[Garsticker]

Well guys, I promised earlier in the year that id post up some pics of my boat renovation, so here they are. Now this build isn't on the same level as any of whiteriverrambo's builds, but I'm dang proud of it, and it was my first time welding aluminum (with a 10' non spoolgun mig welder) haha.

The boat started out with a heavy, wooden 2x4 deck with 3/4 inch plywood as the decking material. The boat wanted to nose dive bad with 3 guys on the deck, so I needed something a lot lighter. Plus with all the batteries located under the deck, that didn't help either. Not to mention my rail was built out of 1/8 inch thick steel tubing. We gutted the boat, and started from the bare hull....

After I figured up how much tubing and sheet metal I needed, I wire wheeled the paint off of where I needed to weld, and went to work. These are the cross pieces for the deck going in

After I got those in, started fitting up the decking material

Rail started going up!

Other side is up and welded on

 

[Garsticker]

My welds are looking a little better at this point, haha

Started laying down some paint after the rail was finished

Getting the lights mounted up

Started wiring up the lights today, and it's turning out great so far.

She ain't all the way done yet, but I have it back on the trailer and I'm planning on doing a test run on the water tomorrow, but for a high school kid on a relatively tight budget, I'm more than happy with her so far. Hopefully this is the start of a great welding and fabrication career for me! Thanks for looking, and as always, I'm open to any suggestions or comments. I'm glad I finally got to make her a really nice rig, even if she is a 1648 and not a 2072 haha. This boat is lots more than a hunk of aluminum to me, it's all the time and effort put into it that makes her special!

 

[Garsticker]

like it!! what lights are those??

Thanks a lot! They're the see lite 27 watt spot beam round leds

 

[Garsticker]

Looks good fella!

Thanks a lot!

 

[Garsticker]

So I finally got her out for her water test yesterday, and she did ok but I wasn't as impressed with the stability as I thought. I like how it sits on the water with 3 guys up front, even though there was virtually no weight in the back at all as of yesterday. So I know this question has been asked 67,459,000 times on here, but is there ANY way I can help out the stability. If I put more weight in the back so the boat sits down in the water more will that help because there will be more boat in the water? Or am I wasting my time on a boat that's too small.

 

[Garsticker]

 

[Garsticker]

We did a 1448 that wasn,t going to be stable or haul the weight that's when we put 20 foot alum pipes on the boat worked amazingly well!!

How did you put pipes on it, ha mean like pontoons?

 

[Garsticker]

UPDATE: sorry there are a lot of unanswered questions, I haven't been on for awhile due to my senior trip to DC and New York City. Never seen so many yuppies in one place :laugh:

Anyway, since I've posted I've added hydro turf to the deck and floor, added Bigfoot switches for the lights and troller, and most of all, covered it with a lot of blood! I'll get some pics of my current setup when I get home. I absolutely love the hydro turf, spent 8 hours standing on it yesterday, and never got aches in my back the whole time!

There have been some questions about the cost, truth is I really don't know, but I estimate after my new troller, all the material, 4 spools of wire, and a bottle of argon for my welder, I'm in it for about 1300 bucks.

I posted earlier about the stability, and honestly, it just took deck time for me to get used to it. Putting the weight of 2 batteries and a full fuel tank in the back really helped bring the a$$ end down in the water, and it feels just as stable as it used to.

All in all, I love this boat, and have no regrets on doing anything that I did with it. If there are any more questions I'd be happy to answer! Thanks!

 

[Garsticker]

I just wear em to the boat. Usually fish barefoot. That's the backwoods coming out in me.

I usually do the same thing! Lol I have this weird superstition that I shoot more fish without shoes on :laugh: