Alumacraft 1648 Project - Getting Ready, Again

[gillhunter]

Sorry for all the questions. first time doing this and i want to get prices on everything first and i really don't want to screw up. lol

Don't be sorry about questions :LOL2: . That's what this site is all about!

Feel free to PM me also.

 

[xXT.WARDXx]

Will definately have to that once I get started. Have you ever built a live well for a Jon boat?

 

[gillhunter]

Will definately have to that once I get started. Have you ever built a live well for a Jon boat?

No, we use a fish basket or a cooler when we decide to keep fish. There are a lot of really nice live well builds on the site.

 

[Jay415]

Will definately have to that once I get started. Have you ever built a live well for a Jon boat?

Mike's build was the inspiration for mine. I put a simple live well in using the existing well in the center seat. I haven't used it once. I'm actually gonna take it out and make it the battery box like Mike did. I added a 25hp motor and I now have too much weight in the stern when someone is standing there fishing. But here's my live well.

https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=22353&p=247011#p246940

 

[Scott1298]

If I have a fish I really have to keep, I put it on a "string" and drag it in the water. The middle bench with the battery really balances out the boat!

 

[MNHunter505]

Thanks. That helps a lot. I wasn't wrong thinking it was going to be tricky to get it right. Amazing I don't see a single screw (or bolt) showing on the carpet.
thinking I could probably bevel the hinge side cut on the bench plywood like 45 degrees to allow the lid to open further.

Are you able to snap a pic of how you carpeted the hinge area of the aft bench hatch? Also, did you install a piece of alum angle to the underside of that hatch?
thanks.

 

[gillhunter]

Hunter, My rear bench isn't hinged, just the center. However
Jay's is. Take a look at his build, it's a great one!


https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=22353

 

[xXT.WARDXx]

i got to have a built live well because i will be fishing bass tournaments and it has to looklike it came factory or you aint aloud to fish

 

[MNHunter505]

Hunter, My rear bench isn't hinged, just the center. However
Jay's is. Take a look at his build, it's a great one!


https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=22353

Ok, thanks. I will take a look. Also, have you hear of pop riveting into wood? Some of the builds look like the other end of the rivet doesn't stick out...so it's like they drill a hole and insert the rivet in, and it expands to hold in place?...?

 

[gillhunter]

Hunter, My rear bench isn't hinged, just the center. However
Jay's is. Take a look at his build, it's a great one!


https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=22353

Ok, thanks. I will take a look. Also, have you hear of pop riveting into wood? Some of the builds look like the other end of the rivet doesn't stick out...so it's like they drill a hole and insert the rivet in, and it expands to hold in place?...?

Sorry I'm so late in answering this, works been really busy!
I have never used pop rivets in wood, but I have used these threaded inserts. They work pretty well..

https://www.ezlok.com/InsertsWood/index.html

 

[gillhunter]

We finally got a nice weather day on a weekend and managed to get out for a couple of hours. The weather was beautiful, the bite was slow, but we managed a nice basket of bluegill and my wife caught her personal best shell cracker that went 10 3/4". Also couple of nice little cats that we released. Again that's why we built the boat :LOL2:

 

[gillhunter]

We got each other new Tempress Hight Back seats for Christmas. The construction and quality was great. They just hit our backs in the wrong place. We went ahead and replaced them with Low Backs. For us they were much more comfortable.

Now if only the rain would stop and let us get out fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gillhunter]

The weekend weather has really been bad for the past several weeks. Took the week off. Drove 760 miles to Indiana to see my parents over Memorial Day. Didn''t tow the boat this year. My dad is not feeling well enough to fish. (he is both a WWII and Korean vet). We drove back Tuesday after I got called back into work for a couple of hours, then got to finally get some fishing in. The wife caught the biggest fish of the day. There is nothing better than finishing cleaning a mess of 'gill and having the boat sitting in the driveway with 4 more days to fish!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keystone]

Haven't eaten Sun Fish or Gills in a long time. Sure does bring back some memories though. Must have caught a million of those when I was a kid on the Little Neshaminy and the Delaware.

 

[gillhunter]

Decided (for you North Georgia guys) to fish Fort Yargo this morning. Not my most successful lake, we usually have a tough time. I haven't run the outboard for a couple of months, been fishing total electric, so that was my incentive to go to Yargo. Boat was hooked up to my truck, SWB F150 that we usually use to tow locally. Started loading the boat while the Mrs. was getting around and discovered a nail in my right rear tire. Not a good start to the morning. Switched trucks and went to Yargo. Launched and the little Honda fired on the first try. I have had a 20hp Merc, 25hp Evenrude, 50hp Johnson, and a 90hp Yamaha. This little 9.9 four stroke Honda is a little jewel.
The best part is we caught fish!!!!!!!!! We caught (and released) more fish today than we have caught total in this lake in the last 2 seasons of fishing it. I guess the sun shines on an old dogs azz every once in a while.

And we are having fresh gill for supper :LOL2:

 

[Keystone]

gillhunter » 27 minutes ago[/url]"]
And we are having fresh gill for supper :LOL2:

Don't get any better than that now does it!

 

[KevinWI]

Am I seeing things or do you now have a motor? Thought motors were off limits, thus turning your livewell into a battery storage for the TM?

 

[gillhunter]

KevinWI » Today, 17:48[/url]"]Am I seeing things or do you now have a motor? Thought motors were off limits, thus turning your livewell into a battery storage for the TM?

Kevin,
We always intended to put a motor on it. We fish either total electric or 10 HP restricted lakes. Some of the total electric lakes you can leave the motor on, but just not use it and some you have to take it off. I have a motor stand and the Honda is about 100 lbs so I just pop it on an off when I need to.

Having said that about 95% of our fishing is total electric so we give the batteries a workout. :LOL2:

 

[Scott1298]

Gilhunter, for your bilge pump you said you "installed the switch in you battery box"... could you attach a picture/explanation?

Thx!

 

[gillhunter]

Scott1298 » 20 minutes ago[/url]"]Gilhunter, for your bilge pump you said you "installed the switch in you battery box"... could you attach a picture/explanation?

Thx!

I drilled a hole in the top of my starter battery box and installed a single pole rocker switch in it (just to the right of the strap in the picture). Then I just wired the power lead, and an inline fuse to the pump through the switch. I have tried to keep the boat as simple as possible. :LOL2: