Open bow conversion 25 Daytona

[enemy]

Thought I would document this for people to see. Apparently it’s not a popular thing to do but hopefully I won’t get too much hate for it. I love my 22 but needed more seating for the family it will mean more time on the water. I looked for an open bow 25 Daytona for the better part of a year and no luck so it was either compromise on the boat I want or have a bigger selection of Daytonas to choose from and do the conversion. I did some research and found out it’s not too big of a deal to do and you don’t have to compromise support with the mcob style. I talked to the guy who did my interior on my 22 and he said he could get it done before summer so here we are. Found a great deal on a great boat over the winter and the boat is now in the shop. The person doing the work is Rene from Riverside Boat Upholstery 951-312-1365. Including a pic of my 22 to see the quality of his work.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Your boat, do with it what you want, although I will not follow this post anymore as it will cause me too much distress I think I am the only person in history that converted one from open to closed. Nice on getting a 25, out of the 14 Daytonas I have owned it was the perfect Havasu boat and fine for Parker as well in my opinion.

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Your boat, do with it what you want, although I will not follow this post anymore as it will cause me too much distress Nice on getting a 25, out of the 14 Daytonas I have owned it was the perfect Havasu boat and fine for Parker as well in my opinion.

And it got an open bow addition also!! fastest "open bow" I have ever been in

 

[enemy]

Your boat, do with it what you want, although I will not follow this post anymore as it will cause me too much distress I think I am the only person in history that converted one from open to closed. Nice on getting a 25, out of the 14 Daytonas I have owned it was the perfect Havasu boat and fine for Parker as well in my opinion.

Thanks man appreciate it. Honestly it’s stressing me too. I’ve never been a fan of open bows. It’s hard for me to handle a lot of people in the boat and closed bows are way sexier so we will see but for now it’s about my kid enjoying being on the water with me.

 

[LazyLavey]

Love to see some progress pics

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

One suggestion, dont put the length grab handles on the deck like eliminator did, use the small ones that go inside the cupholder cut outs. With those you really cant even tell its an open bow even.

And 25 open bows are not all that deep, I wouldnt be really going all that quick with people up there, as much as I dont like them on sport boats you cant beat the simplicity of getting in and out and also hanging out in them.

Crawl through or walk through?

 

[enemy]

One suggestion, dont put the length grab handles on the deck like eliminator did, use the small ones that go inside the cupholder cut outs. With those you really cant even tell its an open bow even.

And 25 open bows are not all that deep, I wouldnt be really going all that quick with people up there, as much as I dont like them on sport boats you cant beat the simplicity of getting in and out and also hanging out in them.

Crawl through or walk through?

Yes for sure that was my first request was not placing them on the bow. Actually going to place them on the base of the seats instead of the cutouts so that the cutouts will be able to open for access to storage. Also going to have the upholstery be flush with the deck so you can’t see it from the side. Want it to look as clean as possible. Definitely going to limit speed while people are up front and doing the crawl through. Walk through would lose strength in the hull.

I’ll post progress pics as I get them

 

[Icky]

Mine was a 25 open bow, non walk through. It was nice for storing stuff (crap)under there, but kinda a pain always climbing over the top. At 6'2 i wasn't climbing under. Always wanted to convert it to a walk through, but never did.

I like the way the newer ones are done with the seats facing the front instead of sideways. You could technically put 4 people up there with the sideways seating but there's really only room for two. Plus with them leaned back facing forward they don't block your view as much.

Make sure they make room for speakers up front and give you some storage at the bow. We had a removable panel and stored bumpers and ropes up there.

 

[ChrisV]

Congrats on your 25!

I really wanted to get that one. Feel like it's too much motor for my first cat. That shit is badass

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Walk through ONLY if going with an open bow!

 

[enemy]

Congrats on your 25!

