JAS114
Member
Had no clue there was a community for this until today. Would have probably saved me some heartache to know sooner, but oh well. I picked up this 1971 Ouachita 1440 for $300. I then found a 1970 jon with a trailer for $350 and grabbed it too. The '70 had already been modded (not that great of a job), so I just fixed the electrical work on it and sold it for $350, keeping the trailer in the process!
So here's what I was starting with:
I took it out and float tested it for decking purposes and decided I could put a low deck on the bow for a casting seat, so next came woodwork:
I also wanted to do paint. Satin beige interior, olive drab exterior, flat black below the water line. Wire brush, vacuum, tack cloth, acetone, NAPA alum primer (1x), Rustoleum primer (2x), paint (3x). Also, polyurethaned then carpeted the interior decking and floors. No pics yet with exterior paint, but it's done too:
Added two swivel seats and got to work on electrical:
Last night, I wired up the 3 deep cycle batteries, the rear 12v trolling motor and mounted the bow 24v trolling motor. Still waiting on power and transducers for the Humminbird and Lowrance (thank you father-in-law for the motors and sonars!). I also wired up a nice 3-switch panel for the aerator and bilge pump. Also got a steal on a 3 bank, 5/5/5 charger off ebay, so I'll be wiring that in when it arrives.
Taking it out tonight for the maiden voyage if the weather holds up. Hope I don't sink!
So here's what I was starting with:
I took it out and float tested it for decking purposes and decided I could put a low deck on the bow for a casting seat, so next came woodwork:
I also wanted to do paint. Satin beige interior, olive drab exterior, flat black below the water line. Wire brush, vacuum, tack cloth, acetone, NAPA alum primer (1x), Rustoleum primer (2x), paint (3x). Also, polyurethaned then carpeted the interior decking and floors. No pics yet with exterior paint, but it's done too:
Added two swivel seats and got to work on electrical:
Last night, I wired up the 3 deep cycle batteries, the rear 12v trolling motor and mounted the bow 24v trolling motor. Still waiting on power and transducers for the Humminbird and Lowrance (thank you father-in-law for the motors and sonars!). I also wired up a nice 3-switch panel for the aerator and bilge pump. Also got a steal on a 3 bank, 5/5/5 charger off ebay, so I'll be wiring that in when it arrives.
Taking it out tonight for the maiden voyage if the weather holds up. Hope I don't sink!