barrycam Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 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. Don't leave us hanging.... More pictures please! 1 Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 6, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 6, 2015 Haha I took a little break from working on it over the weekend so I could go fishing, my apologies. Just finished up the floor board. Just need to pop a few holes in it for the seating and she's ready for carpet. I'm pleasantly surprised how light it still is too. Already cut the pieces for the platform, but forgot to take a pic. I'll try to remember before I leave for the day. Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 6, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 6, 2015 Drilled the holes to mount the seating. Although the diamond plate platform section still needs to have the rear face brake bent (that's why is looks like it's sticking out so far) and the sides dialed in, it's getting pretty close. I also got paint today. Smoke Gray gloss enamel. Hoping to get sprayed before the weekend. Everything except the lower half of the hull and the corner brackets are going to be gloss gray. (Carpets and all flooring will be black) So what do you guys think of the layout? I figured I don't need a middle seat because it will be primarily a Trolling motor driver and I usually bring a cooler anyways. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 6, 2015 Super User Posted May 6, 2015 Sweet. Do you think that the diamond plate platform will be loud ? Metal on metal tends to transfer vibration fairly well. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 6, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 6, 2015 Sweet. Do you think that the diamond plate platform will be loud ? Metal on metal tends to transfer vibration fairly well. A-Jay It certainly does, which is why I'm lining the frame with rubber stripping. I don't want a loud clang when I'm putting the lid/seat back down. It will also equalize the height of the DP and the wood a little. 1 Quote
barrycam Posted May 7, 2015 Posted May 7, 2015 really looking great, thanks again for the pics.... please keep us updated. 1 Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 7, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 7, 2015 Thanks guys, I definitely will continue to update the thread as progress is made. I have been lucky enough to have some free time to work on it but I have to hammer down on some actual work for a while. Hoping I can do another stint on 'er before the weekend, as I'd really like to get it all smoke gray and at least the main floor treated with water sealer and carpeted so it's ready for install. I have to finish the seat/storage lid area before I can paint though, as it needs welding and I don't want to grind off new paint and have to reapply again. Pretty much giving u on CL for a decent trolling motor though, they are spending about 30 seconds up before they're sold if they're a decent price/model. Probably going to grab one of those brand new cheapo Minn Kota 30lb jobbers for peace of mind and cleanliness just to get it over with. Edit: Trigger pulled. Brand new Minn Kota cheapo 30# thrust should be here Monday. 2 Quote
Crutch Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 Loving this thread, would love to see an update soon! I'm always impressed with this kind of craftsmanship. Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 10, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 10, 2015 Yeah I've got the itch bigtime to wrap this up. I'm having a tough time locally sourcing a good heavy gauge aluminum piano hinge for the front seat area. I may have to just settle for thru-bolting a few heavy hinges on after I brake bend the platform edges for strength and weld in the cross members. Oh, and carpet... Which will be grabbed tommorow. Really just waiting on that stuff and the pourable foam and TM to come in. I've got everything else. Might get to actually paint it tomorrow too! Quote
Joe. Posted May 11, 2015 Posted May 11, 2015 Can't wait to see er when she's done. Looks awesome. Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 11, 2015 Finished the diamond plate portion of the front platform and the battery tray today. Tomorrow morning I'm welding in the tray and she's ready for paint! Can't wait. Also poly-sealed the deck plywood so that will be ready for carpet hopefully tomm or weds. Motor showed up too, right while I was on lunch break. Perfect! This might actually be a boat by the weekend! Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 11, 2015 We need pics !!! I'll take a bunch tomorrow after I get painty with it for sure. I can't wait for it to be all shiny and one color! 1 Quote
mcgreggor57 Posted May 11, 2015 Posted May 11, 2015 Definitely a great transformation. Looking forward to seeing the finished boat, Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 12, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 12, 2015 Front platform is finished but I can't mount it until I paint everything (platform will be the same gray as the rest of the boat btw). Going to skip my lunch break and get the battery tray welded in so I can be ready for my weather and work window when it appears out of the fog of the work week. If these T-storms come in this afternoon, I will keep working on it. If not, I'm going fishing. I need it BAD! Quote
Dogmatic Posted May 13, 2015 Posted May 13, 2015 Just wondering about the height of those seats? Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 13, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 13, 2015 The seats are a little higher but I wanted them that way. All of the extra weight is mounted dead center though, and the battery and floor will also lower the center of gravity. I'm not anticipating issues but there's always sitting in the middle on the cooler while we move if it's less sketchy. Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 13, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 13, 2015 Also I mounted the battery tray, rearmost floor supports and power brushed the whole thing. I am going to soap 'er up after lunch and scrub it good, wipe it down with acetone tomorrow morning and then paint it. Planning on skipping lunch just in case. Here she sits before scrub down. 1 Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted May 13, 2015 Super User Posted May 13, 2015 Looking good ! You can see the "sweat equity" that you have in her !! 1 Quote
Josh Crye Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 man, this really makes me want to get my fishing boat back out. haven't used it in a couple years. mines a 14' v hull. plywood casting deck. I had plans to revamp the casting deck to put accessible storage under it. before I had to remove the whole casting deck to gain access. only thing under it was battery, and I had an onboard charger, so didn't really have to get under it much. but I want to add a hatch so I can put other stuff under it as well. I always wanted to remove the 3 bench seats, im no welder, so I would have to pay someone to make the modification. but now a close buddy is a fantastic welder/fabricator, so I might con him into helping me out! thanks for the push to get her back out! one thing I would suggest(if its not too late), I think you mentioned black carpet, that's going to get real hot in the sun. I put green carpet which still gets pretty warm but not as bad as my buddies with black carpet. 1 Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 14, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 14, 2015 one thing I would suggest(if its not too late), I think you mentioned black carpet, that's going to get real hot in the sun. I put green carpet which still gets pretty warm but not as bad as my buddies with black carpet. Yeah I am going to get carpet now, thinking a dark gray might be best. We will see what kind of selection the boat building supply place has. I'm headed over there now. Just finished painting the interior. Man, it looks so good!!! 1 Quote
MikeA57 Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Just curious about using plywood for the back floor... What thickness are you going with and how much will it weigh with the plywood compared to if you had used aluminum? Was it cost or availability that stopped you from using aluminum? That thing looks great!! Congrats!! 1 Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted May 14, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 14, 2015 Just curious about using plywood for the back floor... What thickness are you going with and how much will it weigh with the plywood compared to if you had used aluminum? Was it cost or availability that stopped you from using aluminum? That thing looks great!! Congrats!! I believe I went with 11/32" ply if I'm not mistaken. Seemed to be the best mix of weight and stability. There will also be foam under the floors too so not worried at all. It has also been waterproofed so I didn't need the uber heavy PT ply. The plywood is around the same weight as if I had used 1/8" dp alum flooring, maybe slightly heavier but I think the dampness of the wood will be nice. Too much aluminum on aluminum and it's just a big clangy loud mess- So a little bit of everything- I didn't have enough and now I'm glad I didn't. I think the wood floor is where it's at. Overall it's still going to be really easy to carry though, the weight I took out with the old seats was surprisingly high and the weight of the things I'm putting in is generally very low. Just the plywood, seats and front hinge platform add weight. **battery and motor of course but for basic dry weight purposes, it's surprisingly close** Fwiw to the guy above, the store didn't have a lot to choose from so I went with a light gray. It's going to look killer!! Quote
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