new boat?

[jkart]

I just got a new tracker grizzly welded mod.v 1448.I plan on extending the front deck,makeing a flat floor on the rest and carpeting the whole inside of the boat. I am thinking about panting the outside. my ? is being that the boat is new the paint is in good shape.do I need to use etching primer before paint or can I sand it and paint.I wont to get it right the first time so it looks good for a long time.

thank you jeff

ps (I can not wate for spring to try out MY new boat)

[Catt]

Scuff sand & paint  

[PeterF]

I have the same boat and looking back I wouldn't have painted it. I used primer and enamel spray paint (can). Here's a few of pics. If you would like, I can give you some ideas on a few things that I would have done differenty. Good luck.

[jkart]

peterf I was looking at your boat earlyer today and it looks grate.I was drawing some ideas on paper and came up some thing close to yours,how is it to fish in.I would like some ideas that you would have.I am just thinking about painting it.what is the reason you would not have painted it.

thanks

[PeterF]

jkart,

I would have made the platform where the TM is, a little bigger. If you notice, the TM sticks out a bit. I ended up rotating it in and now it the base sticks out past the instument panel. The weight distribution may be different on your boat but I would have been better off with a 36" shaft on the TM. Right now the top of it sticks out a lot when the motor is in the water. If you decide to make a TM deck similar to mine, the seat pole will be too close to the TM control. I installed another base behind the one the boat comes with. I wouldn't but the seat base in the middle section. I think the rear section came out perfect. As far as how it fishes; GREAT. What's on the boat when we go out.

8 Rods

2 Tackle Boxes

2 Tote Bags (The one Ugly Stick gives away)

1 Cooler (8 beers, 6 sodas and a couple of waters)

2 Oars

1 Net

We keep most of that CRAP in the middle section. Rods on deck.

[jkart]

I got lucky with mine .the one I was suppose to get is like yours,but it was stacked on top of another boat on a traler full of snow and to heavy to pick off by hand.they ended up giving me one with a trolling motor bracket.lucky me.I was thinking of makeing a small platform up frount for bow light and fish finder.