Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

[Froggerman]

I have been posting on 57Chris's post on his Gamefisher Restore.
I love these forums and am learning alot and getting alot of ideas as too what I want too do with my boat as I move on with my restore.
I felt since I wanted too post my steps and pics of my restore as it goes, that I should make my own post and go from there.
So here it is.
As I said in Chris's topic, I didnt know what boat I had till I stumbled on his post. It looks rough but I have a vision LOL

The boat had been sitting in the weather and the wood that was in it is all dryrotted, so first step is gut everything and start from scratch.

He had a platform and a platform for a foot control trolling motor/I rebuilt those with treated wood and extended the platform back almost a foot too allow for storage and more room for the person too use trolling motor with leg room.

Wally
(Froggerman)

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Looking good. Would you mind resizing your pics to 640x480? You can do this with a single click in photobucket.

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

I resized my photos in Photobucket too 640x480 not sure why they are so large here. If I need too make them smaller please tell me.

I have a few questions

1. On the Back there is a steel Angle Iron for support for the Motor.
Im wanting to insure I dont have too much weight and want too do whats best.
Should I continue too use it, or is there a better way too reinforce the back wall too insure strength.
I plan on Refiberglassing the whole boat and carpeting the full interior by the time im through.

2. On the back Seat I will have a folding Plastic cushioned swivel chair.
Im thinking the easiest way too connect the swivel base is with lag screws in a thicker wood like what is there. I really dont like the look of the johnboat bench brackets they make, so wanna mount the swivel too make it look better.
But again im worried about weight.
I weigh 225 so that should give you some hint. LOL
The only thing back there with me will be battery on right rear.
Im placing the Gas tank up under the front platform out of the way. In the center. Trolling motor on front left and battery right rear too help counter the weight some.
My son will be sitting over the cooler/livewell while traveling. So think I have weight distributed right. We shall see.
So back too the Seat Should I use wood or figerglass the heck out of it and use them screws with the wing nut things that flip open when inserted.
Im afraid with vibration during travel they can eat at the fiberglass and become thin and break. So think mount the wood and then lag would be better. Your thought on this please.

3. Im going too marine carpet the whole inside and paint the outside ofcourse. Question is this. The Transition from carpet too rug. im thinking of a RUB RAIL
Does anyone know good place too purchase a rubrail or is there another Idea on what too use too acheive a finished look.
I dont have a clue how I should do this and make it look finished and complete. Any ideas

4. In the cooler Area we are going too make it a Livewell.
I plan on putting a pump on back right rear too suck water and run a hose up the center under the flooring and seats and up too the livewell.
On the left side I plan on putting a pvc pipe in the seat across and out the side with a cover that will be used as an overflow and back out too the lake.
Any ideas for this aswell.

Again thanks all for looking and comments are welcome.


Wally
(Froggerman)

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

....On the Back there is a steel Angle Iron for support for the Motor. Im wanting to insure I dont have too much weight and want too do whats best. Should I continue too use it, or is there a better way too reinforce the back wall too insure strength.

I would use aluminum angle

...back Seat I will have a folding Plastic cushioned swivel chair.Im thinking the easiest way too connect the swivel base is with lag screws in a thicker wood like what is there....But again im worried about weight

A piece of plywood with stainless t-nuts inserted from the bottom would do a nice job. The "wing nut" deal is called a toggle bolt and is not your best option as it is a symptom of Static Object Syndrome.

....Im placing the Gas tank up under the front platform out of the way

Gasoline weighs less than water, a little over 6# per gallon. So a typical 6 gallon tank would be less than 40# full. A decent Deep Cycle battery will run over 70#. Battery would be better up front, but you still need to consider ventilation for safety unless you have a sealed agm battery.

...Im going too marine carpet the whole inside and paint the outside ofcourse. Question is this. The Transition from carpet too rug....how I should do this and make it look finished and complete

I assume you mean carpet to fiberglass?

I would make my own moulding by cutting oak or cherry (oak will last better) on my table saw, and rabbeting the back to bind the carpet. Spar varnishing at least three coats will give it longevity and good looks.

Two other options include precutting all your pieces and leave the transition edge long. Mark on the carpet where the actual edge should be, and go to a big carpet installer and have them edge-bind the transition. Or you can use transition metal from a carpet store which is aluminum.

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Thanks Mark,
How should I apply the Plywood too the seat top?
What do you suggest would be the best and strongest way too attach?





Wally

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

...How should I apply the Plywood too the seat top?

Seat swivels are only about 8" across.... but anchored with a bolt into a tee-nut they will be quite strong. So the BASE (plywood) becomes the "weak link." If you either had a 16-inch-by-seat-width piece of plywood or a piece that covered the whole seat top, you are spreading the load. So for the wider, less leverage plywood-to-seat connection, I would use 6 to 8 or more #10 SS screws through the plywood and into the fiberglass seat top. Seal the holes between the plywood and seat with 3M 5200.

If that comes off it will probably take a good chunk of the boat with it

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

SS = stainless steel.

