: Hello All,
: I am in the process of selecting my next build, I currently paddle
: an Outer Island I made a few years ago and love it. Except its a
: little too low profile for my feet for really long paddling. I
: have 10.5 feet and the only way I can fit is to point them down
: of over to the sides and this gets uncomfortable after a while.
: Other than that I love the boat, handles well in all seas and
: rolls easy. Is it possible to modify the plans for this boat and
: raise the deck? How would it be done?
: Any ideas would be great.
: Dave

Dave,
I am nearing the completion of a Redfish Spring Run that I raised the deck on to provide more footroom for my size 13 hoofs. The lines are turning out just fine.

Following is how I handled it:
1. I added verticle height above the shear (on deck) for a number of the forms on the foredeck. I maintained the shear from the plans to keep the hull exactly as Joe Greenley designed it....
2. Starting with the form that was right over where my feet will call home, I added 1" of verticle height to the form starting at the shear and smoothing into the normal form lines.
3. For the forms in front of and behind the form over my feet, I added 3/4" of verticle height from the shear upward.
4. For the next forms going foreward and aft, I added 1/2" of verticle height.
5. For the next forms going foreward and aft, I added 1/4" of verticle height and the remaining forms were per plans.

I had one form on the deck that did not smooth perfectly with the other forms (about 1/4" miss) so I let the strip curve naturally to the other forms and then put a shim in place to support it on the short form. I then shimmed as needed to keep the curve. From my experience with this build, raising the deck is quite easy but I would advise smoothing in 1/4" increments back into the normal form heights.

This past week I was on vacation and glassed the inside of hull and deck, made, attached and glassed the coaming ring. I've got hatches to cut and hatch rings to make this week and in a week or so, the hull and deck go together.

Regards,
Bob Beaullieu