1958 14' Fabuglass runabout conversion with pics.

[1957evinrude]

I know some people may be mad at what I am doing to this boat, but when your limited on money and cant just buy a fishing boat you have to do what you have to right?? Plus I'm having a great time doing it. Ive been meaning to start this along time ago. I will post pictures of what i have done and what im planning to do. Any help will be great. Ok picture time.

[1957evinrude]

More pics. By the way dont tell a 2 year old no when he has a hammer.

[1957evinrude]

And more.

[1957evinrude]

pics.....

[1957evinrude]

last four. The ammo can is going to be my drivers chair/dry storage.

[1957evinrude]

Now I have to take the floor up and put pvc pipe in the floor so i can run my wiring to the cc. After that im going to attach the front deck some how lol, and then fiberglass everything in (all corners). Then im going to open some holes in the floor and pour foam into it and then seal the whole floor with fiberglass. do you all see anything i my be doing wrong or can do better please let me know.

[Woodonglass]

What kind of Steering system are you planning to use and how are you going to route cabe/s to the stern?
Are you planning to make accomodations for storage of gear, rods, bait, etc... What IS you overall floor plan going to be. Even tho I am somewhat of a PURIST when it comes to these old boats as you can tell from my thread, I understand where you are coming from and I really like your thinking on making a center console of of her. FYI www.USComposites.com is a good source for fiberglass supplies.


I'm just sayin...

[1957evinrude]

For the steering Im hoping its going to work. I have the cable steer which im going to have to run thru the floor. Of course i cant go straight back im going to have to shoot it front there in a bow shape. Im going to put it thru pvc pipe in the floor that way when i foam it if it has to come out i can just pull it out. wiring will be going thru 1 1/2 pvc thru the floor. as for storage i ordered a hatch door for the deck which is about 23" x 12". Rod holders im not sure yet i might make them into the sides of the cc, or on the front of the cc. The thing that im really having difficalty thinking of is the live well which will be in the back of the boat , i just dont know what to buy as far was pumps, drains, fitting etc. The live well will be a little wider than the cc in the back and dry storage to either side with a solid bench seat to cover all three.

[Luhrs28]

Any time you can do a project with your kid it's so worthwhile. My daughter is 27 and still likes to work on things with me, 'cause we always did stuff together from when she was a little pup like yours.

[1957evinrude]

Yeah its great getting out there with him. He had the hammer one day and started beating on the sides, i said "julian no" i guess he thought he was introuble so he thru the hammer and hit me right in the foot lol. So i learned from that one just walk over and take it away and hand him a screw driver lol

[ezmobee]

Cool conversion. Small glass runabouts are a dime a dozen so it's not like you're hacking up a rare classic or something. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

[1957evinrude]

yeah i cant wait to work on it. working 6 days a week its hard to get out there and work on it but anyways cant glass out side in this temp.

[fisherguy123]

You sure are doing a nice job on that boat.....it is especially great to have your son by your side helping you......my boy was so independant at about that age he wanted to make his own so I let him bang away at an old storage crate for a pretend boat..here he is tools in hand....that was over 30 years ago.....sure miss them days.....by the way he went on to become an engineer.

[1957evinrude]

Thats awsome. I am going to try and get him to work outside with me and play out side like i used to, and not stay stuck in his room playing video game or something. Thats a great picture its great you kept it for this long and now its digital and youll never lose it. Well let me see if i have to go to work with this snow on the ground. Seems that if the doors at work are not covered in snow then you have to show up lol.

[fisherguy123]

Seems that if the doors at work are not covered in snow then you have to show up lol.

Did I read that right..? do you guys get much snow there? I know some snowbirds from here that head to SC for the winter to get away from the white stuff. I`m about 2000miles northeast of you and we have hardly any.

[1957evinrude]

Did I read that right..? do you guys get much snow there? I know some snowbirds from here that head to SC for the winter to get away from the white stuff. I`m about 2000miles northeast of you and we have hardly any.

no we dont get much snow here but when we do the state cant clear it all like they would in like ny or something. It makes it even worse when you get people that dont know what they are doing behind the wheel in snow and ice.