I really wanted to get that one. Feel like it's too much motor for my first cat. That shit is badass

It’s a lot of motor for sure. Motor and drive can definitely grenade at any time not to mention the maintenance to keep it healthy

 

[enemy]

Welp no turning back now.

 

[enemy]

Guess these should have gone first

 

[Done-it-again]

Ouch!

 

[robby dmax]

What motor and drive package does it have?
No looking boat!!

 

[enemy]

What motor and drive package does it have?
No looking boat!!

It’s got a blown 632 in it. Drive is xr upper sportmaster lower

 

[enemy]

Done faster then expected. I’m going to pick it up tomorrow and will post more pics then but here’s a glimpse at the final product. Plan is to redo the rest of the interior to match this coming winter.

 

[ChrisV]

Great job. Thats quick!

 

[Done-it-again]

Any structural bulkhead work done? That was quick....

 

[enemy]

Any structural bulkhead work done? That was quick....

I was a little late on starting this thread but it took a full two weeks. He had told me 3 weeks but he was going to make fiberglass inserts on the side panels for cup holders, lights, speakers and grab rails but I opted to dump that for more storage so I’m sure that saved time.

The rear bulkhead wasn’t touched the front bulkhead was modified. He left the sides alone in the sponsons and cut the center out but he added an additional bulkhead in front of that and tied them together for added support. That opened up more room extending the open bow maybe 12-15 inches.

 

[Jay Dub]

Done faster then expected. I’m going to pick it up tomorrow and will post more pics then but here’s a glimpse at the final product. Plan is to redo the rest of the interior to match this coming winter.

View attachment 1112881

damn, that turned out great

 

[Done-it-again]

I was a little late on starting this thread but it took a full two weeks. He had told me 3 weeks but he was going to make fiberglass inserts on the side panels for cup holders, lights, speakers and grab rails but I opted to dump that for more storage so I’m sure that saved time.

The rear bulkhead wasn’t touched the front bulkhead was modified. He left the sides alone in the sponsons and cut the center out but he added an additional bulkhead in front of that and tied them together for added support. That opened up more room extending the open bow maybe 12-15 inches.

Awesome.. Looks great and done in a reasonable time frame...

 

[Riverryder]

dam!!! makes me so mad about my interior should have went with this guy

 

[MagicMan]

That turned out great! Friend wants to do the same to his magic. What’s the ball park price if you don’t mind sharing?

 

[Riverryder]

That turned out great! Friend wants to do the same to his magic. What’s the ball park price if you don’t mind sharing?

Rene from Riverside Boat Upholstery 951-312-1365
have your buddy call him

 

[Dcb.blake]

Interior work looks great! Mines going in to KMG to have a walk through done. Just the ease of getting on and off the front make it worth it to me. Felt like a sinner walking on the gel coat

 

[MagicMan]

Rene from Riverside Boat Upholstery 951-312-1365
have your buddy call him

My buddy called Rene on schedule for September. He liked the price.

 

[Riverryder]

Interior work looks great! Mines going in to KMG to have a walk through done. Just the ease of getting on and off the front make it worth it to me. Felt like a sinner walking on the gel coat

you'll feel worse cutting the walkthru on that dcb...

 

[Riverryder]

My buddy called Rene on schedule for September. He liked the price.

What’s the ball park price if you don’t mind sharing? hahah

 

[enemy]

Interior work looks great! Mines going in to KMG to have a walk through done. Just the ease of getting on and off the front make it worth it to me. Felt like a sinner walking on the gel coat

I’m sure that’s way easier but I feel like it will lose to much strength to be safe at high speeds

 

[enemy]

What’s the ball park price if you don’t mind sharing? hahah

Call him!!!

 

[Riverryder]

I think mine is going to be like 7-7500? I asked him to do a few extra things also so not sure what final will be but that’s what I’m guessing all included

haha you told me what it cost on the 22 you have. so figured this was going to be a good price too.
i was busting the other inmates balls for asking.

