Unknown 14ft boat conversion (Completed)

[vantangler]

Hi all! Long time lurker, first time poster!

I completed by tin boat to "Bass Boat" conversion last week, and thought I would share the end result with a community that unknowingly helped me along the way.

This is by no means anything special, but a great little boat for little lakes.

I originally got the boat trailer and motor off a guy in exchange for doing some masonry work (circa 2014).

This is about two years of gradual modification, sequenced as close to chronological as I remember.

First thing was adding a casting deck. This was made from an old pallet, some leftover 1/2" ply and some spar varnish:


Turned out well!


That 7.5 simply wont do:


So I bought this beaut for $300 CAD (that's probably about $10 USD with today's exchange )


More pics to follow!!

 

[vantangler]

This is me later that year with some seats and the mid-floor added!


Slaying Bass!


I think that was it for year one... All in all a fun and mildly inexpensive conversion.

 

[vantangler]

This year things got "realer". I grew weary of throwing anchors and paddling:


The biggest challenge was making sure that the mount was rigid and contoured to the boat. I riveted to the hull and lagged into the seat and casting deck:


It doesn't move when trailering and certainly pushes the boat well.



Since the Mrs. usually sits up there when we fish I generally steer the trolling motor from the back.. the foot controls are screwed into the middle seat.

Also added a battery and a old fish-finder i got for free from the father in law. Had to solder some connections and apply some RTV to a prop damaged transducer cable, but it works! Also i used mounting brackets from a satellite dish... helps with those pesky "Skew" an "Elevation" issues that plague so many fish finders these days:




This is the boat as it is now:



And the latest victim!:



I hope this wall of pictures and text is in line with how one is to present projects on this forum. I just wanted to give somthing back to the community that was a wealth of info for this successful project.

Feel free to ask any questions you would like.

Cheers!!

 

[vantangler]

This whole project probably cost me about 500$ mostly in fastener and material cost. I regained much of the money spent after selling the 7.5 for $400.00.

 

[Abraham]

Nice looking boat and fish. Well done

 

[vantangler]

Thanks,

Certainly not as impressive as some other boats on here... But I often find that the fish don't really care either way.

Cheers

 

[user 21075]

When I tackle mine it wont be as well done as others here as well but it will be outfitted for what I want as you did yours for your wants/needs. Good job and thanks for sharing 8)

 

[vantangler]

Thank you!

I just got a lead on a bigger boat....16ft Starcraft SS with a 55 hp that my dad has been trying to hustle.

If I go the conversion route with that i will certainly take pictures and ask lots of questions along the way.

Cheers!