Tri-Hull for Bass Boat?

[SenkoBasser]

    I have the shell to a tri-hull mfg. coming that I scored for free. Any opinions on tri-hulls? This will be a project boat so I'll have more pics and questions to come.

[fishbear]

Tri-hulls are good boats, very stable.  However, they are not in my opinion a river boat, or a boat to use in any current,.  The 3 hulls catch the current and you go back and forth.  For a lake boat, they are fantastic, I can not wait to see the pics as you fix it up.

[cart7t]

If you're speaking about something like this

or this

They are stable but relatively narrow.  They don't take rough water well at all.  

[SenkoBasser]

Heres the shell. I believe its a 20 footer, not sure of beam. The transom was removed. My plans are to remove EVERYTHING from the interior and set up a stern deck and a bow deck. In the center will be all controls and I want to put an inboard motor in and have the steering in the center. 2 bilge pumps, deck mount trolling motor, live well (maybe two), a crap load of compartments, I've got a ton of new ideas for this boat. Any input or suggestions would be very helpful for me since I've never done a boat before. Thanks fellas.

[cart7t]

The transom was removed?!  

With enough concrete, you've got a potentially great piece of fishing structure there.  

[SenkoBasser]

Explain the transom thing to me. What do I have to do? Why can't I just buy a new transom? I've refurbished and renovated plenty of things but never a boat. What do you think I should do?

If I went out board I'd just have to fiberglass the transom?

[Catt]

You will have to build a transom yourself from scratch    

[cart7t]

Explain the transom thing to me. What do I have to do? Why can't I just buy a new transom? I've refurbished and renovated plenty of things but never a boat. What do you think I should do?

If I went out board I'd just have to fiberglass the transom?

It depends on what you mean by the "transom was removed" and the reasons for why it was removed.  

I can't tell anything from the picture.  

BTW, you don't just buy a new transom.  You have to make one and the difficulty in the job will be in direct relation to "how" the transom was removed and why.  

[HPBB]

First off can you say "Money pit"?

OK on the transom. This was an inboard/outboard boat to begin with? right? From what I can see under the snow. It looks like the (atleast lower part) of the transom is there, but it has no outdrive.

I am not putting you down so don't think that. I have a few questions because I am confused here. are you sure you are calling the transom, the transom or are you mistaken? also If a boat has a bad transom its junk, so I really don't know how you are going to "build " a new one, and buying on is, well, not posable and when you build one, there is a lot of engineering in it, since it has to hold the weight and power of the motor and hold the boat together. If you going to spend that much $$ just go out and buy a running boat.

[SenkoBasser]

I'm not entirely sure what's going on with it. The guy I'm getting it from says it had a Merc 3.7L but he removed that, the outdrive, and transom. But in the pics it looks like the transom is there. I have no idea how inboards work. I'm guessing on "inboards" the engine is mounted in a compartment not visible. The outdrive is what? Like a drive shaft that spins the propellers? When this guy described it to me he said there's a 9" by 11" sqaure hole in the transom. So I don't think the entire transom is removed. I think they just removed the engine, and outdrive and all of the interior. I'm basically getting a bare naked hull. But its free delivered and everything.

[NBR]

It looks like the transom is in place but I don't understand the angle piece out the aft (rear) of the starboard (right) side of the hull. If the transom is damaged it is a big time job to repair. I believe the transom is the most highly loaded portion of a boat. It must support all of the load from the engine.

I would go to a reputable marine repair shop and see what they say. Then you could make a decision on doing the work yourself. farming it out or junking the hull.

My first bass boat was a trihull and it was a nice stable fishing platform but it beat you to death at speed on rough water.

[cart7t]

It would seem as though the previous owner is a little confused or he's not communicating correctly.  Perhaps he meant the transom was damaged or rotted which on that boat, would pretty much be the death knell.  Sounds like he gutted out the 2 parts worth the most and sold them.  If that's the case, the odds are there's more wrong with it than just the transom rotted.  You've probably got kneebraces rotted along with stringer rot.  

As an inocent bystander, I just don't see where that boat is worth anything more than some concrete to sink the thing.  You could probably get a couple hundred for the trailer on ebay or through your local paper.  At the very least you've got to come up with a I/O motor and outdrive and if the transom is shot you're merely wasting your time.

Let me also add,  that is a wood structured boat, while wood itself is not a bad thing, it could be if he had leaking.  Poorly sealed I/O outdrives are a sore spot and water left standing in the hull is another problem.  Replacing wood structural members, ie: transom, stringers and kneebraces is very labor intensive and expensive.  Unless you have an idea of how to work with fiberglass I wouldn't advise it.  This isn't anything you really want to take lightly either.  You don't want to just slap a new motor and outdrive onto that thing without taking care of the structural integrity of the boat, especially if you're going to have family on-board.  

[HPBB]

Ok. Once again I say, money Pit, but its your $$ so if you want to go ahead its up to you. First off you don't even know what or how and out drive works or is. It's not just a drive shaft. There are gears, hydraulics, and lost of other stuff.  The out drive turns the prop, steers the boat, you have power trim, exhaust and water intake for the motor. It's a lot of stuff, then the motor itself. Ask your self something. If this guy pulled the running gear out of this boat, and is giving you it free. Is it really worth anything? I bet its junk and he is just trying to get it out of his yard. Lets say you put all this time and money into this and then you find out the hull is junk. Either you have b#@ls to try this or you just have too much time and money. If I were you, and most, if not all here would agree with me. I would tell the guy to keep it and go out and buy yourself a running boat, or a different project boat, maybe with a motor.  Like I said this is going to be lots of time and money. Get something else and spend your time and money fishing.

NBR I think that migkt be a swim platform

[SenkoBasser]

I see all of your points and I just called the kid and cancelled the drop off. You all made some very good points. Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to swap some skis and a canoe for a jon boat now. We'll see how that goes.