Electric baby bass boat *(Pics added)*

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I was reading Rauls post about the carbon fiber megabass jon boat and it got me to thinking.

First I was thinking of a fiberglass jon boat but if I were going to go that route, why not just make it bass boat shaped but keep it to 12-14 ft and have all deck (no consoles) and elec only. Or it could be done like the megabass boat with a 6-10 hp and a channel for your legs.

Wouldn't that be cool on Varner or my place or any of the elec only lakes? A 12 ft bass boat.

Any fiberglass workers out there that could give me appx hull weights on somthing like this? Keep in mind, they don't have to be thick. Bracing can be glassed in for torsional rigidity. These won't be pounding waves, a rib system isn't even neccessary.

Input guys??

[NJfishinGuy]

sounds like a good idea, theres a few websites that have "johnboat" conversions on there. my uncle converted his 15' john into a bass machine. the only probem with the 10' and 12' johns for decks is they are for the most part extremely thin beamed. i have a 12' and just sitting on the benches is unstable. now if you could get one that was like 50+ inches wide then youd be ok probably, the 14' ones usually come wide or narrow if you can get a wide one then youd be good thats what i was gonna do untill i decided to just buy a bass boat.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

This is just my point. The jon I have is about as stable as they get. Aside from stability, which I'm sure would improve, I'm talking about weight!

We've seen lots and lots of conversions on here. 12's, 14's, flats, V's , modified V's, decks, no decks, you name it, we've seen 'em all. The biggest downfall of all of them is weight. The hardware weighs enough, add all that weight laden wood and there's the achille's heel. Especially for those of us who fish electric water.

A hull and topdeck,..all fiberglass. Lightweight, strong. A hull shape much more condusive to stability and drag. But small. A baby bass boat.

Varner group?  Really would like your input also.  You are the men in the know.

[NJfishinGuy]

so your talkin about completely designing a hull and decks to be made, not turn a previous boat into a bass boat.

im thinking no matter what you use to make a bass style boat its goin to be heavy.  if you have decks and the luxurys of a bass boat on it. i mean those johns decked out are heavy but compare that to a bass boat they are even heavier. now fiberglass bass boats are even heavier than aluminums so a small fiber boat would probably wind up being heavier than a john decked.

i think its just somethin thats gonna have to be delt with if you want decks on a boat. i mean i guess it could be done with really cheapy light material but how would you get it made thats the problem i would guess. if your gonna have a decked boat just get a high lb motor to push or pull it

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

You need to reshape your thinking here. All we have ever imagined when we say a fiberglass bass boat is the ones we have and know of now. Yes, they are heavy. They have to be,. The amount of glass used has to be enough for it to be able to support consoles, motors, torgue, waves, weight, etc etc.

This would not be the case here. We are talking about a lightweight shell. Carpeted on top and adorned with the goods. Batts underneath and a livewell.

The amount and thickness of glass needed for this kind of support is nowhere near the thickness (i.e. weight) of what is needed to support the weight and torgue of a 300 hp Yamaha!

NJ- I've worked with fiberglass for years.  Started out doing car audio fabrication and boat repair but can do anything from build glass furniture to build a skiff.  This is what I'm thinking.  Build a mold of a mini bass boat and top deck.  Materials would certainly not be inferior.  Total opposite.

as for just getting a bigger motor, this is why I want the varner guys opinions.  Many of the elec only clubs have guys competing with their boats instead of their angling skills.  It comes down to who gets there first as a 1mph difference is huge between boats when you are talking electric.

Mnay have 4,5,and 6 motorts, with as many batts and a ton of weight.  Weight,weight,weight.  This is the issue.  If you could get the right hull design and weight paired with the right motor, a 150 lb fiberglass bass hull could have potential,with 1 82 lb motor to smoke many of the 1000lb boats with 4 motors and 8 batteries.  See where I'm going?

Lightweight, this is the key.  Durability comes with the engineering.  

