Lowe 1648m first build

[Cdewolfe]

I have foam board under it to deaden noise but there is zero give to it. I was worried about the pedestal seat masking it bend but there was no issues with it at all.

 

[Cdewolfe]

Finally remembered to take a picture of the seat I mounted the other day.used rivnuts through the floor then booked the base to it so I can take it out for duck hunting. Had to go with a surface mount since there's only a inch and a half clearance under the floor.

 

[Spedly]

Does the boat seem to flex a lot without the center seat? I'm thinking of taking it out of my 1648 Lowe also.

 

[Cdewolfe]

It flexed a little bit the first trip I made without the floor in it after removing the bench. It was 3 foot whitecaps that day though. Now that the floor is riveted in it doesn't flex at all.

 

[Cdewolfe]

Started making the bracing today. Hopefully it will be strong enough. If not I will put some square tubing under to support it better. I also took some better pictures of the trolling motor bracket

 

[Cdewolfe]

Got some work done on building the bracing for the front deck and gun box. I just need to finish the horizontals on the gun box

 

[Cdewolfe]

Put a couple horizontal braces in today. One in the front of the picture isn't riveted in yet. Still needs a bit of cutting to fit just right. Also ordered my 1/8 sheet for the deck

 

[Cdewolfe]

I was just thinking about my sheet metal and was thinking of changing my plan a bit. Rather than running it over all the bracing cutting it to drop down inside the two top pieces and sit on top of the cross braces. That way everything would be nice and level instead of bowing when riveted down. Hard to explain what I'm thinking. Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[Cdewolfe]

Got the front deck surface on and the seat base mounted.

 

[Cdewolfe]

Put the gun box side on but it will be getting taken off and replaced with 1/8 inch. 1/16 felt too flimsy to me. I'm sure it would be fine since it isn't structural but it made it feel cheap to me. Also going to be mounting marine radio through it with the speakers and the switch panel so I don't want it shaking or vibrating too much.

 

[Cdewolfe]

I've been pretty busy lately and haven't gotten much work done in the boat but I put the new thicker side on the gun box and mounted the radio, speakers and switch panel. Now I'm wiring everything up and when that's done will put the top of the gun box and and start paint prep.

 

[derekdiruz]

for the front deck, did you add any more bracing? And are the horizontal braces, that run bow to transom (rather than the horizontal that run from gunnel to gunnel) only held in place via the rivet from the top?

 

[Cdewolfe]

I added 2 braces connecting the center two horizontal braces you are talking about just so that the seat base would be bolted to more than just the aluminum sheet. I used bolts instead of rivets the horizontal braces. I didn't trust that the constant downward pressure wouldn't walk the rivet out.

 

[Cdewolfe]

Not much more to go. Need to tuck a couple wires and grind a couple edges flush.
Video of the build so far.
https://youtu.be/1P84uU27GoQ

 

[Fire1386]

Nice video. Not sure of your location, but would the diamond plate and shiny front deck reflect sunlight on you making it feel hotter? Didn't really notice it till I watched the video.

 

[Catch Release Repeat]

I just bought the same trolling motor and was planning on mounting it in the same location with the same exact mount in my head. Always feels good when you can see a plan come to reality before you actually have to do it. What size thrust and shaft did you go with?


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[Cdewolfe]

The floor, top of the gun box and front Deck are all getting tough coat in grey. The rest will get a layer of grey paint.
The trolling motor is a 55lb with a 54 inch shaft I believe. It works great. It pulls the boat up to 2.8mph.