Raising the roof

[Sir Percy]

I'd recommend that you go back and have a look at what's under the floor as @BWM suggested. That's what I did on mine; Alhough the ballast wasn't 'untidy' with space that could be exploited, it was tightly packed paving slabs which I replaced with denser steel, allowing me to drop the floor by 3" (like BWM, to the keelson).

 

Taking up the floor and ballast was something that I had to do anyway, to get to the hull floor which needed treating after years of neglect. If your boat is old, and you intend to keep it for any significant time, it's something worth considering while you have the opportunity.

[BWM]

2 hours ago, Sir Percy said:

I'd recommend that you go back and have a look at what's under the floor as @BWM suggested. That's what I did on mine; Alhough the ballast wasn't 'untidy' with space that could be exploited, it was tightly packed paving slabs which I replaced with denser steel, allowing me to drop the floor by 3" (like BWM, to the keelson).

 

Taking up the floor and ballast was something that I had to do anyway, to get to the hull floor which needed treating after years of neglect. If your boat is old, and you intend to keep it for any significant time, it's something worth considering while you have the opportunity.

Even more so if any over plating is required as it may remove the need for ballast. 

[Crewcut]

What Sir Percy said - before doing anything I'd want to make sure that the hull itself is viable - if the whole thing needs overplating or it'll likely sink in the next 6 months what's the point?