cleghorns finest
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2011
- Messages
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Hi all, I have been a lurker on this site for quite some time now. Some of you guy's work is truly amazing. I have just started to renovate my Starcraft Bass Boss 170. I hope that my rebuild can compare to some of the other posts that I have seen on this site.
I recently graduated college and had acquired a Starcraft Bass boat for a reasonable price 3 years ago. I was contemplating cutting ties with the boat and investing in a newer fiberglass rocket. But, I have a lot of memories with this boat, having fished out of it since I was 5 years old. I want to give it a facelift to get more use out of it myself, and possibly increase the resale value if I do decide to part ways with it. I know it sounds sappy, but it feels like an old friend, and if I do part ways with it, I would like to give the boat a fighting chance to create some memories for someone else.
I am going to recarpet the whole boat. I am also going to be extending the casting deck to allow me to add a rod locker rather than having the rods mounted outside. I will also be rewiring the entire boat, replacing the seats, adding a new trolling motor, and repainting the boat.
As far as the trailer goes, I plan on repainting, rewiring, and adding a spare tire mount. I might hold off on the trailer renovations until this winter to allow me more time on the water this summer/fall.
I'm am setting a tentative goal of August 1st for the rebuild of this boat. If I get it done sooner than that date it is all for the better. Low expectations bring high results. I have a fishing trip planned with the previous owner of this boat at some point in August, and would be tickled pink to be able to show him the renovated boat. I would like to get it done sooner to allow me to fish more, but until it's done, I will be fishing as a co-angler. Not being able to fish out of my boat is all the motivation I need to get this project done quickly.
All constructive comments are appreciated, I'm sure I will be shooting out some questions to everyone that views my project so feel free to post your own questions.
The boat prior to renovation. I had planned on starting this earlier this winter, but due to travel for work, I was unable to start until now.
The carpet is original, and is due to be replaced
The casting deck had to be reinforced before I bought it.
The steering console will stay, currently only the aerator on the rear livewell was working properly out of all the switches on the dash, hence the rewiring
Mercury 45 hp motor. It could stand to be serviced, I plan on taking it to a co worker who is more experienced in this area. I wouldn't mind putting a 60 or 75 hp motor on the boat, but we'll see how the bank account fares over the next few months.
I have a Marcum Lx-6, and would like to add a spot for the transducer to allow me to use the Marcum on soft water as well as hard water.
The seats are decently worn, if I'm going to replace one, I plan on doing them all to match. I will have 3 seats, and one pedestal up front. I am leaning towards using Cabela's seats to replace the existing ones.
Current rod storage doesn't protect the rods from the elements, I would like to incorporate a rod locker into the extended casting deck. I will most likely place the hatch in the same position that the rods are located now, but just adjusted towards the front of the boat. I have been looking at R&R designs to build the hatch for me, but if you know of a different manufacturer I am all ears.
This is a non aerated livewell, attached to the steering console. I store my lifejackets in there for now, I am debating whether or not to add an aerator for this livewell. I would at least like to find a different storage place for the lifejackets. This is an excellent spot to keep my beverages cold while fishing. I used to fill it with ice to keep the beers cold during the day, then just pull the plug at the end of the day to let the water drain out. I might insulate this livewell to keep my beers colder longer
Another picture of the steering console
I plan on leaving the back deck as is for the most part. The only change I would make to it is to add more room in the rear compartment to account for an extra trolling motor battery, as it stands I have room for 2 5 gallon tanks of gas, 2 batteries, 1 charger, and the fuel injection system.
The rear compartment is tight, with the 2 fuel tanks, batteries, charger, and the fuel injection system. I'm looking to create a little more room, and am debating on moving the charger beneath one of the seats. The only concern with that I have is the heat that it puts off while charging.
View from the rear of the boat, the new casting deck in the center will extend to the back of the livewell with a step, and it will extend to the center console at the passengers seat to account for the new rod locker.
Another picture of the tight quarters in the reat compartment. There is room to expand the compartment outwards, but I would have to remove some foam to do so.
A picture of a crack at the very front of the boat. I have never had any issue with excess water coming into the boat, but I do plan on rewelding these joints.
The opposite side of the front of the boat. The picture doesn't do it justice, but there is a crack here similar to the one on the opposite side of the boat.
Side view of the boat. I'm still debating on what color to repaint the boat. The nice thing about the grey color is that when it chipped off the aluminum underneath wasn't obvious unless you looked closely. I plan on cleaning and sanding the current paint job and painting over top of it.
The decal is a bit scratched up. I plan on removing the existing decals and replacing them with new ones. I am open to suggestions on who to go through for this. Some sort of striping to go over the base paint job.
