First Boat Help

Just purchased my first boat last night .  It is a late 70's model 14' mirrocraft. Nothing spectacular, but a good starter boat that i got a deal on.  Would like to take out the middle seat and put a floor in w/ some storage cabinets, and possibly a small live well.  Would also like to redo the paint job.  Wonderd if anyone had any personal advice on how to do this, or could suggest some books/websites that might guide me in the right direction.  Hoping to have it refinished for spring time.  Thanks in advance for any info.

http://forums.fishusa.com/m_77288/mpage_1/key_project/tm.htm#78230

try using alum sheets little expensive but so is starbord i would glue and screw also those benches are for strenght if you remove them the boat will flex too much and can pop rivits loose and will start to leak also for sound deading and to stop any leaks use a rool on bed liner like rinno or other i use 3/4 wood and its pt seal the edges use a 5100 and it will stop screws coming loose and will make a better job and you can go to lows and get a good outdoor carpet at 1/2 the cost just glue down and and blood washes off even lt gry color or blue many of salmon bleed on my boats just hose out at the end of the day hope this helps also use piano hindges of ss its worth the money i use a surplus store in youngstown called star supply not open on sundays they also have steel and alum sheets as well as a little of everything else hope that helps o ya if you want ill shoot a email where they are

here is another idea  build a rod locker on the sides this gives storage and support when the lid is closed some older boats used a foam in the floor this is part of the boat if removed replace the foam i have used spray in a can but one draw back is foam is it does not get along with gas or most glue does the same, ive redone a few boats for my self and others  and seems as many times as you do it you can always do something better run heavy wire good wire not cheap stuff use wireloom crimp and solder and tape just a few things i have a 16 ft i have redone 2times and tried the cheap way and now spent money and time have duel batts two trool motors and a 35hp and a 9.9hp just took the 80hp off drive fog lights for night time and i have 6interior lights to tie line at nights and its a 1970 alum  not a lund or a crest but very fishable on erie or onterio and many rivers and lakes just to say a fe w

Crappie,
 
     I like the idea of a rod locker on the side but don't think it will be long enough if you have rods longer than 6' if you decide to remove the center bench. Not sure on structural integrity either. Leadmen has a good idea for the roll on Rhino liner for the wood to keep it from rotting,it may add some weight though to the package. Maybe price some heavier conduit you can bend for the plywood deck frame to lighten the weight.

Thanks pinball. Just registerd on the site.  Looks like there will be a wealth of information.

I hate to be a downer on this issue.  But, you may want to do a good cost analysis before you get started.  When I was looking for a boat, my first choice was to get a johnboat and convert.  I thought that it would be fun to do some converting and have always went the creative approach on most things.  But after doing a good bit of digging around, the cost will add up really quickly.  If you look around, you will very likely find a boat that is very similar to your end product for a little more than you paid for the starting platform.  There was a really nice conversion boat on craigslist for the longest time, for little more than most unconverted boats.  You will also find some factory converted boats at about the same price as many unconverted johns too. 
 
So, if you do the conversion, just know that you will likely not get the money back that you put in when you resale, yet paid for your time.  If you have the time and would rather be boat building than fishing, they are very nice and would imagine very rewarding (which can be worth it in this aspect).  Boats in general, are going to require a good bit of work, unless you have the cash for new.
 
Also, if you are considering putting a console in, you will likely reconsider after looking at costs...  That is where I was, and couldn't justify $3k in parts (mostly used too), to put together what I could buy completed for $2k.  There are a lot of boats on the market.  Most of which come free with the purchase of a good motor...

good site.  as for taking out the middle seat, would the manufacturer be able to tell you if it would affect the structural integrity?  seems like a good idea.  

Well said leadmen.  It's not about the cost (although as stated before, i'm not trying to break the bank), its about the enjoyment of getting my hands on it.  Did some rough cost estimates, and all in all i could probbably buy something comparable for what i'm going to put into it, but i want the satisfaction of being out in MY boat.  Decided to go with a new motor which is going to ding me pretty good, but the rest of the boat should be well within my price range. 

ORIGINAL: leadmen

 its pride

 
 
Definitely.  I spend well more than half of my free time working on my house and car for that very reason.  
 
Fishing is my escape.  Adding more work than a boat already adds would likely make it much less of one.
 
I applaud those that do the conversions, as they are what you want and you made.  Just wanted to throw out some info that I had found while doing my research.  Incase those (like myself) that were thinking it is a cheaper and easy way to get that fishing machine that they really don't have the money for.

i thought it would do that the wood helps to give the strength back the foam will help glue and seal up good rod locker area