T&T: Fw: Tender choice

[Larry N. Brown]

> I have a small amount of experience with these boats. I own one although 
> I've not used it a great yet. It's the 12' resort model with the higher 
> freeboard and reinforced sides. Conceptually it's great. In actuality, 
> maybe less so. Let me explain.
>
> About the time I bought the Livingston, it was getting increasingly 
> difficult to get a two stroke outboards so I bought a Yamaha 25 hp 4. I 
> can say without equivocation that that was a mistake. The increased weight 
> makes the stern squat perilously low in the water. I'm trying to move fuel 
> tanks and battery forward to bring the boat into static trim. I installed 
> a dol-fin but the boat is still a little slow to get up on the step.
>
> I know, I know, it was my fault that it swamped. Boat's supposed to be 
> unsinkable. And it was. It rained and I was not watching. Only problem is 
> that when it swamped, it floated vertically with the forward half out of 
> the water, the engine and all the rest in.. Perhaps it would not have 
> swamped if I had pulled the drain plugs but on the other hand, we're on a 
> river here. No waves. Supposing I'm motoring along, bonefishing in the 
> Abacos, and a following sea poops my already low stern. There I am holding 
> to a vertical Livingston, hoping the Bahamian sharks go elsewhere.
>
> Condiderations. Get a two stroke. Old one. Whatever. Locate fuel tanks and 
> battery forward. I have a friend who's a naval architech. I asked him if 
> he thought  sponsons would help.  He sketched me out a design that I'm 
> going to fabricate out of fiber-glassed light weight honeycomb material. 
> Make a shoe box and bolt it to the transom, one on each side. Fill it with 
> 2 part closed cell foam and glass a top on it. Size around 18" x 18" x 8". 
> Idea is that they will not be submerged unless the weight aft increases; 
> otherwise they stay dry and will not affect the hull's passage through the 
> water.
>
> One other consideration. If you've seen a Livingston or own one, you'll 
> see that the little "keel grooves" run from the drain plugs, aft, up under 
> the deck all the way to the bow. That produces several complications. 
> First, it's darn near impossible to pump the bilge dry and second, this 
> water sloshes for and aft  with a free surface effect, negatively 
> affecting longitudinal trim. When I add the sponsons, I plan to fill in 
> these grooves with 2 part foam as well.
>
> Pretty much sums up my experience. If anyone else owns one, I would 
> appreciate input on or offline that may answer some of the questions I've 
> raised. Plan to get on the project in the next week or two; I'll keep the 
> list posted.
>
> I believe the 12' Carolina Skiff weighs 230#.
>
> Oh, anyone want to swap a 25 hp two stroke for a new 25 hp 4?
>
> Regards,
>
> Larry and Teri
> M/V Cigano, 47' Prairie Sundeck Cruiser
> Lying: 64 Cypress Road