[NJfishinGuy]

well it sounds like you got a great idea, sense you have the ability to work with the materials you need and seem to know a good amount about it. it sounds like you will be able to build an awsome little boat. my only sujestion would be to make it WIDE. and as stable as possible. so you have a comfortable fishing rig without worries of falling out and flipping it lol. id bet it would fly with a nice motor if you could make somethin like what your saying. i know my 12' runs about the same on my 30lb as my buddys tracker does with his 80lb so my boat with an 80lb would haul ***. i would say somethin with a pointy/sleak front so you dont push thru the water like a john boat does if its not plaining. that would probably make it move a bit better. anyway im gonna follow and see what others say but good luck if you try it maybe you can build me one while your at it lol

[Flatfish]

What about shaping the hull out of styrofoam insulation and glassing over that, then shaping the interior and have the pluming and wiring, live wells and lockers, and the transon and pedestal mounts in place and glass the inside. the foam would provide strength and light weight.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Thats a good idea. What do you mean when you talk about a 10 to 12 ft. cahnnel for legs?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Flat- Certain sections, fore and aft would be foamed but the process is slightly different from the way you described it.  same concept though.  Gears are grinding.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The only down side I see so far is that the boat I am picturing, is a 1 person craft.

[vincedia]

I saw an article somewhere where a guy took an old fiberglass bathtub and strapped a lil 35lb TM and a batt and was fishing from it. I swear it looked like he was using waders. But just the glass tub was enough to float this guy ~200lbs a battery and motor and all his gear. The tub had to weigh about 25lbs at most.

Story 2:

There is this work crew on the DE river fixing bridges. They have this little runabout w/o a motor. They use a tow line to get from shore to the floating platform. I think it's glass...but I'm not positive. I know I've seen them pull it from the water with one guy. That was about 4' from the water to the bank (sea wall type thing). And I've seen him load all kinds of tools and equipment on it.

There are two quick examples of light floating devices that will support weight. Now will either win a race...doubtful...but it's possible.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Very possible if it's a nice shallow "v" with smooth gel coat and 500 lbs less than the competition. That's what I'm thinking.

[Raul]

Low_Budget down here I 've fished with my friends in Tampico in their small ( 12 ft ) V hull very light fiberglass boats, the catch is that they have double hull, V on the outside and flat bottom on the inside. it comes with two molded seats but the seats are not part of the flotation device of the boat, the flotation is between the double hull, it 's filled with foam; you can remove the seats and won 't hurt the flotation of the boat. You get the benefits of the jon and the benefits of a V hull, since you are skilled you could turn one of those into a boat similar to the Megabass boat.

Problem is I don 't know if you could find something similar to what I 'm describing and I can 't find a picture to show you what I 'm talikig about.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey  Russ i dont know if this will help this is from RED NECK BOATING

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I would be building fresh. First making a hull mold. With that I can play with different top decks and configurations.

A friend just stopped in and suggested an inboard electric for the rear. "switchable" from the bow to be controlled with the foot control for distance travel. Perhaps a 102 lb (or 2). A 30 lb bow mount would compliment this main power plant.

That's pretty trick.   8-)

[vincedia]

I thought anything over 55lb required 2 batts?

Does that defeat your goal?

Vince

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

yes and no.  The output you get more than justifies it. You have to power it with somthing. Any motor will be 1 battery so go big. One more battery is worth it for the power difference between 55 lb and 102 lb.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

hey maybe if your gonna use such an inboard set ep you might try one of thoseold telex stick steerig to avoid a console altogether

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Motor would run off front bow mount foot pedal.  Switchable.  No consoles.  All deck.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Very cool but you still need somehow of running  a cable steering system no?

[dale]

I have a Minnkota 101 on my 20 foot boat let me tell you it does the job!! I'll put a wake off of my boat and it just chews up the grass.

Bad news is it does require 3 batterties (36 volt)

For the money I do not think you can beat it as Cabelas has them on sale now for $799.00

Dale

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Very cool but you still need somehow of running a cable steering system no?

Harness from foot control would run thru hull.   Would be housed in th Piece of PVC glassed inside the hull to run all wires from bow to stern.

[what]

just mix some of that methel ethel keton peroxide and there you go

[Travlin_Man]

As an electric boat would be a displacement hull, wouldn't a long narrow hull be faster than a jonboat shape? Don't forget an aftermarket prop for the tm.

[vincedia]

With my limited glass knowledge....don't you have a decent template already? You have a support system on your jon right? Take that out, spread your fiber, and glass that sucker! You could use a nice thin sheet of luan plywood. It will bend with the curves, has almost no weight, and you can remove it later to put your decking back.

Just a thought, I may be wayy off base, as I've never actually glassed anything myself, only watched as friends built panels for my car

Vince