Finally, My own build thread!

[XcoM274]

Well, I have been waiting too long for this night. My boat conversion is complete! Started with a new Lund WC14DLX which we bought last April at a dealer. It is an '03 but it was never bought and just sat out for four years. The carpet was formerly red and had visible sun damage, so I replaced it shortly after purchase. I also bought an '05 Honda BF20 for the engine. Next was the trolling motor. Got a great deal on a MinnKota PowerDrive55 in May so I built a mount for the bow from 5/8" ply and matching carpet.

In October the front decking mission began. I picked up two Humminbird 525s and mounted the heads with the front transducer on the trolling motor and the rear a standard transom mount. Picked out pedestals, a circuit breaker panel, radio, courtesy lights, a docking light, and an accessory plug as well. My dad and I built the deck from 5/8" ply sealed liberally with Thompson's. Below deck is 1/4" Aluminum L brackets for support. The deck turned out surprisingly strong, and starts to bow at around 400lbs of load. We sent an email to Lund requesting an order form for matching door handles and the good people there sent us 3 free of any charge. We were shocked and very pleased by their backing of their product. We added 3 extra storage bins which frees up ALOT of deck space. I'm thinking about adding Cook's Tackle systems to the doors as well.

The electrical work was by far the hardest part of the build. We got 2ga welding cable to carry current from the battery at the back to the front where the circuit system distributes it to the electronics. The cable is rated for 1200amps at 400v, and its big stuff. The trolling motor is on its own circuit for 65amps and the circuit panel has 6 circuits at 15amps each. There is a main breaker at the back of the boat near the battery to serve as a master shut off. It trips around 400amps. Believe me, this stuff was not easy to find.

There is LOTS of stuff we did that I havn't written about here. If you have any questions at all please feel free to PM me or just ask on this thread. This build would not have been possible without this website so to everyone who answered MY questions as I was working through this build THANK YOU. I owe it to this site to help those who are now starting out, having experienced myself the absolute joy that came out of this project. I can't wait to start another one. Again, please bring on the questions. And now... Enjoy the pics!

The boat before decking and electrical.

The TM with loose wires in front where the dash is to go.

Before the deck

Another v

Deck laid in roughly.

Underside of the deck showing the Aluminum bracing.

The finished product from the front.

The console/dashboard area completed.

View from the rear pedestal seat.

In the dark with the electronics running  ;D

Profile view.

Engine.

More photos available on request. Thanks again guys.

[FishinGirl]

Nice job on the Lund.. I love the way you have the radio and speaker mounted....  Can I drop off my boat so that you can upgrade her..lol

-FishinGirl

[FishingBuds]

Name her SA-WEET

Killer job man, love the radio touch.

I'm not familiar with the v-hulls, I love the wall height you have.

you've got a nice boat there.

so do you have more in the engine than you do the hole boat :-?

I priced them about a month ago, they like them very much don't they ;D

again great job

[XcoM274]

Yes lol, the engine was about the same cost as the entire rest of the build including the boat itself.

[FishingBuds]

Yes lol, the engine was about the same cost as the entire rest of the build including the boat itself.

;D yep they are proud of them ;D

I'd love to have one of those e-tec evinrudes

[Starcraft01]

Great job. Maybe you can have a series on DIY television.....trick my boat!

[Team_Dougherty]

Very nice job.

[Starcraft01]

I forgot to mention that I am digging the microwave in the garage.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Very clean, simple design and craftsmanship.  

THAT is how you brace a deck and keep the weight down, excellent.

5 Thumbs

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Oh, and I would name her but not for another 10-15 yrs when you want to give her the first paint job.  By then, her name will have come naturally and then you can adorn it with a decal.  For now, the factory badging looks nice.

Anything else would clutter it.

(And more pics please, construction and finished, I'll use this as an example in the future)

[IneedAnewScreenName9886691]

That is a nice ride!  Great job!

[Grey Wolf]

EXCELLANT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[_tyler_wright_]

That is very nice. Great attention to detail. Now take her out fishing!

[fishbear]

Looks like an Excellent job.   That boat should give you many great memories on the water.  

Can not wait to see pictures of it soon with Fish on Board.

[MA1232]

Excellent job!

Did you install a bilge pump?

[XcoM274]

No, there isn't really a bilge. The floor (which came in the boat and is 1" ply) rides on aluminum braces like the ones I used to build the deck. There are channels cut through the subfloor for the water to flow through and to the back where the drainplug sits. I have had the bailing bucket out before though lol, got caught on Fletcher's Pond (the name is very decietful) which was at about 11,000 acres at the time and a storm blew in. Had waves breaking over the bow but it was a blast.

[Black Bass]

That is a great job. Do you have more pictures of the method you used to brace the deck? I'd like to see them if you do.

Thanks,

RB

[The Rooster]

Coming from someone who just went through the same thing....nice job.  You used the exact same carpet as I did, color and all.  Got mine at Lowe's but Home Depot sold it also.  Looks great, reminds me of my very first boat, it was a 14 foot V hull also.  I built a deck in it, carpeted it out, but never had a fish finder, let alone two.  I did have a Minn Kota Autopilot 36 lb thrust TM on it though.  Got it new for $100 on clearance at Wal-Mart.  Was originally a $550 motor.  

Your boat looks great man, good luck fishing.

[alarcher]

"Also, should I name her? If so what? Thanks again guys."

Awesome boat and beautiful work man! but I think you should name her

Rippin Lips because you'll be doing that a lot this season!

[XcoM274]

Added some more pics. Check it out.

[Daniel My Brother]

That is a beautiful little custom boat you made. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the ideas!

[ZEN BASSIN]

Great job! That would even make the In-Fisherman Al Linder jealous  ;D .

[Get the Net]

Amazing, I have the same boat (except I have the bench seats).  I have purchased a trolling motor to mount on the bow and have been searching the web for ideas on how best to accomplish it.  Your idea appears to work.  I have a couple of questions though.  Did you bolt the plywood to the top lip of the wall or to the hull itself?  Also Did you bolt the aluminum supports under the plywood to the hull?  Or just make the fit snug to the width of the bow?

Any more pictures of the bow mount for the trolling motor would be appreciated.  

By the way you did an amazing job on the entire boat!  I'm jealous.

[XcoM274]

Okay. Yes, the plywood for the motor mount is screwed into the aluminum rail at the top of the boat. It (the rail) is hollow and I just used stainless screws with a dab of marine silicone to hold them from vibrating out. Next, no, the aluminum is not attached to the boat at all. In fact, no part of that deck touches the sides of the boat. The hull is made to flex alot under stress and I didn't want to interfere with that. I just used the screws that hold the pedestal in place to hold the deck in place as well. They go right through the floor, through the bench seat and into the foam beneath it. The aluminum is bolted to the deck however, and there are a LOT of bolts in it. 4 per section to be exact, and there are 18 sections. Hope this helped if not please post again.

[minn4342]

Thats a very nice rig , very professional looking work. Im doing a similiar mod this spring on a 16 foot lund with benches. I was just wondering where you purchased all your electrical supplies?