14' Aluminum Boat Modification

Years ago I purchased a 14 foot aluminum semi-v bottom boat and trailer. Ive grown bored of its basic design and decided that my new project is to mod the thing up. The following is a list of goals i plan to achieve on the boat over the next few weeks.

Paint trailer as well as boat
-Elevated brake lights
-Flat deck on bottom of boat
-Small elevated deck on front of boat w/pedestal seat
-storage compartments
-livewell
-electrical switching system

This is a basic desciption of what I would like to acomplish and after doing a good deal of research it seems very reasonable. The decking will be at the same level as the origional benches in order to maintain as much stability as possible. I will include pics as I go and will be posting my progress to this site as well as the tinboats messag board (which has amazing examples of small aluminum boat modifications). Has anyone on this board attempted this? Any tips will be greatly appreciated. I hope to have pics of the boat in its current condition within the next week. heres a link to a boat very similar to mine that was done up in a way that I am shooting for http://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=16069

Cant wait to start! I think its going to be a fun project

Thanks! Will definitly take your advice. I also heard that certail types of wood (for flooring) will negativly affect aluminum overtime. How would you treat te wood to prevent this. I plan on covering the wood with marine grade carpeting as well

DONT USE ANY TREATED WOOD. JUST COAT ALL WOOD WITH KILLZ WATER SEALER AND THE CARPET IT USEING SPRAY GLUE.. YOU WILL LEARN A TON FROM TINBOATS THE GUYS THERE ARE GREAT!!!

Check out the main board and general boating board (if you haven't already). I know Slickfish did one a year or so ago, and another member did one a year or so before him. It was pretty cool following along in their progress. It seemed like a lot of work those guys did.

Great point on the keep an eye on your added weight, and do the calculations before you go and buy your materials. You don't want to end up with only 200lbs to spare, unless you plan on boating alone... I know fishing with 2-3 guys, we usually take about as much gear/motors/coolers/gas/minnow bucket that equals another person.

Here's what treated wood will do to aluminum.  The prior owner replaced this transom board with treated wood a few years before I bought it.  everywhere there is green or scale, there's a hole through the aluminum.

Snag, we did the exact same mods on a 14'.

Treated wood products these days are bad for aluminum, you are right. 2 of the main chemicals that are used to treat them are ACQ (aluminum copper quat) and CA (copper asole) both will deteriorate metal, especially in wet conditions.

heres some pics of the boat im working with...Hopefully in the next few weeks ill be able to turn this thing into a flathead destroyer!



NOTE: THE BOAT NAME USE TO BE "BASS HUNTER" NAMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT THE LETTER B FELL OFF HAHA...NEVER GOT AROUND TO FIXING IT.

****hunter thats hilarious

Thanks again guys keep the good info comming! Got some of the trailer dismantled and sanded. Still have a little more to do. Going to make vertical extensions for the taillights in the next day or two. Hopefully have it painted and finished by te end of the week if the weater warms up and allows me to do so!

x

fisherlady your a life saver...I just spent the last 45 minutes trying to figure out what the heck i was doing wrong haha...lemme try this again