Bridge Extension Design Vote!!

[rustybucket]

Ok guys, wanna get a poll/vote going here. We are starting the Mezzanine project soon and for various reasons we are going to be doing a bridge extension as well.

Benefits of bridge extension
1. I won't have to have my ladder re-built to fit mezzanine
2. More shade for mezzanine (with room for lights, misters, speakers...etc)
3. More space on bridge


So, I have mocked up a few bridge extension designs. Please respond with which one looks best to you. Please do not take into account how tough each will be to execute or cost. Let me handle that. The real goal is to make it look like it came from the factory with the extended bridge. This cannot look 'bubba' or added on.


Option 1. DO NOTHING - This is the boat as it sits today.

Option 2. Floor ONLY extension. This would extend the bridge floor only, nothing would be changed with the side walls of the bridge.

Option 3. Extend the sides AND floor of bridge.

Option 4. Extend the sides AND floor of bridge, AND add a small radius to the gunnel/bridge at the cockpit to tie the hull shear line to the topside of the boat (design wise)

Option 5: image on next post.

 

[rustybucket]

Option 5. Extend bridge AND floor and add curves

 

[Jammin']

To my eyes, option 3, extending the floor and the sides of the bridge, looks best. Not a fan of the radii.

 

[SEVEN]

Number 3 is my vote. You are very ambitious. Good luck, keep the photos coming once you choose.

 

[Oldlaxer1]

I'm also casting my vote for #3. (Watch out for the hanging chads when you go to tally up the results....)

 

[rustybucket]

Number 3 is my vote. You are very ambitious. Good luck, keep the photos coming once you choose.

lol, I've been called worse. Really I look at it like this... we are already going to be making a HUGE mess on the boat. Why not do it full bore the first time?

Really the deciding factor on bridge extension for me was when we started looking at what would be involved in modifying my beautiful stainless ladder to have it land on the cockpit floor instead of the mezzanine. What it really came down to is it will be just as much work/expense to modify the ladder than it would be to do the bridge extension and just move the ladder back some.

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

my eyes say #2. not a fan of the radii either

 

[Avenger]

#2 OR #3, but I lean towards #3. The aesthetic of the rest of the superstructure is angular, and the curves just don't fit with it.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

#2 OR #3, but I lean towards #3. The aesthetic of the rest of the superstructure is angular, and the curves just don't fit with it.

I think that says it all.

 

[scottinsydney]

Option 2 because its simple, serves its purpose and looks good.

 

[Boatsb]

Option 2 makes the most sense for a boat that's run hard. Less issues with cracking at the transition points of the new parts. The boat will twist and crack things up there.

 

[jrbrein]

Agree with #3.

Please no radii.

Scott. you are no fun!


Jon

 

[johnjen50]

Number 2 for me. I think extending the sides makes it look more like a Maritimo, which is not a bad thing, I just prefer the Hatt look and I like the way the floor juts out in the back. Such a great looking boat btw.

 

[Photolomy]

Option 2 makes the most practical sense to me. But it's really what do you want.

 

[JoshuaHall]

This poll could not have come at a better time for me. Mine is an 85 60C, and after building my pilothouse, (in the style of the Destin charter fleet), I'll do a similar extension. These mock-ups are very helpful. My opinion is that the additional radius under the extension does not fit with the lines of the superstructure. For mine, I'm thinking of keeping the ladder as it is, and constructing the extension around it. Then, just build rails to safeguard the hole at the landing. Can't wait to see the result of your project. Great looking boat!

 

[finatic]

I like option #2. Clean, simple, and maintains those great Hatteras lines!

 

[BOATER BOB]

Hey while your at it don't forget to add 5' to the cockpit you need more room to fish.
Bob

 

[rustybucket]

Hey while your at it don't forget to add 5' to the cockpit you need more room to fish.
Bob

Actually the cockpit on this boat is HUGE. Is one of the primary things that drew me to this model. It was the only boat in it's class that had space for a mezzanine.

Here is an exert from David Pascoe on the 52

The cockpit is humongous. Bigger than it needs to be it is, perhaps, one explanation for why this model was not a bigger seller. It appeals very well to the serious tournament man, but to the less avid who have other ideas in mind such as social occasions, he's likely to turn elsewhere.

The cockpit on the 52 is 160 Sq Ft. HUGE for a 52'. Compare that to a modern Viking 65 (13' longer boat, 2' wider) which has a cockpit size of 179sq ft.

 

[Passages]

I prefer #3 but not enough to justify the extra work required to 'git 'er done'.

I vote #2.

 

[rustybucket]

Is there a safety factor of going with #2 and not having 'walls' on the corners of the bridge? A little slip could put you overboard pretty quickly there.