Well, the boat's almost done and I figured i'd put up some pics. I finally got everything for it and spent a ton of time after work this week trying to get it done. I had a bunch of ideas of what I wanted to do with it, but I finally settled with putting a deck on the front, adding a floor and carpeting everything.

Tommorow might be my first trip out. We'll see what this storm is gonna do. If it's rainy I don't care, but the wind is another story.

Here's some pics of the front and back. Notice the hinges on the front deck for storage.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/873.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/874.jpg

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Nice job!...I know the feeling, got a new toy and cant play with it. I bet youll put it to good use.

Looks killer. More pics, more pics!!!

Here's a few more.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/881.jpg

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/880.jpg

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Yeah, good good. Looks like you've got lots of deck space up front there. Should work out perfect, looks awesome.

looks great is right. how hard was it to do anyway? im getting a basic aluminum boston whaler in a couple weeks and would like to make it more fishable. first boat and havent got a clue yet. any advise would be great thanks

greg in pb

The labor wasn't hard at all. The hardest thing was just trying to figure out how I wanted it, and the rest was easy.

I thought the middle seat, containg the livewell was going to complicate building the front deck. It actually ended up being neccasary to hold the beams that the deck sits on. I was able to build around the livewell and now it acts as a step up to the front deck. I might still build a deck on the back, but for now it's just fine.

Great job. I modified one several years ago with the decks and toys. It was a blast. I cut the center portion of the middle seat out and glassed the well area of the seat for a livewell. Dropped in an pump for air and drilled a hole right through the bottom of the hull in the livewell. Everytime I launched, I had freash water circulating through the hole into the well (with the plug out of course). I screened the hole and it worked as a great live bait tank. You did a sweet clean job on yours. Have fun with it.

mak

Just wanted to know where you got your trolling motor at? I need one bad. I have a 12 foot aluminum extra wide and need one before the shad come up. Got the boat from my buddy for $800 bucks and built seats like you did with storage. by the way how thick is the plywood you used for your deck, I need to keep the weight down. All I need now is a bow mount trolling motor and i'll be ready to go.....Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Warren....email warrenus74@yahoo.com

I would use 1/4 inch marine grade plywood and have the wood fiberglassed before you install it in the boat. This will protect it and keep it sturdy,waterproof and light. I made the mistake once of putting 3/4 inch on the bow and it was sturdy all right, and waaaay too heavy too ! If you install wood anywhere, water and rotting is your enemy. The marine grade plywood is better but if you fiberglass it , then the life of it will last alot longer. I know if you carpet the wood and use carpet glue to hold down the carpet, the carpet glue will help protect the wood . I found that out myself. If I could do it over again though, I would have glassed some 1/4 inch. Also spend the extra money on true stainless steel hinges or use the plastic hatches / lids that are made to be walked on too. They seal alot better and will last longer. Sorry to ramble on but I have alot of useless information in my head.

Hey, I really appreciate the help, I'm going to look into the fiberglass thing, very clever,my boat is a V-hull and my buddy that owned it before me took out the front seat so I need to have some Heliarc welding done for new brackets for my deck, this project is really burning my brain,lol, I don't want to get the angle wrong due to bow weight and when you go up there you slide into the water and run yourself over with the trolling motor,lol, glad to hear that you were in the same situation as me when you were building (customizing) your boat, i'll see you on the water when I get done, hopefully with a new deck. I'll be the one in the water hanging on to the front of my boat.......Warren