1978 Original Bass Tracker refurb project

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yokoref

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Oct 19, 2017
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Location
Ballwin, MO
I am getting ready to start a major overhaul of an original 1978 Bass Tracker.
I am planning on documenting my project here for all to see and give some recommendations as well.

I am kinda stoked about this project and hopefully, I don't get discouraged halfway through it and quit.
I may need some encouragement as things progress. So, I appreciate any and all support.
Most of all, I hope my wife doesn't lose patience with me on this as well.

For 30 years, this boat was kept in really good shape and always garaged (when not in the water, that is).
But, for the last 8-10 years, it has been sitting at my sister's house in their base boneyard and exposed to the weather (left uncovered).
I even had a tree growing out of the floor.
 
I have so much to share with you. First, it's a very fulfilling project. I also have a 1978 original BT. I have a lot of pictures of the before and after, but I'm going to redo it again. After seeing a 1983 model, and running my boat all summer, I'm not fond of the lowered deck, and no rod locker.
I loved redoing this, but I'll tell you, honestly, I had my moments of lost motivation. I had the boat in my driveway for several years before actually beginning, and even then it took a year until I really got in to it.
It's now outfitted with a graph that has Di, SI, and HD. It has a trolling motor with spot lock that connects to the graph, and I have spent every available moment on the lake. I am so happy I did it.
I've included a few pictures, and have many tips if you want / need them.
1) Use true marine grade, fully tinned wire, and don't skimp on gauge. My trolling motor (Minn Kota Terova 55 w/ iPilot link) uses a separate battery and 4 gauge wire. Do it right the first time. I have a friend who's dad grabbed whatever he had laying around, and the front end caught fire because of it.
2) Consider the options. Don't do what I did. I didn't look closely enough at other Bass Trackers, and just put it together like it was. I'm sorry for that, and will be redoing the flooring to elevate and create storage.
3) Run wires through pex tubing to help protect, and don't reuse any of the old boat wiring (except from control to motor).
4) I don't recommend carpet. I think it traps moisture and and promotes rotting. I used marine paint I got from https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J32JYJO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. There are surely others. This was just my pick.

Call me if you change your mind about this project (but don't change your mind). I'd love another one to do this again.
 

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Here a couple pictures of the 1983 I saw that made me rethink things.
 

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I added some different photos. Apparently, your project has me excited as well. More notes:
Once you know how you're going to lay out the flooring and compartments, plan the wiring layout and be sure to add for lighting. My trolling motor has a wireless remote with a USB charger. I will be adding charging ports forward and aft, as the remote (or phone, spot light, etc.) occasionally needs to be charged. I also added the same lighting (blue) to the live well and storage compartment. As I said yesterday, I used 1/2" pex tubing to run the wires through (all but the trolling motor as 4ga was too thick) for added protection, especially around the support structures. Pex, in case you're unfamiliar, is a brand name of plastic tubing that is used in a lot of mobile home construction, and is becoming more popular in residential homes (and I use it in a manufacturing facility). Most home improvement stores carry some brand.
I have the added luxury of working in the sheet metal industry. I have raw stock at my disposal (flat sheet, channel, hinge, etc.), as well as welders and so forth. When I gutted my boat, it left holes where I removed the seat wells and so forth. I suggest you make friends with someone who has access to a TIG welder. Clean any areas that need repairs. Check for cracks in the welded joints around the bow, and where the aluminum sides meet the stern. Remove anything on the transom that you don't want there, and have those holes filled as well. Also, VERY IMPORTANT, is to check the supports where the flooring attaches. I found a few cracks there. Finally, clean, clean, clean! TIG doesn't take very long, but the prep work is crucial.
Know that (at least on mine) not much care went in to placement on the floor supports around the front and sides. When I went to put the wood on the bow, the lip and brackets attached at the 'factory' were uneven. Consider checking these and making a decision prior to fitting the floor on there. In hindsight, I wish I would have removed those brackets and squared it all up. Forcing the wood to bend does not work once the force of the trolling motor is in play.
I will leave it to you now, as excited as I am, I don't want you to become bored by my writing, or overwhelmed by the thought of doing all of this. I fish a lot. My friends say I am obsessed, and I won't disagree. My boat has seen more water, and fish, than probably anyone else on my lake, except for the retired folks. I feel so rewarded every time I launch. Good luck to you.
 

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Lefty, thank you for the encouragement.

I also like the look and layout of the 83 as well, most of all having a double (or triple) bench seat(s) with the console.
As a kid, I remember having to sit on the floor next to my dad to help balance the weight in the boat.
I always thought it was kinda silly to have the live wells and the driver all on one side of the boat, even a 10 y/o could figure that out.
Plus, the lack of storage sucks as well.
 
Ok, I guess it's about time I put up some photos of my own.
I thought for sure that I took some photos before I pulled it out of the boneyard but, I may have erased by accident.
So, I will start from when got it back to my house and cleaned out most of the crap and vegetation that was growing in it.

I did get lucky that the trailer was in pretty good condition, besides some surface rust and the lights/wiring were totally shot.
After a quick trip to Walmart to get a set of new LED lights and temporarily zip tying the wires to the frame just to get it home, I will run the wires in the frame later.
 

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I got lucky.... I found some of the paperwork. lol
 

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Now, it's time to see how extensive the damage is.
 

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Finally able to pull up the main deck plywood.
Exposing the waterlogged floatation foam.
 

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Now, time to time to get to that transom.
But first, need to remove the aluminum cap and some huge rivets.
 

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Time to clean, again...
And pressure washed.
 

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The next day!
Now, it's time to get the boat off of the trailer so I can more easily work on it.
No, it is not resting on the concrete, I have it on 2x4s.
 

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Boat clearer so I can inspect the aluminum hull.
And found another problem, longitudinal cracks in the support framing.

Plan on welding and then welding on additional u-channels to add additional strength.
 

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I am having a bit of a dilemma deciding how I want to redesign the configuration of the boat.
The boat still belongs to my dad.
However, most likely I will be the only one using it, meaning he hasn't used it for over 20 years and I don't think it is very likely he will again unless he goes with me.
Plus he hasn't even updated the registration since 1994.

I have my ideas on how I should modernize it and add more of the current "raised" fishing deck style.
My dad thinks that the newer "raised" fishing decks are the most dangerous thing you can put on a boat and surprised people are not bringing up lawsuits against the boat manufacturers because of it. He is a little extreme on the drama.
Put it this way, he thinks that hardwood floors are one of the most dangerous things in the world and everything should be carpeted.

I am a bit of a smart *** and nowadays tell him that he shouldn't leave the house because it is too dangerous to walk to the mailbox.

Anyway, I am going to build it my way.
He will get used to it.
 
I am fortunate to be able to put so much time in on this project, well for now, because I am between jobs.
Actually, I am in Graduate school and going through a career change.
I am just worried that if I do get offered a position, I will still have time to finish the boat.
I really wanted to be able to use it before this winter but, that doesn't look like it will happen.

Also, I am not a young kid anymore.
I retired from the US Navy after 20 years, a disabled vet, and worked as a defense contractor.
So, things are a bit more difficult.
 

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