Get the Net!

As some of you know, I recently purchased a small boat for myself. Nothin' like most of your guy's, but it is quite the step up for me. I've pretty much gutted it and started over. I was going to wait to put this post up until completion, but by popular demand...I'll post as I go.

Please try to look past my picture clarity...It's my phone.

Please try to look past by my sub par boat rehab skills...I'm a maintenance man, and am working with what I got.

Thanks to all that helped me with answers to my questions, especially Bulldog..you've been a big help. Now to the good stuff. Let me introduce you to my new ride. I named it:






I went through 2 weeks of hassle with this old duud, trying to get the deal done. We agreed on a fair price....started the motor...and headed to the notary....WHOOO HOOO!    I'M ON A BOAT!

This was the boat as advertised:








Looks pretty good hugh? I knew It was dirty, the trailer lights didn't work,  and some of the wood a little punky. This is what it looked like when I got it home:


































Still not too bad. I put the boat in a heated garage....AND IT THAWED. Now I've got a real good idea the wood is way past punky...Start rippin it out, better make a beer run.

This is what my boat looked like one day after I got it:



























I got it gutted, scraped, swept, moved outside and pressure washed in 34 degrees...and SINCE I was pressure washing, I scrubbed the slip scum of the bottom as best I could with muriatic acid. It looks 90% better underneath and a whole lot cleaner inside. I roll the boat back into the garage...dry it out...and SINCE I have everything open..might as well do this:




I ran new wiring to the lights, changed the switches, and added a few accessory ports. And SINCE I HAD IT OPEN...I went over all the interior seams with plastic. I fixed my waders, my minnow bucket, cast iron pipes..you name it with this stuff:








Next I got the interior taped up and primed. Looks alot better cleaned up..even empty.













While I let the primer sit a few days....decided to start on the decks. I'm not a skilled carptenter, and measuring angles off a tapered bow wasn't working out for me. I took the old dryrotted peices, laid them out on my new plywood, and traced em as best I could. Then I retraced that line inside 1/2 inch to allow for wrapped carpet. I let little Slick cut out a buch of the wood with me, we both cut a little crooked, but managed.







A few "dry fits":




And a little trimming...and it was off to the paint dept. I recruited both my kids and my neice to run production. I SOAKED the wood with oil based porch and floor paint. Three heavy coats:










I let those cure, put the subfloor in the boat without screwing it down, and painted the inside again with finsh paint.








Got my pedastals dry fit properly:






Now come in important moment in my "build" I was ready to put in the first screw. The first piece to go BACK IN the boat! I tell my son..."Here son....I want you to run the first screw." My 12 year old tells me, "No way...that's your screw...I'll run the second one"...good boy. Here's my screw:




Which prompted a dirty toothless grin:





Next in line was carpet. I picked a durable I/O commercial grade. It's thick, rubber backed, and navy blue. I glued the deck, and glued and stapled the backs.
















That's where I sit now...The next project is to got the batteries and gas tank installed, that has to happen before the rear deck goes on, as everything will be covered.  It's kept me busy while I can't find the motherlode. I'll put up more pics in a few days. Thanks for sharin'.....


Slick

EFFORT=REWARD    She looks great!!!!

You're kickin !! Good job !

My old lady has been supercool about time spent on the boat. I've put in 3-6 hours almost nightly after work, 6-8 hours on the weekend. She's pretty excited to go "boating"...If I can teach her to drive for me, while I fish....O Man...

Bull...believe me when I say I went over every rivet...I even sealed the good ones I could reach.

Good job....nice pics.  I've rebuilt 3 and didn't document them nearly good enough.  I will take better pics of the next one.

ORIGINAL: bingsbaits

Do you have a fishfinder yet ???

Yup...lower end, but works for me.

Great looking job!  You'll appreciate your boat more by doing what you are doing.  I went through the process a number of years ago with an '87 Lund Rebel tiller.  Gutted everything out, replaced a lot of foam and made changes to suit my needs.  I still kick myself for getting rid of it when I went to my bigger current boat.  The Rebel was the perfect boat for Pymatuning.  Now, it takes me forever to get around on those HP limited lakes.  

ORIGINAL: eyegore
  Now, it takes me forever to get around on those HP limited lakes.  

That's why I'm building another small lake boat.  My 17' Lund tops out @ 8mph with the kicker.

I know a board member who inherited Grandpa's boat.....he's pretty proud of that......


I'm hopin to b that cool grandpa.

its worth the work i did mine 2times in 11 years and the second time was slower and tighter fit i even foamed under the floors sound is cut in 1/2 and the foam is its own life jacket looks good

Hey friend, that boat of yours is looking awesome! So much work, but being a labor of love, it will no doubt be superb!

I really liked the story about the first and second screw (and your son's response)!

You know how we're always talking about how the night-before prep work to go fishing is almost or just as exciting as the fishing itself? You might not be fishing all winter, but I'd be willing to be this project is spinning your top just dandy!

Thanks for the PM pointing me to this story I might have otherwise missed.

Permission to come aboard, Captain?

You are really moving along. It really looks great. Can,t wait to see the final project.
Thanks for sharing , makes these wintry days feel a little warmer.lol

Lookin good buddy...The Pike of JP are in trouble!

Slick - This is truly amazing work and great to follow. It's great that your involving your family in it. Your 12 yr. old will be quite proud riding in it as he had a hand in the build. Quite a project---keep us informed!

Thanks for all the kind words. Fishing out of this boat, will be like catching...on something I tied. I gain alot of enjoyment from putting forth more effort into my fishing, than just casting and catching. It's a process for me. I like the boat building, the fly tying, spoon shopping, relining my poles...then when I do catch...it's a pretty satisfing fish.


This morning I went to BloodyHand's Subaru hitch installation service. Quite a muddy mess to do under a icy dripping vehicle...but he's a good sport and did the better part of it for me. Thanks Duud.














I'll be back in the "boat garage" this afternoon...not sure for what yet. I'll let the boat tell me whats next.