little boat big ideas

[rocknfish9001]

I was wondering if it was possible to turn my little 12 foot aluminum boat into a mini bass boat. By that i mean if it is okay to add a deck and everything on a boat this small. If so, How would i go about doing it?

[flechero]

I did it to my jon boat when I was in jr. high school. (many years ago!) Thought it was cool to have the casting deck... I never dumped it... but it was very dangerous!  You can stand on the floor w/o a problem (most people can, anyway)

I'd say no on the deck, but just about everything else you can think of will work.  A graph, rod holders, livewell, carpet, motors, glove box, electric anchor, etc.

[Will]

By far adding a deck to any little boat will make it pretty shaky. If you do make the deck have it at least 6" below the top of the boat.

[rocknfish9001]

This sounds cool to me, but i better ask some better minds before i go out and dump myself into a lake. How about if i just even out the front from the last bench to the tip of the boat? It sounds safe enough to me.

[Rattlinrogue]

With a boat that small,I'd just add plywood floors with carpet instead of a casting deck.Put you in a couple of good ,comfortable seats and a FC trolling motor and you're in business.

[Swampfishing]

I just plan on adding a floor and some comfy seats on pedastals. I think the decks would raise your center of gravity to high, and with the excitment of a big fish on the line, you may lean to far and join the big guy for a swim.

[bassindude]

That is kinda small for a deck.  the main thing that you want to watch is the water line.  as you add weight  the boat will sit lower in the water.  be careful you can sink it.  Also Will made a good point about it being top heavy.  Before you go to a lot of trouble take a couple of friends with you and  have them get in the boat with you on the water, you should be able to figure from that how much weight you can add without making the boat unsafe.   Jim

[Nick_Barr]

If it is a deep-v then it is possiblet o put a deck up to 6' below the top of the boat, like i did with mine, if it is a jon-boat. Ask Low_budget_hookers

[bassinjack]

i put a deck on my 12 foot jon boat 3 years ago and have yet had any problems with it being top heavy .i used 3/4 inch marina plywood with indoor outdoor carpet with a swivle seat and i built a bracket on the front and used a regular hand controlled trolling motor with the handle turned around gets me around smaller lakes i fish with electric motor only suets me fine plus i only weight 160 pounds wet

[alhuff]

Check out this site, its great.

http://www.myjonboat.com/

I'm thinking about getting the book when I start on my boat.  

I would say extending the seats would be fine.  

Weight is going to be your biggest concern when you start, if a trolling motor is used then I would go easy on the weight.

Hope this helps,

Alfred

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Her's my current one.  

http://bassresource.com/cgi-bin/bass_fish/YaBB.pl?board=boating_ID;action=display;num=1119359773;start=0#0

I have also done 2  twelves with full front decks (leaning post and footmount t/m) but not the rear, both boats just had a seat, 7" post and swivel for running the motor.  I used these when I primarily fished alone back when i lived up north.  These can only be done with a heavy gauge 12, not the light duty.

Any questions, just PM me.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey I have a 12 ft aluminum boat rigged up with a 30# minkota electric and a fish eagle finder and 2 swivel seats I fill old coffee cans with plaster and i put an eyehook on top when the plaster sets the can comes off and i wind up with a who cares if it gets stuck in the rocks anchor. My carpetr keeps comin off but LBH has a post on how to add a floor and im gonna give it a shot this coming season

 I paid 150.00 for the boat and the rest of what i have in it came to less than 300.00 best 400.00 i ever spent in my life  ;D