 

[Dcb.blake]

I’m sure that’s way easier but I feel like it will lose to much strength to be safe at high speeds

Yea I was a little hesitant at first but Kevin assured me it would be plenty strong. Obviously don’t have people up there at high speeds because it’s not deep as stated earlier.

 

[Riverryder]

Yea I was a little hesitant at first but Kevin assured me it would be plenty strong. Obviously don’t have people up there at high speeds because it’s not deep as stated earlier.

salemen will say anythin for a sale.....

 

[enemy]

haha you told me what it cost on the 22 you have. so figured this was going to be a good price too.
i was busting the other inmates balls for asking.

Lol ya after I wrote it I was like shit I should of just said call him

 

[Dcb.blake]

salemen will say anythin for a sale.....

True that but I don’t think Kevin would be in bizz for this long if he was bsin

 

[Icky]

More pictures

 

[Matt Mead]

That's some insanely nice structural wood work and then a perfect upholstery job laid on top of it. Jealous. They weren't messing around.

I asked for transom braces at a local shop and they cut two square pieces of thin plywood that don't mate up to anything and then slapped ONE layer of the thinnest glass I've ever seen on them.

 

[Singleton]

Rene from Riverside Boat Upholstery 951-312-1365
have your buddy call him

Is this the same Rene that used to do Ultra’s interior then moved to DCB after Ultra closed in SD?
His brother was awesome, if it is the same Rene I am thinking of.

 

[Riverryder]

Is this the same Rene that used to do Ultra’s interior then moved to DCB after Ultra closed in SD?
His brother was awesome, if it is the same Rene I am thinking of.

there was a thread a long time ago from a eliminator gettin work done. Think he was at shockwave then opened up shop? Idk him the OP did his 22 with him and now his 25

 

[enemy]

Is this the same Rene that used to do Ultra’s interior then moved to DCB after Ultra closed in SD?
His brother was awesome, if it is the same Rene I am thinking of.

Very possibly. Think I remember him mentioning dcb and maybe ultra. I know he has done work for eliminator and adrenaline also

 

[enemy]

Picked her up yesterday and can’t be more happy with it. Love the design and use of space and the seats are insanely comfortable. Also really glad I opted to not use the fiberglass side inserts for grab handles and speakers and stuff and chose to use it for storage. The extra storage is really going to come in handy. I’ll install the grab handles down by the floor and the speakers and led lights as soon as they arrived and she will be ready to go back to havasu.

 

[Riverryder]

okay was much as i hate that you cut a hole in it, i also love it very much! idk what to think! RENE is one talented SOB!!

 

[enemy]

Admit it you love it!!! Lol trust me I feel the same way. So far loving it but we will see if I can enjoy myself on the water with more people on the boat.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Very sleek

I like the storage choice too especially if you have a little gremlin crawling up there to grab lines and bumpers!

 

[enemy]

Some finishing touches on the conversion. Added some speakers to the front with led lights. I went ahead and ran wiring for led lighting along the floor also but I’m going to wait to see how much light is up there already with just the speakers before adding them. Also installed some stainless grab rails along the floor.

 

[renodaytona]

Not a fan of open bow's but that came out nice. 2 week turn around is nice too.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

Rene does killer work. He’s done a few buddies boats and his work is definitely top notch without the cost of some others that ultimately aren’t half as nice.

 

[enemy]

Ok last of the pics I think. He did one more thing in the cuddy. I had two boxes for subs and asked him to figure out where to put them. He put them in the rear of the storage in each sponson and made like a channel that goes to a fake looking speaker that uses material that lets the sound through. I thought it was really cool and it sounds great. Also don’t have to worry about anything damaging the subs

 

[themasterkendog]

Did you take it out in the water a few times before the open bow was cut in? If so, let us know how you like the handling of the extra weight in the bow, did it scrub any speed, bow rise, etc... once you run it with the open bow. I've noticed they handle better with the weight. Please advise!