Man of Steel Goes Aluminum

[PikeHunter431]

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At camp, I installed a transducer mounting plate (with 5200) and the transducer setup on the port side of the stern. I used a transducer shield/saver and a spring-back bracket also made by Transducer shield and saver. We have to raise the outboard to get a good side side image on the starboard side, but otherwise the the transducer performed well with the dual and down imaging. Almost forgot, my son rewired the trailer lights as well. I am so glad I had that extra portable light kit as a backup.

 

[PikeHunter431]

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We also got the rain top put on, which was good, as it rained 8 of the 9 days. We got some nice smallies, my best was a little over 21inches.

 

[Watermann]

Whoa man that's a transducer and I thought mine was over sized, that one of yours is the size of griddle! :lol:

Jeez I hate fishing in the rain, I like the fish to be wet not me... that is unless you're catching some hogs that one or course.

 

[PikeHunter431]

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I took some pics of things we did before the first trip in May. We used the larger RAM mounts for the ONYX head unit. You can see the Iron pipe with flanges I used for extra support. Underneath the console, I put a piece of plywood in to distribute the force on the console and to the pipe.

 

[PikeHunter431]

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Here are the pics of the wiring under the driver console I forgot to take and post before.

 

[PikeHunter431]

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Here are a couple pics of the 360 imaging system. It is on the port side of the bow. I am using a breakaway mount. Not shown are the 4 plastic screws that give if I hit something. We put an extension tube on to get it low enough to clear the hull. However, the unit really did not perform well. We had all the wiring isolated, even disconnected the trolling motor batteries and used one to direct power it, and turned everything else off. Still, it did not image well. Spent some time with Hummingbird support and eventually sent them image files we took. Haven't heard back from them, but I suspect we will need to do a warranty swap on the unit.

 

[PikeHunter431]

So now it is time for Phase three. On the list is:

Bow casting deck and seating area
Rear casting deck, splash pan, rear side panels, fuel exhaust
New throttle cables and reroute under side panel
Port sideboard with storage compartments
Livewell setups and plumbing
Rear seating
Windshield cleanup
Clean/polish rails under sideboards.
Sun Top (on rails) installation
Marine radio
Sound system
Led Strip lighting ? front and back
Replace rear nav light with removable one
Mounts for fiberglass ribs for cover
Cupholders!

Beyond Phase three
Trailer painting
Replace front seats and posts.

 

[Watermann]

All of that sounds fun to me right up until I got down to ... Trailer WORK :nightmare:

 

[PikeHunter431]

Notice that is it past phase three, the "sometime in the future" part. It is just cosmetics, so once phase three is done, it could be a long while. Of course, the admiral may just go out sometime when the boat is off the trailer and take a couple spray cans of Rustoleum and call it a day/project complete.

 

[Pusher]

We also got the rain top put on, which was good, as it rained 8 of the 9 days. We got some nice smallies, my best was a little over 21inches.

Geez man, I'm not sure I've ever even seen a bass that big online! I bet you had to consider a mount for it!

 

[PikeHunter431]

Geez man, I'm not sure I've ever even seen a bass that big online! I bet you had to consider a mount for it!

The only thing I was considering was how good the streaks on the grill would be. If I land a northern over 25 lbs, then I will consider a mounting.

 

[PikeHunter431]

I am long overdue for an update. Before I put her in storage I did get a couple phase 3 items done. I cut the bow deck support in the front and narrowed it to pick up a bit more under deck storage on each side.

 

[PikeHunter431]

I cut and added some angle aluminum to give the sides more support and painted them to match the hull.

 

[PikeHunter431]

I put vinyl in both gunnels and below the gunnel on the port side. I also fashioned a side piece for the rear port side to cover the gas tank lines.

 

[PikeHunter431]

On the rear starboard side, I made another side plate with a hatch for the rear fuse box and to hold the main battery switch.

 

[PikeHunter431]

For the new gas tank, I put a couple rubber pieces underneath it, cut some rubber hose I had and used those pieces on the bottom edges and buttress it all the away around with angle aluminum screwed to the floor. I took out the temporary deck frame and built the permanent one.

 

[PikeHunter431]

I am planning on having the rear deck hinge near the transom so I can swing it up for access into the bilge and battery sections. I had to angle the board on the starboard side for the fuse box hatch to open. I cut two plywood face pieces for both sides of the deck. The middle will be open to accommodate the plumbing for the center live boxes.

 

[PikeHunter431]

[No message]

 

[PikeHunter431]

I removed the temporary bow deck framing. The attempt to cover the console front with foam and then vinyl didn't really turn out so great. I took that off, removed the foam, and put a fresh piece of vinyl on it (no picture of the finished piece alone.) Then I started constructing the permanent bow deck frame.

 

[No-AH]

Nicely done M8, and thanks for sharing your progress with pics. We are at the same stage in our re-do's. What's your plan with the rear casting deck, any seating?