Posted: 5/11/2025 4:27:25 PM EDT
I traded a Kimber Stainless II for this boat last fall. It was originaly a fish & Ski with walk through windshield and the whole 9 yards. The previous owner gutted it and screwed a seat to the floor in the back and bolted a tiller handle on the motor. The wiring was litterally a rats nest and everything he did was made out of OSB and drywall screws. The boat motor and trailer all had excellent bones so all I had to do was gut it and start from scratch to make it my own. Here is what the inside looked like when I got it.  I managed to track down a steering console and started laying out what I wanted to do. Added a rear casting deck ,and extended the front casting deck. Ordered new seats, and built a base for them as well.I am now in the carpeting stage. I got one hatch completed and just need to get the other done, and get carpet on the seat base and front deck extension and she will be ready for the water.     
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Originally Posted By KB7DX: I give it 8/10. The control box mounted with a C-clamp -1. The seat base overlapping the floor hatch -1.  The C clamp was for mock-up purposes and has been replaced with proper fasteners. The seat base overlap was intentional in order to keep the seating position as comfortable as possible in the limited space. There is a gap between the 2 and the front has the handle to lift and slide it forward to gain access. All that is in there is a couple emergency oars so I figured it wasn't a big deal and made the executive compromise.  I am down to a couple finishing touches and hope to get it in the water this weekend if time permits. My son is going to Alan Jackson so we need to be off the water in time for him to leave.
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Pretty much finished. Just need to install 2 more slam latches and do a little engineering to make the hinges for the seats work properly. I even made a DIY cover support. that works better than I expected. Never mind my sons junk yard. He seems to think he is a mechanic and him and his buddies keep dragging crap into my yard and ripping it apart. It keeps him out of trouble so I guess thats what matters. Update for some reason I can no longer post links and photos. Who knows. ETA: lets try this again now that everything seems to be working. 
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Originally Posted By FOX_OSCAR_hook: Looks good! let me help with the pic https://images2.imgbox.com/7a/93/CQOiJsRk_o.jpg Thanks. There was actualy 2 pics. Let me try to get the other one to work. 
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My son and I finally managed to put it in the water yesterday. We didn't get much fishing done, and my son had the only catch of the day that turned out to be an old shoe. Right of the bat the new fish finder wasnt reading properly, and wouldnt you know it I forgot the manual at home. After messing with it for a while I finally unplugged the transducer and plugged it back in. I dont think it was plugged in all the way the first time. Now we fially pull anchor and drop the trolling motor and start fishing. Well the battery lasted about a half hour and it was pretty much dead, so I guess its time for new batteries in the boat. They are both 5 years old and I should have known better but they tested good.We decided to go up river to a place that I remembered years ago. Boat ran better than I expected. With all of the extra weight added and the 2 of us with all of our gear we managed 18.7 MPH on the GPS against the current and a small head wind. On the way back down the river we maxed out at 21.1 MPH. I have a feeling I can get a little better if I mess with the trim on the motor. I just took a guess on what hole to put the pin in. 
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This was a learning experience for both of us. I learned that I need to trust me reading of the water and not disregard. I saw ripples in the water just on the lower side of an island and I knew I should go around them and instead I drove right over them . Luckily we were just idling across when the motor caught a rock and we got hung up on it. It took a few minutes to get ourselves out of that situation since we no longer had a trolling motor to help pull us off from the failed battery. My son learned how to back up a trailer so I didnt have to do everything. He actually got it backed in on the second try. I guess all those years of him watching me back up the camper paid off. I overcame 2 big fears that I have had all my life. I could never be in a boat when it is getting backed into the water, and I have never tried to drive the boat back on the trailer. Mind you I have a crippling fear of the water, so for me to be able to do this was huge for me. I know its strange to be this afraid of the water and still love boats, but its just how I am wired. Now I need to start shopping for new batteries. |
| If you are planning on keeping it for a while, I finally switched to lithium for the TM and couldnt be happier. I was killing two group 31 lead acids on tournament days. Switched to lithium and have not seen it below 40% . It is pricey...but the warranty sold it for me. |
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Originally Posted By Chadsc: If you are planning on keeping it for a while, I finally switched to lithium for the TM and couldnt be happier. I was killing two group 31 lead acids on tournament days. Switched to lithium and have not seen it below 40% . It is pricey...but the warranty sold it for me. That thought has crossed my mind. Right now its not in the budget. I am sticking every extra dollar away for my vacation in July. For now I have taken the battery out of my car trailer. I only use it a couple times a year anyway. If it holds up I may run it the rest of the year and plan for lithium in the spring cause I will need a new charger to go with it. |
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Originally Posted By Goostoff: That thought has crossed my mind. Right now its not in the budget. I am sticking every extra dollar away for my vacation in July. For now I have taken the battery out of my car trailer. I only use it a couple times a year anyway. If it holds up I may run it the rest of the year and plan for lithium in the spring cause I will need a new charger to go with it. Solid plan. I picked up a victron (im running a 24v lithium setup) for mine. Battery and charger was right at $1000. I know some of the "knockoff" brands are starting to get some pretty good use...i would be thinking about those seriously. Ive seen some pretty good reviews afterr 2/3yrs now. |