Our Christmas Gift To Us.

[Jim_M]

14' Aluminum V-Hull. Circa 1970 Lonestar (I think). Includes a 15 HP outboard. Love at first sight, bought her on the spot.

Humminbird and Minn-Kota accessories are ready to go too. This fills the bill perfectly for us.

Sorry about the awful cell phone pic. But you get the idea

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

NICE gets you out on the water.

That front section you can build a platform to stand on Thats what I did to mine when I had one. That top is something I wish I had.

[Jim_M]

Thanks yes, even a small casting deck will be a nice touch. The Bimini Top is a must for "sun breaks" on these desert mountain lakes.

[Fishing Rhino]

I could be wrong, but I think the main purpose for the raised casting deck on bass boats is that it provides for tons of storage space beneath.

I fish from my canoe and cast sitting down. Personally, I see very little advantage to standing and casting, with the exception of flipping, pitching and casting under docks. You can do that while standing in the boat you just bought. The downside is that you don't have a flat surface on which to stand. I'd opt for the lowest deck possible which would afford me a reasonable area for standing.

Building a raised foredeck that is considerably higher than the bottom of your boat might compromise stability. Bass boats are little more than very fast rafts. You can walk all over them from rail to rail and they hardly list.

Put in a temporary platform at the height you would like, then, with the boat in shallow water, move around on that platform and see how the boat responds. It may be fine. It may be scary. But don't go through all the work of permanently installing a foredeck until you are satisfied that it does not significantly impair the boats natural stability.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

Stability will be an issue with any deck. The Bimini will be gone if you ever bring a friend.

[Jim_M]

I do stand occasionally, mainly to stretch my back and legs. I don't see the need for any elevation. My platform will just provide me a flat "spot" to stand.

The Bimini pops up and down in a couple seconds and gets used for the "sun breaks" I mentioned, only when cool, shady canyon walls aren't near by.

No worries gents...I got this.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I do stand occasionally, mainly to stretch my back and legs. I don't see the need for any elevation. My platform will just provide me a flat "spot" to stand.

Yeah thats what I meant I didnt elaborate but yeah mine wasnt for storage but just flat area to stand. The platform wasnt at/near the top but lower near where the wall meets the v-ribs about 1' below the seat. Stability fine actually easier to move about.