SeaArk deck extension

[S. Sass]

Thought I would share my redneck "upgrade" to my 2010 SeaArk. I wanted more deck to fish from and so I basically built a table frame and used 3/4 plywood on top. I used a piano hinge from Home Depot ($8) and 1 yard of marine carpet ($19).  I had the wood except the plywood but I got it as scrap (free) off a jobsite. The Perko handle was a leftover from when I replaced all the locking ones.(lock does not work but I don't need it to for now). 

 

I don't expect it to last but a season maybe 2 but I was impatient and my welder was stacked up. Other than the hinged lid the rest of the support and all comes out in one piece.  Hopefully the welder can have this to get dimensions from and build me a aluminum one. Took it out today for the first time and it was nice to have the added walking room since now the cooler and stuff is now under the deck. 

 

This 

Is now this. It is 30" square except for the 4" part that is in front of the driver's console.  

 

 

[WIGuide]

It's nice to not have that hole in the deck there, and makes a big difference in fishability. Looks like you did a good job with it! My boat was designed like that too, as it was made before the days of the bigger front decks, but I was lucky enough to find a factory deck extension and it makes the layout a lot better. Not the greatest picture of it, but the best I have on my work computer. It almost doubled the length of my front deck. Plus whoever I'm fishing with can put their gear under it and it stays out of the way. 

[S. Sass]

16 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

It's nice to not have that hole in the deck there, and makes a big difference in fishability. Looks like you did a good job with it! My boat was designed like that too, as it was made before the days of the bigger front decks, but I was lucky enough to find a factory deck extension and it makes the layout a lot better. Not the greatest picture of it, but the best I have on my work computer. It almost doubled the length of my front deck. Plus whoever I'm fishing with can put their gear under it and it stays out of the way. 

Yeah it is definitely a learning curve building something for a boat. They have a lot of angles for stuff I didn't take into account. Before when there was just a opening there it looked square and for all practical purposes it was. Then when I built a really square box I found out the wall that the hinge I mounted was angled forward the sides are square so no big issue there but the tops of the rod locker and in front of the driver's compartment have slight inward angles (drainage reasons I presume). That is part of why my lid is slightly higher than the sides as you can see where the rod locker side meets it. 

 

Anyway I could have done this much easier and kept my boat all aluminum having a heavy gauge aluminum pan built with a inch or so lip around the edges. Turning the lip down and it would have screwed/bolted right in with no supports if all I wanted was flooring there. But I really wanted the lid. Having easy access to all the flooring below was important. Also wasn't sure I wanted a permanent fixture. Being removable makes it easier for thorough cleaning and if you desire it out of the boat it can come out. 

 

So I am still considering options as I know this won't last a long time. Hopefully I can get my brother (my welder) to make me something aluminum that will last. I wish I could get a factory extension that opened reasonable. But I am thinking it would have to be a custom build. The new space is great as it seems to double the room being you can still use the original floor but now it's also available to walk on while holding equipment.

 

Thx for the compliment