[reed]

Well, I picked up my new 2011 Alumacraft 1542 from Academy sports in Orange Park, FL yesterday. It was $997. at Academy Sports. I couldn't find anything similar in size and rated for 25 hp (1440, 1442, 1448, 1546 or 1648) for less or less than $1,400. at a dealer. I would have bought a used boat if I could have found just a hull and trailer but every boat I looked at was either too nice to re-build, or too ragged out to bother with.

My plan is to deck the back out from the bench to the transom, put in a hatch to get to the gas tank and a pedestal seat in just fwd of the the center of the bench.

As for the controls, I am going to install a side console. but I am going to do something a little different than I have seen on other boaters rigs. I am going to deck the middle of the boat with plywood over styrofoam and build a small step just fwd of the rear bench about 6 inches high, 14 inches front to back that will go the width of the boat to mount the drivers seat and passenger seat to. It will be similar in design to how drivers/passenger seats in a bassboat are setup. This will put my center of gravity lower, more toward the center line, and more fwd in the boat than if I were to mount my drivers and passenger seat on the existing bench. It also will allow for the entire rear deck to be used for the pedestal seat and fighting/shooting fish and gators. I mocked it up when I got it home and I have plenty of leg room when seated in the driving position, maybe just enough room to put a small cooler in front of the side console between it and the center bench. The decks are going to be covered in some sort of non-skid surface. I'm leaning toward the non-skid or the Durabak for ease of cleaning.

The front of the boat will just have the floor plywood decked over styrofoam and covered. I do plan on extending the front deck about 1 or 2 ribs toward the center bech to make rooom to house 2 batteries. one on each side of the boat. one for the motor and power tilt and trim. The other for lights, trolling motor, or whatever!

The boat is rated for 25hp. but I plan on going about 30 or 35. I looked at the specs on the Merc 4 stroke 25hp and they are the same as the 30hp so I may just go that route and "sup- it up" lol! Original plans were for a Jet and I posted over on a jet thread a week ago. But apparently I am the only guy in Fl that has ever wanted to run a jet outboard and everyone has told me I would be crazy to do it. So short shaft prop it is.

I have been a lurker on here for a while and learned alot form you guys. I look fwd to puttin some of my newfound knowledge to use. I am also looking fwd to your input as I go fwd on this build. I have never attempted anything like this before! Here are a few pics of my humble little boat.

 

[Gbollom]

Are you using styrofoam to support the wood to save weight?

 

[reed]

Yes, I actually cut out a piece of scrap wood 1/4 ply to do a mock up of the floor last night (wanted to make a template before I go cutting on a nice piece of $20 ply). I got it cut out and fit in place and its as sturdy as any boat floor I've been on. The foam is even with the ribs so even with the 1/4 inch ply its sturdy. I even thought about using it for a while. But Im still gonna use some thicker stuff that can take some screws to hold things in place.

The foam works good to "deaden" the sound of the Aluminum on the water too.

 

[reed]

I got a little more done over the weekend.

 

[reed]

 

[reed]

Sorry the pics are not in order. You get the idea though. I still have to add the side console and figure something out for a removable front shooting deck.

 

[hotrodderscott]

Looking good man!

 

[rum3002576]

looks good

 

[reed]

 

[wtyner86]

looks good man, i'm stealing your design for you rear deck.. i have the same boat without a center seat and have an 35 johnson with controls that i'm about to have to build a console for.

<a href="http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/wtyner86/bowfishing/?action=view&current=057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/wtyner86/bowfishing/057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[reed]

Alot of people have told me how Im going to lose space in the boat by mounting a console and doing the driver and passenger seat the way I did. But the way I look at is I don't have to put a seat on the rear deck like I would if I did a tiller motor and I get the whole rear deck for casting or whatever. Because I have both the driver and passenger seat in the middle section the whole front section can be used for fishing or gear and not someone to sit up there to balance the boat. The design is used in bass boats because it works. I just copied that. Actually I copied a tracker pro165. There was a view of the boat from above and you can actually see the out lines of the bench seats (lines in the carpet) in the bassboathttp://www.trackerboats.com/boat/gallery.cfm?boat=3327 . you can see the design I copied in the rear deck and you can also see that it basically its just a jon boat. The live well is just a middle bench. I suppose I could have just bought a used tracker to get the same design but Im not one for carpet and all the fancy stuff. I have had a lot of fun on this build and look fwd to finishing this one and starting another one haha. Keep me posted on yours. that tracker in the link is only 1 ft longer and 1 foot wider than our boats. But I bet we can get ours in places someone with a $17,000. loan and insurance bill isn't even willing to try and get into.

 

[strike force]

i just left jacksonville a year ago when i got out of the navy, i know a few spots you can shoot a chit ton of gar down there. pm me

 

[reed]

My original plan was to cut the center seat out and do a center console but I couldnt bring myself to do that to a brand new boat. I like the deck you have on yours. What are the measurements?

 

[carpzilla]

My boat floor is exactly the same with the high density foam under the thin floor, Works Great and havent had a problem with it! Your boat is looking awesome!

 

[wtyner86]

I'm really not sure of the dimensions it was really a quick temp build.. it was a flush deck same size of the boat, we took the wood off, and replaced it with some about a foot wider so the lights wouldn't hit the dock. but the boards mounted to the lights are about 3 inches past the edge of the boat.. but yeah no carpet for me.. rhino liner

 

[Guest]

thats pretty darn sharp for a lil rig. I like it. Keeping everything low will make up for its narrow width. Good Luck and keep up the good work man!

 

[sticknstack38]

:applause: i was thinking something like that for my first rig il have done for spring:hb:

 

[TeamTailandScale]

Boat looks good, keep the pics coming!!!

 

[Stoney15130]

Your rig is looking good. keep it up

 

[wtyner86]

i bought my seats today, starting my rear deck