Any Basstender Owners Around?

[VaBeachbaitboy]

I have seen the very active Pelican post and would like to get a fraction of the replies but focusing on basstender boats.  Are there some basstender owners on here and have any of you done modifications to your rig?  I have an 11.3 that I love.  I had a 10.2 before that.  Wanting to do a few mods.  One involves wiring but that involves separating the decks.  The other mod is for storage and that involves cutting into the deck.  I am afraid to do either.  Curious if anyone has experience doing either?  Thank you,

[zachb34]

I used to own a basstender 11.3 and it remained stock besides the trolling motor, fish finder,etc. I did have a water tender 9.4 as well. I got it for free. Someone left it in an apartment when they moved and my neighbor who worked for the apartment complex passed it on to me. Anyway, I gave it a nice paint job, cut into the back to make storage and later down some carpeted plywood for a deck. I'll post pics if I can find some. I did separate my water tender since it already had no rub rail or anything to hold it together when I got it. Just be careful not to lose your foam flotation. You may even want to add foam. The two pieces will go back together, but can be tricky to fit if you leave them separate for a day or two. I ended up doing a lot of my wiring after I bought a new rub rail and put it back together. Its not too hard to fish the wires from back to front or front to back.

[WIGuide]

I used to have a 10.2 and I left it stock. At the time it fit my needs. I could see where some mods would be nice though. 

[VaBeachbaitboy]

I used to own a basstender 11.3 and it remained stock besides the trolling motor, fish finder,etc. I did have a water tender 9.4 as well. I got it for free. Someone left it in an apartment when they moved and my neighbor who worked for the apartment complex passed it on to me. Anyway, I gave it a nice paint job, cut into the back to make storage and later down some carpeted plywood for a deck. I'll post pics if I can find some. I did separate my water tender since it already had no rub rail or anything to hold it together when I got it. Just be careful not to lose your foam flotation. You may even want to add foam. The two pieces will go back together, but can be tricky to fit if you leave them separate for a day or two. I ended up doing a lot of my wiring after I bought a new rub rail and put it back together. Its not too hard to fish the wires from back to front or front to back.

You can't beat free!  I'd like to see pics if you can find them.  How did the paint hold up?  Just about nothing sticks to a hull made of this material.  I've only seen pics of one of these painted.  I think you'd have to use a marine primer and then marine paint to get it to hold but even then??  I appreciate the tips on separating the hulls.  What tools do you need to secure the two back together and did you run into any glue or difficulty when separating the two?  I need to post the pics to show the setup on mine.  I the mounts I have for the fish finder and bow mount trolling motor might come in handy for the Pelican guys.

[zachb34]

The first picture is the "before" its how I got the boat after washing it for hours. Then we painted it. I got the paint from WalMart its a specific paint for plastic by Krylon ( I think it's called fusion). We sanded the boat real good with scotch Brite pads, and made sure it was completely clean with a little bit of a rough surface. I think we did 3 coats total of about 10 or 12 cans. They make stuff thays supposed to help bond paint and plastic but I didn't use it. It was held together by staples so we undid those to replace some rotted out foam. To get it back together we just put in new staples and a coat of 3m marine sealant (5200 I think) I bought a new rub rail and heated it up in the over to get it to bend to the boats shape. After we clamped it and it had cooled off we riveted it down to the edge that was stapled and sealed. I cut two holes in the back from storage and hollowed out the foam. I used one for tackle and one for a battery. I built the deck with 3/4 plywood and sealed it up, cut my holes, and added the carpet. Underneathe i made a frame to support the deck with 1x3's it was just bolted, nit screwed to the edges since i had cut the holes in the plastic already for storage. We used big washers to disperse the force from yhe bolts on the plastic. We fished the wiring through the full of the boat from the batter compartment to the middle bench where I mounted the depth finder. And then from the battery out the back and to the bottom of the transom for the transducer. These boats on one side or the other have a boxy looking indentation which is where the plastic is supported by wood on the other side for your transducer. Painting wasn't too had but you have to take your time male sure it's completely clean and to have ideal conditions of you don't have a paint booth. The last picture was my Basstender 11.3. It was my favorite boat I've ever had but I kept it stock since I sold it to help pay for my first Jeep.

[zachb34]

I wouldn't paint unless yours really needs it I had mine for about 6 months amd the corners where the plastic bended started to chip a little but for the most part it held up pretty well.

[VaBeachbaitboy]

Zach, thank you for the pics and the detailed comments.  That first boat sure cleaned up well.  I'll get pics up mine up in a day or so.  Doing some research first before I do any mods.

[zachb34]

Good stuff. I'd really advice against cutting into the bass tender though. Mine already has a slightly flex floor and I don't see the need with 4 storage compartments already. Unless your boat has the same rear as mine I'd cut into those no problem.

[VaBeachbaitboy]

I am trying to figure out getting pics uploaded.  Looks like I have to do a few posts.  Posting boat not rigged, rigged for bass, rigged for saltwater, and a couple bow plate and finder pics to show how that is set up

[VaBeachbaitboy]

Bow plate.  I have a 24volt set up and this setup could work on Pelican rigs.

[VaBeachbaitboy]

The finder connection allows me to keep it mobile which I like.  I can position it almost anywhere on the boat which is great when using the gas motor to search but I can move to the bow when fishing.

[VaBeachbaitboy]

She gets a little packed on the saltwater trips.  This is why I am thinking of doing a few mods.  I can pick up some space in the rear and on the forward deck depending on what I do.