It's Official... I Have A Project. The "dream 12'er".

[Master Bait'r]

Officially got this aluminum semi-v 12'er + trailer from my brother for a measly $400.  I needed a small boat so I could bring out my stepson now that he's old enough to really fish- the 8' fiberglass dinghy I've got now was just a bit too small and is super heavy for it's size.  I figured 12' is big enough to spend a day in but small enough to move by hand if need be.    

 

 

The set is extremely solid despite being neglected for a while and the project is set to begin next week.  The seats are being taken out immediately, the whole thing is getting power brushed clean as a whistle and then the fun begins.  I am a custom metal fabricator, certified TIG welder and have full access to a pretty darn good sized metal shop with a host of sheet metal capabilities so I've made up my mind to create my dream 12er all in-house.

 

The list so far:

 

1.  Delete all seats

2.  Create bracing across front to accommodate platform and bracketry for battery holder 

3.  Create front platform out of diamond plate aluminum that gives *just* enough room underneath for the throw arm of an adjustable shop stool and storage space. (1 lockable storage compartment)

4.  Create padded combo racks on sides to hold rods and reels safely and securely (I also want to box out the top and tip end to give a "shelf" along the sides)

5.  Probably recreate the rear seat as it was in stock form, but with lockable storage in the middle and seating receivers to either side of it for an adjustable/removable stool topper like the front.

6.  Make a carpeted floor and make sure the floor has proper mounts and a pvc runner for battery wiring.  

7.  Paint the entire boat gloss grey

8.  Rhino line the diamond plate surfaces and contact points of the hull

9.  Run wiring and install floor

10.  Install trolling motor

11.  Fish like a maniac with my stepson.   

 

 

I already have everything except the the paint, plywood (for the floor), carpet and stools.   I want this to be the cleanest meanest 12'er that ever was...  And for a very small budget given that I'm doing all the custom building myself.  

 

All said and done it looks like I'll be on the water in a perfect little boat for around $600-$650 and that's if I get really nice carpets and seats.  I'm really excited for a good custom project, it's been a while!  

 

 

    

[A-Jay]

Congrats ~

 

Good Luck with your Build.

 

A-Jay

[mcgreggor57]

Looking forward to following the progress. 

[Master Bait'r]

Thanks guys!  It's not everyday I get to apply my trade to something enjoyable, so that will be nice for a change.  Considering it's a low-budget project it'll still have a big payout to me in terms of enjoyment.  I can't wait to take that little boat from worst to first and enjoy the heck out of it.   

[slonezp]

If you're adding weight, consider adding floatation

[Matthew2000]

Looks like the boat I use for a small lake in Ohio. Almost identical actually except we fixed ours up and painted it red.

[Joedodge]

To cool man. Nothing like a budget project! And doing the work yourselves. Awesome to hear about another trade worker in this site! Proud to be one myself. And your right it's not often we can relate our trade to fishing or enjoyment. Teach your step son and pass it on! My boy is 7 and we are doing similar but not as involved to a canoe. America doesn't need anymore silver spoon fed brats who think they know it all by 14. My hat is off to you sir

[thomas15]

Keep us updated on the progress. May I ask, are you going to use the TM as the main propulsion or will you add a gasoline outboard?

 

BTW, when I was a kid, my Dad (assisted by my brother and me) built two boats, a 14' flat bottom bay skiff and a 19' Comet class sailboat. There was nothing as satisfying as fishing from a boat you made yourselves (or in you case rebuilt).

[Master Bait'r]

Keep us updated on the progress. May I ask, are you going to use the TM as the main propulsion or will you add a gasoline outboard?

 

BTW, when I was a kid, my Dad (assisted by my brother and me) built two boats, a 14' flat bottom bay skiff and a 19' Comet class sailboat. There was nothing as satisfying as fishing from a boat you made yourselves (or in you case rebuilt).

