Ozark DB-20 Rebuild...

First of all, want to say that I've gone over a lot of the posts throughout the forum and have already gotten a ton of help in planning this out.. Thanks everyone!

Recently picked up an Ozark DB-20 deckboat. I liked it because it had the 'toon style deck, and it's going to be converted into a "mainly fishing but every once in awhile I'll have to take the family out in it" boat. Came with full enclosure for those cold nights...

I've already identified several things that need to be addressed:
- Decking is shot. There are a couple of softspots in the floor, so the plywood is going to be yanked up and replaced. Going to be putting marine vinyl down so I won't have to worry about messing up any pretty new carpet.
- Going to try (if space permits) putting a sunken livewell into the floor. There is a baitwell in front of the console that will still be used.
- The bimini top canvas needs to be replaces, or at the minimum re-stitched. I'm actually going to try to do this myself...
- Minor repairs on the enclosure canvas (zipper, strap).
- Get rid of the bow mount trolling motor. Looking at putting an engine-mount motor on.
- Going to try and make the 'glass look brighter.

Those are the biggies for now. I'm sure there will be a lot more added to the list as I go on, and of course I'll have a lot of questions! For example - does anyone know where I can get information on this boat? A friend and I have been searching for weeks and we get NOTHING - just a couple of ads where people are selling them.

Will keep this updated with any progress. Thanks in advance for letting me pick your collective brains!

Re: 1988 Ozark DB-20 Rebuild...

Re: 1988 Ozark DB-20 Rebuild...

Just wanted to add that it's an '88 Ozark with an '88 88hp Evinrude hanging.

For some reason I couldn't edit my original post?

Re: 1988 Ozark DB-20 Rebuild...

Re: 1988 Ozark DB-20 Rebuild...

Got some work done on her over the weekend...


Everything that is not a main stringer is a 1x6 or 1x3?? Additionally, did not find a single screw in anything - everything was stapled together, including the deck (did make tearing up the deck easier, tho)... Thinking I will replace the cross pieces with 2x6 for additional support and screw everything together. I hang with the big boys, so to speak.

Looks like every cross member is like this (which is why I'm replacing them), but don't know why. At first I thought it was due to being banged real hard, and each cross piece is like this, but there's no damage to any of the support pieces or the hull...Possible green wood splitting after years of use? Checked the transom and main stringers for rot, and they all test drilled fine.


Finally, during tear down, was taking a look and am now thinking about possibly moving the console to the center and back so that the "couch" will be the helm seat. This frees up a lot of space, but I am a little concerned about the weight distribution - the console will be moved 2 feet back, and 2 feet towards the center. Anyone have any thoughts as far as weight distribution? Took this picture during tear down to see what it would look like:


Now it's getting to the "fun" part of the rebuild. Will keep posting...