DIY solo bass boat

[Mmbassin]

Hi, this my first time posting on this site. I just purchased a 10 foot V bottom boat with a trolling motor. I’m going to pick it up today and would like to try to turn it into a small bass boat with a small deck(if possible) and some storage. I’m 15 about 150 pounds, and have a few questions.

1. Recommendations on what to get for it

2. would it be worth trying to put a small deck on it

[WRB]

3 10’ runabout aluminum boat limits what you can do, 12’ would be a better choice.

Does this boat have a small outboard engine or is the trolling motor transom mounted?  

Bass boat usually means fishing from the front bow area so the TM needs to be up front or 2 TM’s and batteries.

Moving around in a 10’ boat gets tricky on the water and the reason a 12’ is more stable.

Plan on a clamp on swivel seat in lieu of trying to stand up to fish. A simple 3/4” plywood triangular board with outdoor carpet folded around and stapled on keeps the board in place.

Tom

[NoShoes]

I wouldn’t deck anything less than a 1448 to be honest. It’d be tippy as hell anything smaller. 

[Bluebasser86]

Just put a trolling motor on it and a battery or two if you want all day power and fish it. 10' is too small to add a deck to imo.

[Goldstar225]

I would not deck a 10' boat.  I had a 12' flat bottom and even without a deck it wasn't very stable.  I did deck a 14' X 42" and it was OK.

 

Best wishes to you and hope that your boat gets you lots of fish.  Wish I could of had one when I was your age.

[MN Fisher]

Ditto above - a 10' V-hull is not conducive to having a deck. A decent TM with a couple batteries, or a small outboard would be more than enough for this.

 

Do the minimum you need to to get on the water and save up for something larger - like a 1448 or larger Jon which can be turned into a very nice Bass boat.

[NoShoes]

I might add, if you’re planning on decking a smaller boat the above suggestions on a flat bottom are dead on. They don’t ride as well as a V hull but much more stable fishing and standing. This is the 1448 I did last year before selling it. 

[Michigander]

If it ends up being tippy, there's always outriggers!

 

[J Francho]

I'd set it up to fish from the stern. I would not elevate the deck, but I'd want a flat floor, carpet on floor and gunwales, a graph, and rod holders. 

[skunked_again]

On 12/15/2020 at 3:37 PM, Mmbassin said:

Hi, this my first time posting on this site. I just purchased a 10 foot V bottom boat with a trolling motor. I’m going to pick it up today and would like to try to turn it into a small bass boat with a small deck(if possible) and some storage. I’m 15 about 150 pounds, and have a few questions.

1. Recommendations on what to get for it

2. would it be worth trying to put a small deck on it

 

YouTube "Tiny Boat Nation".

But like others have said, hang a trolling motor, some type of graph, and a battery and go fish.