait box to this deck. I have used a small cooler for my bait for years. I'm hoping I can create a box that I can drop my cooler in to. By adding the boxes to the underside it would also add strength to the table. It's very easy to build lids for the boxes that are recessed, thus making the table flat for taking care of any fish when the day is done. I use a fish bag that most have gone to stationed under the new deck.
4995736e.jpg


Rick is right suggesting I build a prototype first and it's exactly what I will do. With the cost of materials now days having a pattern to use will save a buck or two for sure.

I will make sure to add a photo shoot to my albums section so other Brats can use it if they want. Thanks again Rick for the great idea. :)
 
The aft corner mount location works fine. Mounting the downriggers where they are wasn't my first choice, but when we bought the boat it was set up for tuna fishing and had 2 pairs of rod holders flush mounted. One pair where the riggers are now, facing straight aft, and another pair facing 45 degrees aft. I suppose I could have mounted them where the forward holders are, but we like having our rods a bit forward of the riggers instead of on the booms, so it works for us.

Downrigger location was not bad with the manuals, but the electric is no trouble at all. One good thing is that we're well clear of the prop when we're turning.

Rick
 
Mike, those fish bags are totally the way to go, eh? We love ours. Doesn't take up any floor space. Your bleed box idea is similar to what I was thinking of...a tuna tube. I think a length of 10" diameter plasic pipe mounted vertical with a bottom full of small holes would work great. Cut the gills and drop the fish head first into the tube and he can't go anywhere and the mess goes overboard from the splashwell. I'm really leaning toward something like that. Then into the fishbag he goes.
 
416rigby":2wbysbtl said:
Mike, those fish bags are totally the way to go, eh? We love ours. Doesn't take up any floor space. Your bleed box idea is similar to what I was thinking of...a tuna tube. I think a length of 10" diameter plasic pipe mounted vertical with a bottom full of small holes would work great. Cut the gills and drop the fish head first into the tube and he can't go anywhere and the mess goes overboard from the splashwell. I'm really leaning toward something like that. Then into the fishbag he goes.
Click to expand...

Another great idea. I don't tuna fish so wasn't thinking along those lines. I think that is the nice thing about your design. Build the table and add what works for you. Now I'm thinking maybe one could add that tube with a cap if not in use to the bottom of the bleeding box. Hummmmm. :?: :?: More to follow I'm sure. :thup
 
The table has to be tilted forward if I want to tilt the engine all the way. That's why I went with the hinge design from the git-go. I wanted the table as large as possible. You could certainly make yours smaller if you wanted to.

Rick
 
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