50yr old Oday Mariner 2+2 19ft sailboat to mini trawler conversion

[Durant F]

Hi all
I’ve cruised all over but never the canal systems so close to home in Ontario Canada. The Rideau, Trent, and Erie canals are all close by.
Wanted trailer ability, reliability, and low cost both to own and operate.
Retired with a shop to work out of, bought an old Oday Mariner 2+2 on a good trailer for 30% of what a new trailer alone would cost.
Set about stripping off parts, doing a few rough drawings for “intentions” (knowing these things tend to evolve as they go) and went about getting brutal with a saws all.
Intention is retain the Vberth it came with, aft galley and small drop down dinette to Port, small private aft head, cabinet and helm to starboard.
Power will be a new, small outboard for economy and dependability. These hulls are easily driven with 5hp.
Worst part in these pictures was scraping 50yrs and 4 colours of antifouling paint off!
Just nasty! But figured easier like this than working on my back.

 

[Durant F]

Once back inside, got it levelled and did a few mock ups

 

[boathealer]

These guys used to convert Compac sailboats to mini trawlers. Some old archive information seems to be available......

North Carolina Sailboats 2

 

[tiltrider1]

I always find Frankensteining an old boat interesting.

 

[Durant F]

These guys used to convert Compac sailboats to mini trawlers. Some old archive information seems to be available......

North Carolina Sailboats 2

Keith is extremely handy and a wealth of boat knowledge.
Have known him quite a while and even been in his shop. He’s also done a few Mariner 2+2 conversions.
Mine will have a much larger cabin, much smaller cockpit and more for cruising.

 

[Durant F]

First step in building the new cabin was ceiling height.
I wanted standing head room in the center 2 feet but with the remainder port and starboard angled down for looks.
This Center window became thee most important piece as the ridge boards will run level aft to either side of the companionway entrance.
You can see how it progresses from that defining Center windshield piece in the pictures

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. DF. Well. This is something you don't see every day. Commendable! Are you planning on tiller steering or will you have a helm? Electric start? Beauty eh?

 

[Durant F]

Will need an 8 or 9hp outboard to get electric start. The 5hp merc sailboat model has a 4amp alternator, long shaft and power prop. The 5 would move 5his displacement hull fine but I’m thinking electric start... I’m getting old ��
Inside helm....

PS... it’s Frank

 

[boatpoker]

Will need an 8 or 9hp outboard to get electric start. The 5hp merc sailboat model has a 4amp alternator, long shaft and power prop. The 5 would move 5his displacement hull fine but I’m thinking electric start... I’m getting old ��
Inside helm....

PS... it’s Frank

My buddy Robert has been turning this canoe stern Nordica 20 sailboat into a tug for several years (Inboard 2cyl. Yanmar driving twins shafts via hydraulics).

 

[Durant F]

My buddy Robert has been turning this canoe stern Nordica 20 sailboat into a tug for several years (Inboard 2cyl. Yanmar driving twins shafts via hydraulics).

Twin screws on an 18ft displacement hull....really?
As long as he’s having fun!
All us boaters are crazy aren’t we!!

 

[boatpoker]

Twin screws on an 18ft displacement hull....really?
As long as he’s having fun!
All us boaters are crazy aren’t we!!

He's the resident mechanic in a 600 slip marina. The "tug" will be used to move boats around the harbour. He figures twin props are essential

 

[Durant F]

Like I said.... as long as he’s havin fun!

 

[Durant F]

Cabin top coming together

 

[Durant F]

Exterior as I left her until next spring to work on

 

[Durant F]

Interior as I left her until next spring
Starboard is :
Aft head (door to follow)
Shelving unit when complete
Helm seat

Port is :
Aft galley, drawer, sink etc to follow
Dinette with drop down table when complete


It’s been fun so far!
Biggest issue will be getting remote throttle/gear and remote steering for a small outboard!

 

[hdeeks]

Outstanding work Frank!

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. hd. Welcome aboard.


