Customizations during construction or after via dealer?

[rpm33]

Hi all,

As we get closer to our ordering a 31CB, I've had a few thoughts/ideas that I wanted to explore for feasibility either during construction or afterward through our dealer. Interested in your thoughts on whether or not these are even possible and/or if it's been done for anyone prior...thanks!

1. We were thinking it would be cool to modify the table (dropped) and/or and bench seats behind the command bridge to fold and slide together to make a sun pad. I'm thinking this could be done afterward by a welding shop.

2. I found it a bit tight coming in/out of the lower helm starboard access door. I'm not too big of a guy, but in case I get bigger in my old age, I'm wondering if the door slider can be modified to allow for even and inch or two more opening.

3. When ordering, can we opt out of the propane oven and stove for a counter with electric cooktop - maybe even an induction top with a cabinet for storage below? Not sure of the wiring would handle the induction top, but an electric stove top and storage below are what we'd like.

4. (This may be a big one) On our previous boats, we had a external transom "wet" compartment and door for cables, lines, and possibly even fenders. Is there room in the transom for a compartment door to be cut in to allow for a wet storage accessible from the swim platform? Since we're talking about cutting and glassing the transom, I thought I'd check with factory experts first to see if I was really out of my mind!

Thank you so much for your thoughts, and we're looking forward to Great Looping on our future 31CB!

 

[NorCal]

Hi there, I have a 31CB so am familiar with the boat.

I don't know the specific answers but will take a guess.

1. I would think that taking the boat to a welder or someone that does that type of work would probably be the best bet. I don't think the factory would make that modification. This is definitely something that could be done.

2. That sliding helm door is made by another vendor. I think that a hole new door frame, slider and glass would be required to make you modification. The mount for the engine shift.throttle control would also have to be moved as well as potentially cutting the inner fiberglass liner and the exterior cabin would have to be modified. That is quite a modification that you would have to ask the factory if that is possible.

3. I don't know anything about the electrical requirements for an induction top.

4. This would be a major modification. I think this would have to be run by the engineers. The rudder post comes up there in the transom. There is a structural piece running horizontally for strength. Also, due to the hull design with the propeller tunnel I would think that such a cutout would need a lot of reinforcement to maintain structural integrity if it would even be possible.

Have you run these ideas by your dealer?

I hope that help a little bit.

John

 

[MV Toujours]

Greetings,

I had a 31CB built last year. Andrew was very helpful addressing my customization ideas. Here is what I learned during the process of building my boat:

Some minor ideas can be considered, but major customizing is difficult to achieve. Taking extra time to engineer and build one off items not only slows down production (consider it's the boat before your build that is slowing things down...Not good for you,) but it might compromise the rest of the build as they have to keep a schedule (Once again, not good for you.)

Sometimes, I found my ideas had already been considered, but rejected due to engineering and reliability/warranty considerations.

They are very good at what they do because they build a great, technically advanced product at a competitive price. A lot of that is due to streamlined production and constant product improvement. Reinventing the wheel is sometimes self defeating.

I would suggest living with your boat for a while and if you decide you really need to change something, throw some money into the local economy, or DIY, which is very satisfying.

Enjoy.

Patrick

 

[Submariner]

Hi all,

3. When ordering, can we opt out of the propane oven and stove for a counter with electric cooktop - maybe even an induction top with a cabinet for storage below? Not sure of the wiring would handle the induction top, but an electric stove top and storage below are what we'd like.

Thank you so much for your thoughts, and we're looking forward to Great Looping on our future 31CB!

The electrical requirements for an electric stove vs propane are huge. I guess it would come down to how you plan on using it. We have an electric grill on our boat for the transom/cockpit that requires shore power to run it, thus it gets used less. It draws too much electricity from our battery bank via the inverter. We love our propane stove and oven since it doesn't affect our batteries. We picked up a cast iron grill grate for the propane stove top. That'll let us grill on propane in the galley, and not worry about the wind outside. It covers both burners of the stove top.