hillbillyr
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2015
- Messages
- 9
Hello From Saskatchewan
I was on the fence about redoing and modifying my boat but gravel roads and a very rough boat launch have made my decision for me. I have a short drive to the lake but its definitely not paved. Thus my probable soft transom is failing. It doesn't help I don't have a leg support. I will have one after the rebuild
I bought the boat this spring (my first boat) for a decent price knowing what I was I buying. The old Merc 800 is strong and runs very well. I have honestly used the boat more this season than the previous owners did in 6 or 8 seasons. I went fishing and took the family out every weekend sometimes going out twice a day.
The cracks in the fiberglass on the transom have been getting bigger and producing evil little offspring so... today was my last fishing day for the season
My plan, such as plans go, is to tear down and grind this fall and rebuild in the spring when things warm up while the ice melts off the lake.
This afternoon I tore out all the crazy bubba wiring, carpet, controls seats, etc. The motor bolt nuts are off and all that's left is to take the hydraulic lines off the trim pump to pull the motor
I plan on building a jig on the trailer to hold the hull in place so I can pull the cap off and cut out the floor next weekend
The trailer is great for this because the previous owner did a decent job of sheeting it with plywood to protect against gravel roads
As you can see in the pic I have a large ( unheated ) Quonset where I can lift off the top and store it. I will drag the hull out and grind outside. I don't have much for neighbors and if the coyotes have issue with dust they can howl at someone who cares lol.
The floor is of course soft in the back and I foresee much wet foam and various nastiness
Now for the modifications and the dreams, or nightmares depending on ones state of mind at the moment. I would love to hear from everyone as to why I cant do what I want to do and why there are issues so they can be worked through and planned out. At least up until and a little before the epic internet fllame war with subsequent timeouts and what not
As such I will provide some personal background. I have zero experience with boats and just enough with fiberglass to know how frustrating it can be at the worst times. I have had some success but more of luck and boldness than thought and finesse. I was a carpenter for too many years but have switched mediums and now work in metal fabrication. I worked for a year and a half as an industrial painter and still have access to the massive paint both, which will obviously come in handy.
Thus I have an idea of structure and how things are generally built.
I want to turn this boat, seeing as I have to redo it or landfill it now, into a fishing boat with a front fishing area, livewell , rod storage storage compartments bla bla. I had thought of a bow mounted minn kota V2 come spring but my already lousy fish finder gave up the ghost and carped the bed a few weekends ago. So new electronics trump the motor but a proper mounting location must be built for the future
I want to cut out the existing bow deck around the blue area and drop it down to the level of the step as a fishing deck.
I believe this will give me ample room for underdeck storage for trolling motor / electronics batteries and the required structural bulkhead where the current one resides. I would like to install the obligatory seat post in the front as well.
I hope to be able to add a center rod locker.
In the rear I want to cut out at least half of the splashwell and kooky deck design
This will allow useful storage to be buit on the sides. I will drop the deck further forward to allow for my fuel tanks and build a stainless steel livewell that will serve as the back wall of the splashwell and rear bulkhead to retain structural strength
Seating will become 4 mpveable post type folders with extra center
I was on the fence about redoing and modifying my boat but gravel roads and a very rough boat launch have made my decision for me. I have a short drive to the lake but its definitely not paved. Thus my probable soft transom is failing. It doesn't help I don't have a leg support. I will have one after the rebuild
I bought the boat this spring (my first boat) for a decent price knowing what I was I buying. The old Merc 800 is strong and runs very well. I have honestly used the boat more this season than the previous owners did in 6 or 8 seasons. I went fishing and took the family out every weekend sometimes going out twice a day.
The cracks in the fiberglass on the transom have been getting bigger and producing evil little offspring so... today was my last fishing day for the season
My plan, such as plans go, is to tear down and grind this fall and rebuild in the spring when things warm up while the ice melts off the lake.
This afternoon I tore out all the crazy bubba wiring, carpet, controls seats, etc. The motor bolt nuts are off and all that's left is to take the hydraulic lines off the trim pump to pull the motor
I plan on building a jig on the trailer to hold the hull in place so I can pull the cap off and cut out the floor next weekend
The trailer is great for this because the previous owner did a decent job of sheeting it with plywood to protect against gravel roads
As you can see in the pic I have a large ( unheated ) Quonset where I can lift off the top and store it. I will drag the hull out and grind outside. I don't have much for neighbors and if the coyotes have issue with dust they can howl at someone who cares lol.
The floor is of course soft in the back and I foresee much wet foam and various nastiness
Now for the modifications and the dreams, or nightmares depending on ones state of mind at the moment. I would love to hear from everyone as to why I cant do what I want to do and why there are issues so they can be worked through and planned out. At least up until and a little before the epic internet fllame war with subsequent timeouts and what not
As such I will provide some personal background. I have zero experience with boats and just enough with fiberglass to know how frustrating it can be at the worst times. I have had some success but more of luck and boldness than thought and finesse. I was a carpenter for too many years but have switched mediums and now work in metal fabrication. I worked for a year and a half as an industrial painter and still have access to the massive paint both, which will obviously come in handy.
Thus I have an idea of structure and how things are generally built.
I want to turn this boat, seeing as I have to redo it or landfill it now, into a fishing boat with a front fishing area, livewell , rod storage storage compartments bla bla. I had thought of a bow mounted minn kota V2 come spring but my already lousy fish finder gave up the ghost and carped the bed a few weekends ago. So new electronics trump the motor but a proper mounting location must be built for the future
I want to cut out the existing bow deck around the blue area and drop it down to the level of the step as a fishing deck.
I believe this will give me ample room for underdeck storage for trolling motor / electronics batteries and the required structural bulkhead where the current one resides. I would like to install the obligatory seat post in the front as well.
I hope to be able to add a center rod locker.
In the rear I want to cut out at least half of the splashwell and kooky deck design
This will allow useful storage to be buit on the sides. I will drop the deck further forward to allow for my fuel tanks and build a stainless steel livewell that will serve as the back wall of the splashwell and rear bulkhead to retain structural strength
Seating will become 4 mpveable post type folders with extra center