Mr. DF. WOW! Are you sure you can wait until next spring? Have you considered stability at all? I know nothing about it (both nautical and mental) but will she be unstable with all the added weight above the gunwales? Did she or will she have any added ballast? NICE shop!.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

I like these projects,looks great

 

[Durant F]

Greetings,
Mr. hd. Welcome aboard.


Mr. DF. WOW! Are you sure you can wait until next spring? Have you considered stability at all? I know nothing about it (both nautical and mental) but will she be unstable with all the added weight above the gunwales? Did she or will she have any added ballast? NICE shop!.

Good question
It’s actually quite light. 3/8 sides and 1/4 roof. The minimal 1x2 pine framing is super light!
Sides have lots cut out with windows and the plexiglas won’t weigh much
Plus, there’s the weight of the original cabin and cockpit seats, floor etc gone now. This boat originally had a centreboard and motored well with it fully retracted. That said, I will be adding about 100lbs of lead and use 2 or 3 bags of concrete to “level out” the floor beside the helm, so yes, it will have ballast but no, it wouldn’t have been as unstable as you’d think.
Have a look at the chart attached. I’m using inexpensive spruce plywood (softwood)
So far, 4-3/8 and 2-1/4 with about another half sheet of 3/8 to finish. Not as heavy as you’d think..

Yep, too cold in the shop now in NE Ontario and I’m out in the PNW on my trawler until December.
http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s64/travels-emma-b-jd-powered-helmsman-33804.html

Then the Abacos to work on my sailboat that faired better than most but still needs attention after Dorian’s brutal pass...

 

[Nomad Willy]

Willard Look-Alike

Frank,
She looks like my Willard w the fwd windows.

 

[localboy]

Somewhat similar looking:
https://capedorycruisers.com/marinaut-220-pilot-house

 

[OldDan1943]

While you are rebuilding the cabin, why not slope the front windows forward a bit?

 

[Nomad Willy]

Dan,
HaHa that would uglify it a bit.
Who wants to be a wannabe?

 

[Durant F]

Eric...She ain’t going to look anything near as nice as the Willard, but ya... similar classic west coast front window arrangements
Nice boat! Where are there more pics of yours?

 

[OldDan1943]

Dan,
HaHa that would uglify it a bit.
Who wants to be a wannabe?

3 reasons. 1. deflect any water coming over the bow downward allowing for better vision night and day. 2. reduce the glare from the lights of on-coming boats and search light. So many folks try to gain attention via shinning a light on the pilot house 3. nothing wrong with looking salty.

 

[Durant F]

Dan...

“In the name of Nordic Tug”,
Camano, Willard’s, traditional work and fun boats everywhere:

VERTIVAL WINDOWS LOOK SALTY !

???


2nd- although I certainly wouldn’t change them if I could....
As you can see, the house is already built.

3rd- I love the look of vertical windows

4- pretty proud of myself with “in the name of Nordic Tug” ??

 

[Group9]

Cool project!

 

[Nomad Willy]

HaHa Frank m’man no one’s said it better!

 

[ben2go]

I like this thread but it makes me sad. I passed on a stripped down 27' Catalina with the same basic layout.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Just an opinion (mine) but I think the best sailboats that are most suitable to trawler conversion have full fwd ends and even fuller sterns. A sailboat that many ex-sailboaters may recognize is the Albin 27. They have rudder ahead of the prop and of course that would need to be changed.

But the most important feature of design probably has to do w stability. With the mast gone and much or even all the keel gone most sailboats will just not be suitable trawlers. They will be much like tippy canoes. In a lot of cases the situation can be saved by retaining the main mast (if it’s suitably located (fore and aft)) or a mizzen both w a 50% reduction in rig.
Or a small jibe and mizzen w a considerably raised boom main. Too small a rig and you won’t get the stability and too much allow the wind to blow your boat down and steering w/o a keel may be a whole new ballgame.
But most importantly finding a good hull to convert has it’s problems and knowing just any sailboat has a very good chance of becoming a very poor trawler will probably pay you well.