looking at buying my first boat

[Dom Undorte]

Hey long-time lurker here about to make a boat purchase this weekend and need some advice will post my intro soon as I have time.

Well guys like the title says I'm looking to buy my first boat. I don't really know much about boats I've only ever used my uncles with him and we were younger. So far I've narrowed it down to two boats that I found I want to keep them small but also stable enough for me and my five-year-old daughter to fish from occasionally me and my father-in-law we are both small people under 150 lb. 

This boat is a 14-footer he hasn't got back to me with the width yet my biggest concern is how stable will this boat me and also it's a 1969 do you guys think that's too old? Would I be able to make a casting platform or stand up and cast?

This is the second boat in 12 foot flat bottom Jon Boat which is what I was originally looking for as I finish some places you can't really get a trailer too but I can get my four wheel drive truck one problem with this one is that has no title is that going to be an issue in California? From what I'm reading it doesn't seem to be an issue here. How stable would this be in comparison to the 14-footer even though the 14-footer isn't in a flat bottom. I'll be fishing small lakes to some large lakes.

[Fishing Rhino]

I strongly suggest you take a boat safety/handling course.  It will include navigation.  You'll learn the different type of navigation devices, who has the right of way when two boats approach each other, etc.

 

It will include what you should carry for safety equipment including a first aid kit, flares, horns, whistles and other sounding devices, fire extinguishers...…………………………………………………………...

[slonezp]

The hull has a max weight rating. If you build a deck, you are adding weight. You are also raising the center of gravity. Doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

I have a 1970 14' Lund. Max weight is 800lbs. That means people motors gear and whatever else. Before you start adding weight, you need to calculate how much weight you can safely add. First thing I would do is get the max hull weight rating. Subtract the weight of yourself, the wife and daughter. Subtract the weight of any motors, fuel, and batteries. Subtract the weight of your gear. Determine if there is enough weight leftover to build a casting deck.  

[Dom Undorte]

3 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

I strongly suggest you take a boat safety/handling course.  It will include navigation.  You'll learn the different type of navigation devices, who has the right of way when two boats approach each other, etc.

 

It will include what you should carry for safety equipment including a first aid kit, flares, horns, whistles and other sounding devices, fire extinguishers...…………………………………………………………...

yes I plan on it. I took one ages ago with my uncle when i was younger but i definitely plan on taking one

[Fishing Rhino]

Excellent!!

[Dom Undorte]

on my way to pick up the 14 footer. $200 for the boat trailer and trolling motor cant beat that... Its a 1436 but i think itll be plenty stable for my needs. 

[Goldstar225]

AT $200.00 you got an excellent price IMO.  Before doing much to it I would put water in the hull and check for leaks.  A good welder can fix any for not much money.  Also pull the hubs and check the bearings. I fished many years out of a 14' X 36" jon boat.    

[Dirtyeggroll]

On 11/18/2018 at 7:46 PM, Dom Undorte said:

on my way to pick up the 14 footer. $200 for the boat trailer and trolling motor cant beat that... Its a 1436 but i think itll be plenty stable for my needs. 

Awesome! Show us pics when you get a chance.

[Dom Undorte]

On 11/26/2018 at 8:03 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

Awesome! Show us pics when you get a chance.

 

Here she is.

[burrows]

1 hour ago, Dom Undorte said:

 

Here she is.

sweet!!!

[Dom Undorte]

I should pay more attention when posting from phone. was supposed to be this pic.

 

 

 

Ended up haggling on down to $200 got the boat a trailer and a older man Kota 65 trolling motor that actually works it's a 5 speed with forward and reverse. She needs some work but I love to work on things and I love projects I've built plenty of jeeps however this is my first boat.
Getting the boat was a little bit of an adventure going and seeing it came back and talk to the wife and then try to haggle him down via phone he ended up saying if I brought them 200 right now on the spot he would let it go he wants it out his garage so a boogie in my butt the 25-minute drive down to go pick up my new boat everything went good everything was all right the only problem was both trailer tires were pretty well brittle I figured I'd take back roads and drive slow there was only a 3 Mile section of highway I had to drive well what do you know on that 3 Mile Highway Drive I blew a tire and what do you know it's 6:30 at night on a Sunday not a single place is open to get a tire so I end up using a trailer lock and leaving the boat there. So Monday morning national day of my birthday I spent 6:30 a.m. on the side of the highway and changing a tire and dragging my new boat home but I sure am happy this will be a slow build and a budget build however I plan on pretty much redoing the whole boat. I'm creating This thread kind of as a personal Journal and for anyone who cares to see it can see it and I'd appreciate any and all advice as I have tons of questions and honestly no idea what I'm doing when it comes to aluminum boats.

 

Here she is right when i got her home. 

 

Iv been working it as much as i can between work, kids and wife lol will post below 

Was able to completely wire wheel all the rivets on the bottom of the boat to be sealed before painted. The PO had also gorilla glued ALL the rivets on the outside. I wanted to do my leak test without all the gorilla glue. Over all 4 leaks on the bottom and the transom well....Water just kind of poured out TONS of unnecessary  screw holes all of which were completely rusted. So i decided to start the to me big jon of rebuilding the transom. This is my first boat so completely learning as I go. 
I was able to get the transom removed after fighting a bunch of OE rivets and all the screws from the PO..

Here is a pic of the transom removed and holes all patched up. Forgot to snap a pic before flipping it so no pic of the bottom wire wheeled at this time. 

Transom wood removed

Holes all patched. Yes i know i should of had it welded but i dont have the equipment and this is a budget sensitive build. If it doesn't hold for a long or tear it apart and do it again with a torch and aluminum rod.

[kjfishman]

You got a steal. The trailer is worth more that. Don't think you need near that big of tire for a small boat like that.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Please, please, please put fenders on the trailer. Got my windshield busted out driving behind a trailer without fenders earlier this year.

 

Not to mention you also run the risk of throwing debris through your own back window.

[Dom Undorte]

1 hour ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Please, please, please put fenders on the trailer. Got my windshield busted out driving behind a trailer without fenders earlier this year.

 

Not to mention you also run the risk of throwing debris through your own back window.

I'll be going through the trailer and redoing most of it after the boat. Fenders or something I was going to be looking into it when doing so.  Sorry about your windshield man

[Dom Undorte]

Well guys rare rainey day here in cali work was slow so i didnt even clock in. Decided to do some work on the boat and was able to flip it over and work on getting ALL the rivets and seams sealed with loctite marine adhesive. I tried getting some 3m 5200 how ever my local home depot informed me they werent going to carry it anymore and only had 1 tube left that ill be saving and using on anything I bolt to the boat later on. I might be going over board but i want this thing completely water tight. I think i might spray rustoleum rubber coating over the adhesive aswell.