BassBoy1,
You seem to get where I getting at. Yeah, I was thinking of putting in a backhatch, not a top hatch. I don't expect to have much room there anyway. I don't think or really want to cut out the front bench b/c as you said, it'd weaken the boat, which of course is not exactly wise for someone who plays a little rough w/ his toys. I plan on putting my main 12v marine battery (heavy thing) on the stern. For now, what I'm having to do is put it in front of the front seat when I want to fish solo and reverse my tm to work as a bow mounted. This way my wires reach the thing. It takes some manuvering but something I don't mind doing right now at least until I can work on having a 55# tm in back for boogying down the lake quicker. Most of my fishing I expect will be solo, that being said, I think it'd be easier for me to keep my gear in the center floorspace and the 15# anchor (for times when want to sit and jig, esp in windy condit) in the stern. Yeah, 15# is problably more than plenty for weight for this thing but I don't ever expect to need just a small 10# mushroom. It just is the wrong type of anchor and seems too light for most conditions/currents where I fish. Most of the time I'm just getting blown around and hardly fishing, which is almost a waste of time...unless I end up trolling, not my preferred method.
Ben2Go,
I like your pics, hope that your project works for you. I definitely plan on attaching anything I put up to the gunwales. the previous owner didn't and it's a shoddy job, using regular carpenter's nails into the hull! At least for right now, the camo paint is protecting them and it's not leaking. When I have the time/space I might see about pulling them and filling in the holes...but it's not broke yet.
Any thoughts on the bike seat idea?
LH28