wetaline

I have been wondering if it would be possible and even usable to convert a small 13ft sailboat to a flats boat. With the mast and boom and all of the rigging removed the hull looks a lot like a small bass or flats skiff. I just don't know how stable a sailboat is, like a similar sized john boat? The hull looks pretty sleek and should be pretty low drag, so I would think that it would move pretty quick with an outboard. Do any of you think it would be stable enough to make it feasible? Below is a pic of the type boat I have been thinking about.

Telum Pisces

I would just be concerned about how much motor it would be rated for. Not knowing a thing about sail boat, I don't know if the transome (does it even have one) could hold any weight for the motor etc... I don't think sailboats use a planing hull either. Not sure how that would work out.

SKATR JIM

Sailboats are tipy tipy. You will most certaintly end up wet at one point or another.

X-Shark

No it doesn't. Look at the bottom of the hull only. Forget the layout of the deck.



before you spend a bunch of time and money on something that will pretty much be a flop.



Sell the sail boat and get you a Jon boat.



That amount of deadrise and I'm sure Rocker in the bottom of a sail boat is not conducive to a stable platform.

popeye 1

I wouldn't do it. Seems like it would take a long time and a lot of money that = time. There are a lot of descent used small fiberglass boats for sale in the area. Many of them at pawn shops and for sale by owners. If you wanted to make the sailboat into a flats boat you would have to cut the whole topside off and do a lot of glass work. If you want a boat to travel in inches of water they are not hard to come buy around here. Sell the sailboat and get you a small fishin machine. Just my 2 cents. If you want a quality opinion check out microskiff.com :usaflag

WW2

round bottom = rolls

it also means that the bottom middle is actually a lot deeper than the edges so it would prob run deeper than you think.

ElJay

Nope.

From the picture you have a sailboat that needs a dagger board or drop keel to stay up. That slot in the middle is where it would go. Put that in and you can't get into the flats, you aredrawing a few feet of water. Keep it out and you roll if you sneeze.

wetaline

Thanks for the opinions. I don't own this boat, just saw one for sale that didn't have the rigging and it was dirt cheap. I was wondering if it was even practical. I have no sailing exp. what so ever and have never even been on a little sailboat like this so I had nothing to go by. The deck and general shape just looked kinda cool. Have any of you guys or gals ever sailed one of these little boats? How are they with the proper rigging installed?

Mariner

Maybe you could add some outriggers. You know.... like a Pacific Islands canoe......tri-hull sort of.....ah crap, just get ya a jon boat.:banghead

joe bag o donuts

Not to overstate the obvious but the deck and hull are not really conducive to be anything but a sailboat. Sailboats draft alot and that's without the keel that adds several more feet to your draft. Plus sailboats are meant to tip a little in the wind. Then that deck would be a terror to try and fish out of. Like everyone's said. Look for a jon boat or something.



Now a hobe cat or a small catamaran type sailboat......oh the possibilities....