31 JC Project

[Bulman711]

This is my 31 JC. I have had this boat for the last 4 years lobstering for 3. Last year I made the switch to Tuna fishing. We made out ok as far as catching them but I quickly realized that Tuna fishing is a completly different ball game. Spending 16hrs a day on the boat in all weather made me realize that the wheel house is going to need to be closed in to make for some refuge from the rain and wind. Second is going to be a tuna door. You will see in some of the pictures my "quick fix" of a jin pole because my old Davit didnt do the trick (I learned that the hard way.) I also am going to add at leased 4 new swivel rod holders, because a fish running the wrong way when not in a swivel rod holder doesnt work out well (also learned that the wrong way.) Im also going to do a few aesthetics here and there.

I am going to be looking here for alot of advice here. I will be putting it in the shop in a few weeks and will get things rolling then. Hopefully next year I will have this boat fishing better and a little more comfortably next year.

Thanks in advance to everyone.

 

[Bulman711]

a few more

 

[Eastporter]

She's got good bones to work on. Are you going with a composite core or plywood core? Do you have some other JC 31 photos to show us what you want to do with it? I'm thinking you want a complete pilothouse with a door, and maybe a bunk or two. Are you adding a bus heater for cooler weather? I think Wynne Windows are economical and excellent quality- I used them on my boat.

 

[31jcptown]

31 Jc

Having done a complete refit of a 91 31 JC thats been 2years in the making. They are GREAT boats best of luck with it if you need anything PM me whats in it for power................

 

[Bulman711]

Yeah the boat has been nothing short of great for me.
It has a 210 Perkins in it now, does about 12-13 kts. Costs next to nothing to run.

 

[Bulman711]

Im going to use ply core. Because of the way that the engine cover opens I am only going to close in the sides with a curtain on the back side.

 

[captainlarry84]

Original 1978

Good luck with your original 31 JC. It looks like a 1978 vintage. I am the original owner of a 1984 JC & I wish you well in your project. For starters make sure that you gusset plate your rod holders well. The JC gunnels are core and will not stand the load of heavy drag and a bend butt.
The sides of the wheel house will close up fairly easy. JC made molded panels back in the day. Those molds for the panels may be owned by Eastern Yachts. The photo attached shows your wheel house with those panels.

 

[Capt Rich]

Nice to see another JC 31,just wondering what gear ratio and dia/pitch prop are you running? I may make a prop change over the winter and just want to compare.
I have a 220 perkins turbo 2to 1 gear and a 21x19 with a #1 cup.
Good luck
Capt Rich

 

[steveinak]

Looks like a easy fix for the house sides, solid wall on one side and a hinged panel on the hauler side that opens the side for hauling gear,folds up and hangs off the ceiling. I did a side panel on my H&H and now am doing a split house.

When i got the boat it had a side and 1/2 back wall on the house already so i added a sliding rear panel/door and i built the hinged side panel on the hauler side, here's a few pics for you to get a idea of what i did. The guys on this site will surely give you a lot of good ideas of what you'll need to do.

 

[Bulman711]

Larry I'm looking into those panels now.
Rich I'm honestly not sure the size or pitch of the prop. But he gear is 2:1.
Steve, I have been watching your split house build closely, I am going to do my hauling side with a sliding door in the same way that you did yours. I want it to slide and not fold up because I want to be able to open it while im running.

 

[MDI45]

Bulman,That is a beautiful work boat style JC....Your hull and James's PTown are classics...love em

 

[steveinak]

Larry I'm looking into those panels now.
Rich I'm honestly not sure the size or pitch of the prop. But he gear is 2:1.
Steve, I have been watching your split house build closely, I am going to do my hauling side with a sliding door in the same way that you did yours. I want it to slide and not fold up because I want to be able to open it while im running.

Where is the door going to slide to? don't you need the whole side of the boat to be open to haul traps ?? Your doing a canvas back so i just can't figure where the door will go? I thought about doing some kind of sliding window on my fold up side if i kept it and didn't go with the split house.

 

[Bulman711]

The door is going to look similar to this the one on this 35 Duffy. I don't haul trawls anymore so I just need the door to slide back so I can haul a few single pots and my anchor

 

[captainlarry84]

Windows

Your current windows were made by GO windows, which is now Mark’s Plastics: http://www.markplastics.com

They are not cheap. I have Diamond Seaglaze excellent but not cheap.

The best buy out there is Wynne Windows, excellent quality and even better on pricing and great customer service. Wynne Enterprises Inc.

The one reason I did not us Wynne is because he only uses a 3” radius for corners. Your JC like mind and all original models have a 2.5 radius corner.

Therefore in order to get the Wynne Windows to fit it requires that each current opening be cut ¼” bigger. That is a very messy dirty cut job on a finished boat, trying to remove only ¼” of glass, I am sure a rotor type tool would give you the cleanest opening, but the dust would be amazing.

S/G made my corner 2.5 so all I did was trace the openings and drop them in. If you plan on removing your original GO windows…good luck. JC installed mine with a 5200 type material, so they had to be cut out and removed with a heat gun.

The first three photos are the Go Windows followed by the S/G. Take your time and build a nice enclosed house with good windows. Even though they are only a 31 footer they are bullet proof in most seas if you slow them down & a nice dry house with windows that do not leak is a wonderful thing.

I also see you JC like mine has no wipers. 28 years I never needed them thanks to Rain-X

 

[Bulman711]

Thanks Larry, The radius should not be a problem because I am Going to be building the walls. I am going to order the Windows before I start the project to make sure everything fits right. I am looking for the least expensive windows and it looks like wynne is the way to go. I will be giving them a call after the holiday.

 

[captainlarry84]

The JC photo I posted with the pot hauler has Wynne side windows. I am sure they have his patterns. His windows look great. Not too big & not too small.

 

[Bulman711]

I agree. They have a good look to them.

 

[steveinak]

The door is going to look similar to this the one on this 35 Duffy. I don't haul trawls anymore so I just need the door to slide back so I can haul a few single pots and my anchor

Ok that makes sense now. Lots of good ideas already, take your time and just think about your plan and it will come together great. I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures of the project.

 

[Bulman711]

What is a ball park number on wynne windows? I tryed calling them today for a rough quote on the windows so I can start figuring out what this is going to cost all said and done.

 

[31jcptown]

windows

Bull i have a set of american marine windows i pulled out of my boat Ill take some pics and doe some get sizes shortly heading down to my rig now