FishyItch's 14' V-Hull Mod: Finally!

[FishyItch]

First of all, let me just say I feel happy and honored to finally be starting a thread in the "Jon and V boat Conversions and Modifications" section of this forum.

Anyway, a few days ago I finally mowed my parents lawn, cut a path through the tall grass to the shed where my boat spent the winter, pulled off the tarp and set up shop.

I have no idea as to the year or maker, but I bought it ten years ago as a freshman in high school. I plan on doing a simple raised deck type thing, but here's what I'm starting with...

 

[FishyItch]

And, boy did I feel like a man making my first trip to Menard's to buy some lumber. Pushing around that lumber cart was the most fun I've had in a long time. I was able to fit plenty of 8' 2x4's in my new-to-me Subaru and I even got a chance to at least cut the bench pieces.

You'll notice that I'm leaving the front and middle benches in. Those aluminum casings are filled with foam. I think I'm going to leave the rear bench out though, as pictured. When I lay plywood over the whole thing I'm thinking about leaving the rear portion of the rear bench completely open so I can put stuff under there like a gas can, fire extinguisher, life jackets, etc.

As you'll see, I haven't had a chance to put too much time in, but it's a good enough start to make me feel like I did something. This weekend I'll try to finish the 2x4 frame and seal everything up with some spar urethane. Then I plan on putting a raised play wood deck in the front from the middle bench to the front bench. I'm going to have a supportive spine running down the center of the boat for the raised deck in front, but I'm not sure how to support the edges of the raised deck yet. Hmmm.