OK folks, I finally finished my boat back around Oct 10 and got it out on the water a couple of times. What a joy to see water again! Everything ran well and had zero leaks. Goal accomplished! Some picture are from Alum Creek Reservoir, north of Columbus Ohio.
Here you can see that I got the trolling motor remounted. The boards and the support pieces underneath really did the job, with absolutely no movement when the trolling motor was dropped and lifted. Two batteries for the trolling motor are located under the front casting deck. On the right and left of the casting deck are two small doors that open into storage spaces underneath.
You can see that I have one seat in place on the deck. I have one fixed seat for the driver, and three additional seats on pedestals that can be moved to any of five receptacles. Two of the receptacles are on front and rear casting decks, with three others on the main deck for cruising around with company.
The depth finder is mounted with simple binder clips from our supply office, to allow easy removal when parked in areas where people have sticky fingers.
Here you can see the rest of the boat's layout. I originally wanted to return the boat to its original center console configuration, but opted to keep the side console. It really does work better for fishing inland waters on a smallish boat like this. If it was a larger bay boat I would consider the center console. I did not replace the windshield on the console simply because it is easier to cover and trailer the boat without it. I've considered adding a flip-down windshield- saw one in Alaska this summer and seems very functional.
I removed the live well from the front of the console to allow extra floor space. On the front of the console you can see that I added a power outlet. Just above that I added an on/off toggle that is wired to an old bilge pup that I have in storage under the front casting deck. If I choose to keep fish, I can take my cooler on board and fill it using the old bilge pump that I have stored up front. Just toss the pump over the side, put the attached hose in the cooler, and flip the toggle switch on. When the cooler fills 2/3 of the way, toggle off. I can use this system to empty and refill the cooler as needed. Inside of the cooler itself, I have retrofitted a water circulating pump that aerates the cooler water. It plugs into the power outlet on the front of the console.
You can also see the finished rear casting deck. Two fuel cans sit under the rear console, as do two more batteries (which you cant see on the starboard side). One battery is specifically for cranking and the other is to run lights, sonar, functional bilge, etc.
Flip up rod holders are installed on both sides near the rear for those times when trolling is the ticket.
All walking surfaces are covered with sand and several layers of paint to make it skid proof.
There she is! I chose the vinyl lettering for the hull.
I just love the way this boat sits in the water. The paint job turned out great (thanks rustoleum marine paint!)
If I had my druthers I wouldn't have the trolling motor on because I feel like it really ruins the look, but this boat has to be functional.
This site has been a great help, and I would never have been able to finish this project without all of the old posts to reference and all of your personal words of assistance and encouragement. Thank you!