3M 5200 is a polyurethane marine adhesive sealant. Things stay stuck but can be removed with a lot of effort.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

on your live-well....
i did pretty much the same thing....but with a store bought cooler, with a drain plug...

i put a small water pump in the rear of the boat, put a pickup tube running through the back of the boat near the bottom of the transom...

from the pump to the cooler, i put in a quarter turn ball valve.

once in the water, i opened the ball valve and turned on the pump, once the cooler was full, i turned off the pump and closed the ball valve. I used a small battery operated aerator in the cooler.

at the end of the day when i pulled the boat out of the water, i would just open the ball valve and the water would gravity flow out of the cooler, through the pump andd out the pick up tube

worked great

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

My plan is too put a pump on lower right rear and run a tube up through the bottom center too the cooler/Livewell area. Ive cut boards that are going too be carpeted and will set in the center channel area too level the floor out some. The center bottom of the boat under the boards will stay not carpeted so water can drain out and will give area for tubing and wires. In the livewell I will put a tube up through the seat and it will spray fresh lake water and on the left side I am going too drill a hole within the seat and out the side too allow for water overflow. Doing it in the seat too hide the tubes. In the bottom of the livewell there are a few holes already with plugs in them. When the day is done and the fish are out. I will merely pull the plugs and the water will drain down the bottom center and out the rear drain hole. I will probably look at getting a timer on and off switch so water wont be constantly going in the livewell. Or will turn it on and off on accassion too allow for fresh water too keep water aerated.

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Well weve started sanding some.
There sure are alot of bumps and areas that were fiberglassed that were not sanded. So it seems we have alot too do.
Ive found a few areas that are actually broke clear through so will be fiberglassing the inside and out too insure I get it strong and sealed.
We plan on smoothing things out and then fixing holes and then fiberglassing the whole thing. Then sanding too smooth out, then getting it painted.
Here are a few pics of the beginning sanding.

Do you think us fiberglassing the whole boat will be too much weight added?
I want too insure strength but dont wanna overdue it.

Also there is a plate on the front hook that was rubber sealed on and it was rusted so bad. we took it off. Do you think if i fiberglass that area real good and put a plate inside the boat it will be fine. That metal block outside really looked bad. U bolt was so rusted too, am replacing it aswell

 

[Good Ol Boy]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Hows the boat coming along frogger, alot of interesting ideas, id like to see some more pics. Starting a restore of the same boat and i think i have the bug.

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Ok Well Ive actually gotten the sanding done and Son and I painted the boat.
Now I know what your thinking wow why that color. Wife actually told us we need too paint it something else. LOL
I plan on putting a pinstripe and will show the logo im gonna put on it.
I like this and when upside right and in the water you will only see the sides and front portion. They sure wont be able too miss seeing me on the water LOL.
Fiberglassed and Sanded.

Wally
Frogger

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Now Painted.

Ok anyone that knows boats knows this emblem.
We have come up with Teeter = Tisdales Skeeter
Now my wife says its Teeter = will Tip LOL

more pics after I do more, Any Ideas im open for.

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

So today Ive gotten alot done.
Dry fitting everything before carpeting.
Mounted Trolling motor
Mounted Transducer
Mounted Aerator
Started running Channel tubing in lower boat for Wiring.
Ran Aerator Tubing for water too Aerator
Mounted Handles on Livewell cover

Will post more pics as I proceed.

 

[chrisdors]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

wow- this is a really cool boat. havent seen one before. will keep an eye out for more pictures!

Chris

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Ok Gotten the Aerator Pump wired and Siliconed.
also ran tubing too Livewell.

Here you see the livewell and on bottom is a light mounted at bottom of livewell and tube going too sprayer.

Here is picture of Water overflow tube going out the side of the boat.

Now the interier of the livewell.
We painted it a light color so fish will stand out better when looking in.
Also you can see the light mounted below the sprayer and you can see the black overflow exit hole.
2 plugs for draining water after the day is done.

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Ok fiberglassed over the holes i had too cut for install. That way when I place carpet no one will be able too push in at a hole.

Ran all wiring up center using pvc too make it easier. I also siliconed the ends of pvc so it wont shift.

Here is a pic of the setup on the front platform. Showing the switches and where my trolling motor will plug in.
L brackets will not be there under the carpet, just using it too hold in place so i can get everything where I want it. Then will secure underneath. and remove them.

Also painted the whole top edge and inside lip of the boat will use rubber molding too edge the carpet along the top edge of the inside boat.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Nice job on the livewell- that is my favorite part!

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Thanks ya cant wait too see if it works well LOL

 

[Froggerman]

Re: Another 12' Sears Gamefisher Restore

Ok today I got alot done, Finalized my fiberglassing too reinforce backseat.
Also Marine carpeted the whole front deck and trolling motor platform.
Wired all and mounted all on front platform.
Its done. Well almost done forgot too mount the Pedestal and Seat today.
Its 4 bolts then done with front LOL

Now too work my way back and hopefully will be done next week.



Wally
(Froggerman)