 

 

Thanks for the positive encouragement guys.  For a low dollar build it's got me really excited.  It's a perfect project for the kids to help with too.      

 

I'm going electric only for now.  I want to keep it really light, easy and just clean clean clean.  I don't have a lot of money to put into it but I'm really good with my hands and have a lot of scrap and machines so I'm looking forward to really doing this right top to bottom but also keeping it as minimalist as possible.  It is after all a 12'er.  This boat will be for just quietly tiptoeing around the bigger ponds and smaller lakes around here, so it doesn't have to be much.  It can't be much, I hope to be able to carry it over short portages with a friend.      Speed also means less than nothing in this project as it will be a tool to teach basic boating safety and responsibility to the kids as well- a safe, easy stepping stone if you will.  

 

 

I'm going to take a ton of pictures as things progress and I will definitely keep this thread updated.  Hopefully I can get it into the shop this weekend if I have time to start breaking it down and fabbing up the front platform and measuring for the side wire racks.  I've even moved all my fishing gear to the shop to make sure everything is accounted for in design and it all fits/works like it should.  

 

 

Oh and before I forget, Slonezp- I've even got big foam beams for flotation that'll be hidden under the front deck and rear seating.  Safety first!!  

 

 

 

Matt 

[Turtle135]

nice! can't wait to see the progress

[merckxrider]

I have an aluminum 14' v-hull with a 1972 evinrude fastwin. I take it all over our lakes and out in the salt flats. Please post pics as you go. How are going to take the original seats out? And I would like to see how you'll do the floor. I put a plywood extension casting deck on the rear seat with a little storage underneath. The front seat has a plywood topper. On both seat additions I have shirt post drop swivel seats that I can pull out for standing. A flush bow deck is installed. My son can stand on it, but it's not big. I use it if I put I've of my trolling motors up front. I would like to pull the original seating out of this boat, put in a flat floor and make my swivel seats the main seats. I also need to have a casting deck available for better sight fishing. This boat is a keeper for handing down to my boys. I will end up with a modest 16' flats skiff.

[Master Bait'r]

Been working on it a bit. I'm using 1x1 aluminum square tubing that's hand notched to fit right into the hull rib supports and welded in for the floor joists.

The original seats were all corroded and rusted in place so I cut off the bolt heads and tapped the bodies out with a thin rod. I'm re-using the rear brackets but that's it. The rest of them are coming out.

Still in the mock-up phase as you can see. The long angle is simply to provide a straight baseline for joist alignment.

It's still a bit out from being done but it's coming along very nicely. I think the hardest part is going to be notching the wood floor board and making the rounded taper fit perfect.

[Master Bait'r]

All floor joists are now welded in. I just need the next aluminum shipment to come in so I can finish framing my front platform and then I'm good for wood.

[Joedodge]

Looking great man!

[Master Bait'r]

Thanks!  I had to scrap the idea of a diamond plate front platform, as I just don't have enough.  Somebody must have commandeered my sheet for a project and not returned it or told me.  Oh well.  The good news is that it lined up perfectly so that I can use an unbroken 8' sheet of plywood for the whole floor section and another full piece for the platform.  The foremost visible support in the pics will be used for a cross brace below the front seat, and the front platform area will be of pretty good size.  Considering there is no middle seat, it should be.  The weight savings by using the aluminum square tubing is crazy, it weighs next to nothing but is very strong.  It also sucks to weld it in a strange position like that but hey it doesn't have to be sexy, just hold a floor up nice and solid.      

 

I should say that the only option I'm leaving for the middle seat will be a cross-braced receiver hole for an adjustable stool- which will be able to be removed from its normal place in the rear bench in case of a dead battery if someone needs to row.

 

 

Getting really excited as it begins to take real shape.  She's gonna be a beaut.  

[Joedodge]

Awesome! Can't wait to see more pics man!

[Master Bait'r]

How she sat when I stopped for lunch today.

