Finished her up, check out my gallery:
http://calfishing.com/gallery/Boat-project?page=1

Hope to get it out on Lopez on Thursday morning. I have a fish finder on order and will buy a foot operated trolling motor. I have my hand operated trolling motor for now and can use my fishing buddy portable fish finder that I used on my tube until I can install the new one.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/3064.jpg

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

Great job Ken! Besides doing a great job, it's very inspirational.

Would you care to say how much money you have invested in materials? Not the motor, but the hardware and the trailer.

If you asked my wife it is probably too much! :) Boat $350, Trailer $300 new(Harbor Freight), Motor $300 used. All the other materials, wood, carpet, hardware, etc probably not more than $200. It was kind of like buying a boat in installments, the boat first, followed by supplies and the trailer when I was ready, then the motor last.

What's your impression of the Harbor Freight trailer? I've seen them and was wondering if they're easy to put together, want to replace a 22 year old trailer...

It seems pretty good. Real easy to put together. I modified it a little to lower the bunk boards. We'll see how it launches this week.
I did buy some bigger tires for it. It came with 8x4.60 tires which I thought were a little small. Harbor Freight had some 12x4.60 tires for $49.99 each but I found some at Pep Boys for $23 each. I figure I'll use the smaller tires for spares.

Nice little boat Ken! I was checking it out in you album before I bought mine. I just got a 15' late 80's bass boat nasty paint and carpet fiberglass work to be done came w/ a great motor mariner 60hp w/ electronic tilt 1000 bucks. I have started to tear it apart and sanding it w/ my DA I will take some pics tomarrow if it's not raining so you guy's can check it out! I am hoping to finish it up in a month or so.

Tight Lines

Taylor

Taylor,
Sounds great! That is definatly the way to go, buying a boat with a trailer and motor in a package and go to work. You can find a bunch of them around for $1000-$2000. Have fun with it. Let me know if you need any help with things that I have done. I found an aluminum boat repair board on line that was a big help as far as fixing leaking rivits and repairing the transom.
Good-luck.
Ken

Have you launched your boat yet? I was wondering how the trailer worked out for you? I am so excited about this trailer but I'd love to first find out how your's worked out. Sorry to make you the Guinea Pig but just trying to make sure it's a good piece! Man...for that price it sure does sound like a good deal. Thanks...

Darin

Darin,
Yes, I launched it on 12/23, I posted some pictures in my Boat Project Gallery:
http://calfishing.com/gallery/Boat-project

It worked OK. The boat seemed a little high so I had to back pretty far into the water. I think I just need to figure out the right depth. It sat high before so I made some minor mods to it to lower the bunk boards. I also put bigger tires on it so that will lift it up.
Over all it was a successful one man launch, I was lucky in that the launch ramp was empty and I could play around with it for a while. Next time I want to try to drive it on the trailer under power, this time I just walked to in and wenched it up.
The trailer doesn't come with a wench so I had to add one on. If you live in the Central Coast area you're welcome to come over and take a look at it some time.
Ken

Thanks Ken...

Unfortunately for me I'm in Los Angeles and won't get by there to check out your rig! I'm sure you're in for a year worth of fun with that new toy of yours! I was wondering...how did that trolling motor mounting work out for you? I was going to buy a transom mount motor and install it on the back but it was suggested to me that it would be best in front? The way you have the trolling motor mounted on your boat is interesting to me and I am thinking that may work for me as well? Let me know...

Darin

P.S. I really do thank you for helping me with my boat.

That trolling motor was a transom mount that I used on my kickboat. I opened up the top and you can take out a bolt and switch the handle around so it will work on the bow. It just uses two clamp screws to mount it on the boat, I leave it in the van until I get to the lake. With me seated on the pedestal seat it's just the right hight for me to reach down and operate it. I plan on getting a foot operated one eventually. I just mounted a fish finder last week.