565L to 565F Conversion

We have completed many major rebuilds in our sister company Hunter Boat Repairs, as far as bells and whistles go, this heavily modified 565L converted to a centre console has to be the biggest transformation we have completed, so much so, there isn’t much of the original 1982 boat remaining.

She came to us as a tired and well used boat with tons of sentimental value and even more rot, the owners opted to convert the half cabin deck into a centre console

We started by gutting the entire interior and finished with removing the entire internal connection laminates back to good glass, we laid 2 fresh layers of 450 CSM with vinylester resin. The transom was raised to 25" and gifted 5 fresh layers of glass either side of 38mm Thermolite. 38 mm Thermolite was also used for the main stringers, then 12mm Thermolite for the other stringers and transverse bulkheads. The 12mm Thermolite floor was laminated with 2 layers of 450 CSM on the underside, then glued in place and glassed into the fuel tank void, bilges, transom and hull sides.

We also added a flooding keel which holds approx. 110 litres of water to help with stability at rest, and the numbers don’t lie, we conducted a stability test with the flooding keel temporally closed, and as predicted rocked around like you’d expect, then we jumped in the water, removed the temporary plug and flooded the keel and repeated the test which gave us a reduction of roll of about 20%.

Work then began on shaping the new top deck plug so a mold could be taken off it to then produce a new part for this boat and beyond. We went out and sourced a 565F and did a deck swap, and modified it from the original design; we closed in the chain locker hatch, raised the deck coaming to create a safer fishing environment, and also widened the coaming to create more space for rod holders and other deck fittings. The deck also had an addition of a 60 litre live bait tank in the centre of the boat just forward of the motor well. The deck was filled, faired, gel coated, sanded and polished to represent a finished product, we then sealed and waxed the deck, added a flange and sprayed tooling gelcoat then glassed her up.

We then released the deck mold from the plug, then laid up the first Centre Console "Tracker" deck out of the mold, all constructed with vinylester, foam core on the fore deck and around the engine well, plus additional reinforcement around strong points like mooring cleats and rod holders. The deck was then released, dropped on the hull, temporally screwed into position, the hull and deck join was glassed with chopped strand mat and double bias glass (no more bog and staples). Casting platform, side pockets, storage lockers and bulkheads were all glassed in, all made from 12mm Thermolite.

The boat was then rolled over to start the process of re gel coating the hull, during this process we pulled the large low spots out of the hull to make it straight, and widened the chines from 35mm to 60mm to provide a lower planning speed, better cornering and better stability at rest. The hull presented in fairly good condition, with minimal stress cracks, ramp or trailer rash. With the minor repairs and chine modifications completed we sprayed a thin coat of gelcoat on the bottom and hull sides and torture boarded the hull to sand out any highs, lows or imperfections. We then sprayed the hull bottom white, then back masked and sprayed the hull sides Arctic Blue, then we got busy with hours and hours of wet sanding, finishing at 2000 grit, polished, waxed, then ready for molding. 

Mold was removed from the hull, hull was flipped back over, then designing of the console and seat box was conducted, console was designed to accommodate 2 x 12 in screens and ample storage, and of course space for a pie oven, the seat box has a built in kill bin and separate tackle box lockers. Molds were taken off both of these plugs and fresh parts were produced for the boat.

Then it was onto the fun part, fit out. It’s a simple and uncomplicated fit out, 160L original modified and repaired fuel tank, 6 deck rod holders, 2 x 12” Lowrance HDS, mooring cleats, pie oven, 6 inch jacking plate, deck wash and live bait pumps, 2 x 1500 GPH bilge pumps with automatic floats, upholstered bolster around the casting platform, upholstered seat, custom stainless backrest with upholstered back, push button hand washer, T-top, vhf, stereo, full SeaDek flooring in "Mocha over Midnight Black" colour, and last but definitely not least, the awesome game changer called Sea Keeper Ride. Which without a doubt made an awesome riding boat even better.

She cruises at 22 knots at 4200 rpm with the old 175 Suzuki, with a top speed of 38 knots carrying a full tank of fuel and 2 adults.

Boat Specs:

1440kg no fuel and no personal effects

2009 175hp Suzuki with 15-1/4 inch, 19° stainless steel 3 blade prop

38 knots Top speed, at 6100 rpm burning 64L/hr

22 knot cruising speed at 4200 rpm burning 25L/hr

Length: 5.65m

Beam: 2.2m