Getting really close. Finalizing the alignment now and adding a few more cross beams. Once it's really clamped I'll tack everything up, take out the platform and weld it all up. When it's all solid I can reinstall and weld it in, connect the front mount and finish the gussets for around the seating area.

[A-Jay]

Nice Job ~

 

Clearly - you have skills.

 

A-Jay

[TX18_E90]

Can I recommend you foam fill under the flooring. They make a pourable foam. You have to lay the floor first and pour in 1" holes in floor. Use plastic squares to cover holes. Floor covering makes it all clean looking.

[Master Bait'r]

Can I recommend you foam fill under the flooring. They make a pourable foam. You have to lay the floor first and pour in 1" holes in floor. Use plastic squares to cover holes. Floor covering makes it all clean looking.

I will definitely look into that. I was planning on gluing down regular styrofoam-type stuff once the wiring is run but that sounds much better.

Completely finished and installed the front platform, so that means pretty much all the welding is done except for putting the hatch piano hinges in and doing some rear seat bracing along with the battery trays. Easy stuff

The largest opening in the platform with the extra bracing is where the seat is going, and that section will act as a hinged top to access storage underneath. Might do another for the far-forward section but we will see.

In any case it's on to wood and carpet. Once the floor is perfect the rest of the boat will get paint while the floor is being carpeted. Once that's all finished, wham bam thank you Ma'am- Put it all together and get out on the water!

As it looks more and more like a boat my excitement grows. She gets closer every day!

I might take tomorrow off to go fishing though

[Joedodge]

Looks great man! Keep in mind some of the spray and pour in foam is corrosive to aluminum

[Dogmatic]

I *** your metal working skills. I have the same project boat, but had to use wood. A small light boat became very heavy, very quickly. Good luck.

[curtis9]

I *** your metal working skills. I have the same project boat, but had to use wood. A small light boat became very heavy, very quickly. Good luck.

I had an old feather craft I was looking at a similar build using wood, but sold it because I was worried the boat would be too heavy.

[Master Bait'r]

^

 

That is definitely the truth.  I've looked into it and the wood gets heavy really fast.  I'm not even putting any of the plank seats back in because they're just too heavy for what they are.  You could make a boxed aluminum plank seat frame with a sweet padded seat and still be lighter.  It is a tough metal to work with though, very finicky under the torch.  The only wood in this project will be the one sheet of plywood for the floor and if I had the sheet stock it would be coarse rhino lined diamond plate. 

 

 

It's kind of funny how many people all of a sudden want this thing IRL though, everyone from my UPS guy to one of the metal salesmen to my mobile electronics/wood/carpeting guy who doesn't even fish haha...  Maybe I should start Craigslist rehabbing boats on the side one of these days!  My Uncle who is a disabled veteran even saw it and wants me to make him a 14'er with a low Barca lounger in the middle so he can actually stay out on the water (he is a photographer and loves to fish) without being sent into excruciating pain within an hour- I told him "Pick up a 1448 and your seating of choice and it's DONE."   So we will see I guess haha.  Little tin boats!  Who knew everyone in the world wants one?! 

[Master Bait'r]

One thing that's driving me crazy when I look at the boat though is the lack of care used in assembling it.  I realize things are still totally fine and well within factory spec but if you look you can see that the foremost lower support beam is visibly crooked, as are the rest of the bands in varying degrees.  I even had to offset the bow mount to compensate for this after the platform was made straight.  This is because of the hull bands, which were installed off-kilter in the factory.  When I'm making a structure off of it I'm measuring to exact numbers, having two sets of angles sucks.  Have eight really makes it very hard to make straight.  I cannot wait until there is something covering it.  There's nothing I can do and I've fully compensated for it but it's making me itch every time I see it...  Things off by small degrees, ugh.  Even though it's all been accounted for and the end result is muy bueno I can't take structural things like that not being all straight and aligned.