When I was just starting college, I got my first aluminum jon, a 12 ft Sea King v hull. After college, I got a 20 ft Nitro bass boat. I decided I didnt like either one of them. One was too big, one was too small. Finally I found the boat of my dreams...a 1974 Fisher marine 1542!!
I wish I had some before pictures. It had been modified in the past to have a sub floor that ran the length of the boat. Looked like it was 15 yrs old from the style of carpet and the seats. Anyways, I gutted it and started fresh. I am about halfway through the project already but I have most of the important stuff documented. Here are some pictures.
I built the deck frame from 1x1x1/8 aluminum angle. My first ever experience working with metal and rivets. Worked out well and ended up saving a lot of weight and space for storage. Solid as a rock too.
This is my plan for hatches. One large one up front to hold two batteries for lights/trolling motor/speakers. Two for random storage. There will also be storage under the seat but it will be accessible from the vertical piece of wood that closes up the deck.
I used the Ambush Grass camo stencil kit from https://www.camostencil.com. Worked out pretty well and sure beats the price of Styx River. $30 for the kit. Doesnt look as well as I would have hoped but good enough for an old jon boat. I wasnt expected HD wrapped quality. I still need to do the bottom half.
Added some docking lights...maybe some bow fishing? Painted to match of course. Idk they just look cool and were only $30 from Harbor Freight for the set!
Things left to do:
- Build in rod holders so the tips of the rods slide into the side of the front deck storage area
- Finish painting
- Build sub floor
- Buy/build a steering console (boat came with steering wheel mounted to the side of the boat up front)
- Live well in the rear seating area
- Rear seating wood cut and installed
- Speakers and head unit
- 12v wiring for cell phone charging etc
- Get the outboard running (needs carb cleaning)
- Bring trailer up to snuff
Anything I forgot? Critique/ideas welcome!
I wish I had some before pictures. It had been modified in the past to have a sub floor that ran the length of the boat. Looked like it was 15 yrs old from the style of carpet and the seats. Anyways, I gutted it and started fresh. I am about halfway through the project already but I have most of the important stuff documented. Here are some pictures.
I built the deck frame from 1x1x1/8 aluminum angle. My first ever experience working with metal and rivets. Worked out well and ended up saving a lot of weight and space for storage. Solid as a rock too.
This is my plan for hatches. One large one up front to hold two batteries for lights/trolling motor/speakers. Two for random storage. There will also be storage under the seat but it will be accessible from the vertical piece of wood that closes up the deck.
I used the Ambush Grass camo stencil kit from https://www.camostencil.com. Worked out pretty well and sure beats the price of Styx River. $30 for the kit. Doesnt look as well as I would have hoped but good enough for an old jon boat. I wasnt expected HD wrapped quality. I still need to do the bottom half.
Added some docking lights...maybe some bow fishing? Painted to match of course. Idk they just look cool and were only $30 from Harbor Freight for the set!
Things left to do:
- Build in rod holders so the tips of the rods slide into the side of the front deck storage area
- Finish painting
- Build sub floor
- Buy/build a steering console (boat came with steering wheel mounted to the side of the boat up front)
- Live well in the rear seating area
- Rear seating wood cut and installed
- Speakers and head unit
- 12v wiring for cell phone charging etc
- Get the outboard running (needs carb cleaning)
- Bring trailer up to snuff
Anything I forgot? Critique/ideas welcome!