The trailer needs work, but I may hold off on that until this winter to maximize my time on the water this summer.
I recently graduated college and had acquired a Starcraft Bass boat for a reasonable price 3 years ago. I was contemplating cutting ties with the boat and investing in a newer fiberglass rocket. But, I have a lot of memories with this boat, having fished out of it since I was 5 years old. I want to give it a facelift to get more use out of it myself, and possibly increase the resale value if I do decide to part ways with it. I know it sounds sappy, but it feels like an old friend, and if I do part ways with it, I would like to give the boat a fighting chance to create some memories for someone else.
I am going to recarpet the whole boat. I am also going to be extending the casting deck to allow me to add a rod locker rather than having the rods mounted outside. I will also be rewiring the entire boat, replacing the seats, adding a new trolling motor, and repainting the boat.
As far as the trailer goes, I plan on repainting, rewiring, and adding a spare tire mount. I might hold off on the trailer renovations until this winter to allow me more time on the water this summer/fall.
I'm am setting a tentative goal of August 1st for the rebuild of this boat. If I get it done sooner than that date it is all for the better. Low expectations bring high results. I have a fishing trip planned with the previous owner of this boat at some point in August, and would be tickled pink to be able to show him the renovated boat. I would like to get it done sooner to allow me to fish more, but until it's done, I will be fishing as a co-angler. Not being able to fish out of my boat is all the motivation I need to get this project done quickly.
All constructive comments are appreciated, I'm sure I will be shooting out some questions to everyone that views my project so feel free to post your own questions.
The boat prior to renovation. I had planned on starting this earlier this winter, but due to travel for work, I was unable to start until now.
The carpet is original, and is due to be replaced
The casting deck had to be reinforced before I bought it.
The steering console will stay, currently only the aerator on the rear livewell was working properly out of all the switches on the dash, hence the rewiring
Mercury 45 hp motor. It could stand to be serviced, I plan on taking it to a co worker who is more experienced in this area. I wouldn't mind putting a 60 or 75 hp motor on the boat, but we'll see how the bank account fares over the next few months.
I have a Marcum Lx-6, and would like to add a spot for the transducer to allow me to use the Marcum on soft water as well as hard water.
The seats are decently worn, if I'm going to replace one, I plan on doing them all to match. I will have 3 seats, and one pedestal up front. I am leaning towards using Cabela's seats to replace the existing ones.
Current rod storage doesn't protect the rods from the elements, I would like to incorporate a rod locker into the extended casting deck. I will most likely place the hatch in the same position that the rods are located now, but just adjusted towards the front of the boat. I have been looking at R&R designs to build the hatch for me, but if you know of a different manufacturer I am all ears.
This is a non aerated livewell, attached to the steering console. I store my lifejackets in there for now, I am debating whether or not to add an aerator for this livewell. I would at least like to find a different storage place for the lifejackets. This is an excellent spot to keep my beverages cold while fishing. I used to fill it with ice to keep the beers cold during the day, then just pull the plug at the end of the day to let the water drain out. I might insulate this livewell to keep my beers colder longer
Another picture of the steering console
I plan on leaving the back deck as is for the most part. The only change I would make to it is to add more room in the rear compartment to account for an extra trolling motor battery, as it stands I have room for 2 5 gallon tanks of gas, 2 batteries, 1 charger, and the fuel injection system.
The rear compartment is tight, with the 2 fuel tanks, batteries, charger, and the fuel injection system. I'm looking to create a little more room, and am debating on moving the charger beneath one of the seats. The only concern with that I have is the heat that it puts off while charging.
View from the rear of the boat, the new casting deck in the center will extend to the back of the livewell with a step, and it will extend to the center console at the passengers seat to account for the new rod locker.
Another picture of the tight quarters in the reat compartment. There is room to expand the compartment outwards, but I would have to remove some foam to do so.
A picture of a crack at the very front of the boat. I have never had any issue with excess water coming into the boat, but I do plan on rewelding these joints.
The opposite side of the front of the boat. The picture doesn't do it justice, but there is a crack here similar to the one on the opposite side of the boat.
Side view of the boat. I'm still debating on what color to repaint the boat. The nice thing about the grey color is that when it chipped off the aluminum underneath wasn't obvious unless you looked closely. I plan on cleaning and sanding the current paint job and painting over top of it.
The decal is a bit scratched up. I plan on removing the existing decals and replacing them with new ones. I am open to suggestions on who to go through for this. Some sort of striping to go over the base paint job.
The trailer needs work, but I may hold off on that until this winter to maximize my time on the water this summer.