Fancy thinking

[swimmin' for shore]

As I've continued to plan out my project boat, I continue to come up with ideas for how to better utilize space...ie....making better use of the area in the upward curve of the hull, putting 2 smaller gas tanks between the stringers rather than in the nose of my Formula, embedding the base of a couple of seat mounts toward the rear for switching the front swivel seats to the back for use as swivel fishing seats. The list goes on and on. I know there are a lot of very good boat builders on this forum, and you've all done various things to make better use of the available space you have. That, and many of you have started with a budget and found ways to save money without compromising quality. With that in mind, I thought I might post and ask some of you if you'd be willing to share your great ideas, and even pictures if you have them. No matter how unorthodox it seems, if it makes sense, it's worth taking into consideration as the rest of us go to build, or rebuild, our own boats.

 

[lark2004]

Re: Fancy thinking

I don't know if this has been done or not, but I'm fibre-glassing up some ice chests and building them onto the back of my transom either side of the outboard. I know that this means you can't climb over the back to get in, but that doesn't really bother me. they will have bungs(to allow for easy washing out) in them and will be plumbed for live bait. But if I have the family out and we aren't on a fishing trip, then they can hold drinks and stuff. The lids double as bait cutting boards, with a tap from the live bait plumbing to wash the guts and blood off. Will try and post pics as they come close to being finished.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Fancy thinking

Those boxes on the back of the transom are very common here. They're usually bait or live wells. Its amazing how high up the bottom of them can be and still force the nose down.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

I think that most things have been done at one time or another. I just hate getting finished with something, seeing something else and saying, "Why didn't I think of that"? <br />I'm thinking more and more about the sides of my hull. I can't stand seeing so much space wasted, when it could be used for rods and reels, etc...I'm sure some boats utilize this space in better fashion, but it's new to me. I got to thinking that I could build what looked like a magazine rack-a smooth curve up and out from the bottom. If I take that up from the bottom, I can do the same thing coming down from the top, but hinged to open straight up. It will take some good woodwork on my part, but this keeps me out of trouble. I figured that it will look like a flattened out version of the letter D, coming out just above the floor, going back in just under the cap. If anyone's seen anything like this, I'd love some ideas on how to build it of very thin wood so that I can glass over it afterwards. <br />As for the coolers, I want to do that too. I've seen some posts on the subject here, and I was thinking that I'd like to build the cooler as a seatbase for a benchseat. It would be more toward the middle of the boat, though.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Fancy thinking

Go look at a lot that sells older used boats.<br /><br />I've found a few great ideas there. The new boats are great too, but on the used lot, you'll see a much more diverse cross section of brands and such of different years, and a few that have been modified.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

Alright. Next good idea, but I need some help. <br />I bought 2 basic seats for the boat. They'll mount on a swivel base or whatever, and are intended for the driver and passenger seats up front. BUT, I want to be able to move these seats toward the back end for sitting in while fishing. So, here's my idea. I don't want to be tripping over an extra set of bases everytime the seats are up front. I have what I think is a good idea here, but I'm having trouble putting it together without getting too expensive. <br />The best idea I've come up with is to cut a circular hole in the deck and back it from the bottom side with another piece of wood. Then, drop a 4 or 6 hole stainless steel flange into that hole, with the middle cut out for a 2" pipe. I could take a 2nd SS flange and tig weld a cup to it, which would allow the pipe from the seat to drop down in and spin in the bottom of the cup. The 2nd SS flange would be mounted below the wood backing plate, and holding the flange from the top flush in the deck. Bolt it around, and I have a seat base that I can take the seat and pipe out of without tripping over it all of the time. The problem with my design, though, is that I would have to have 8 flanges for the 2 bases up front and 2 in the back. EXPENSIVE. If someone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Fancy thinking

any chance these would work...take a look at the swivel-eze base and posts...bases are almost flush to deck. <br /><br /> http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/...=343662&topCategory=249085&cat1=291073&page=3

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

Thanks for mentioning this, MrWill. You're on the money, too. I'd found 2 of the bases on ebay already, but am planning to purchase 2 more of the in-floor bases now, and all I'll have to do is get home and set it up. I appreciate the site, though, as I still need a couple more pieces.

 

[lawyertob]

Re: Fancy thinking

[EDIT - Okay, this was the incomplete post, the other was an error...not doing to good tonight.]

 

[lawyertob]

Re: Fancy thinking

Originally posted by swimmin' for shore:<br /> Thanks for mentioning this, MrWill. You're on the money, too. I'd found 2 of the bases on ebay already, but am planning to purchase 2 more of the in-floor bases now, and all I'll have to do is get home and set it up. I appreciate the site, though, as I still need a couple more pieces.

Swimmin',<br /><br /> The swivel eze bases sound like they will work great. The only other option I can think of would be to a little harder. Okay, this would take some fabrication, but nothing too fancy. How about if the swivel was at the top where the pole meets the chair. Then you just have a straight pole that goes down into a socket in the floor. Basically, the bases would be mounted UNDER the floor with a hole through the floor so you could stick the pole down into it. When one isn't in use you have it covered with a plug of some sort. Basically, I am thinking of doing something like this for me a couple of fishing chairs. However, it would require extra long pedestals, and the bases would have to be adapted or fabricated. You would probably be better off to just buy the four bases. The bases are only like $16 each aren't they?<br /><br /> Now, if the main concern is having them sit flush so you don't trip over them, then we have to look at you under deck clearance in that location. If you have room it would be fairly simple to mount them so that they were flush, and build up another layer of plywood under them for support. Then you could fair them in with your epoxy putty after masking off just the holes and the slot for the thumb latch. Then you would find or fabricate a plug of some type. You still have to buy 4 bases, but you wouldn't have to trip over them.<br /><br /> Or you could mount them far enough down so that you could put plywood covers over them. Probably be easier to use some round deck access covers and jut move the whole thing, ring and cover, to the unused base. I think those covers are only a few dollars for 10 inchers.<br /><br /> Oh and if you use epoxy to bond the two layers of wood together it will never, ever come apart. Ever.<br /><br />Just my 0.02 worth, <br />Joe

 

[lawyertob]

Re: Fancy thinking

[EDIT - incomplete post]

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

Never, Joe? Are you absolutely sure? What if I went with polyresin? Can polyresin be prepped and be as good as epoxy? LOL<br /><br />The site MrWill passed on is fantastic. I've been lost in dreamland for hours, thinking this stuff over. They also have the covers for when your base isn't in use. I'm sold, and apparently I have lost my patent to Swivel-Eze, who sells all of this stuff cheaper than I ever could have made it. Back to the lottery, I guess, and it's time to move on to the next brilliant(if I think of it after some company has, does that make me brilliant or painfully slow?)idea.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Fancy thinking

Swimmin'<br />I have been playing with the SwivelEze idea for quite some time. Want to make my boat as multi-functional as possible. Glad to have been of assistance.<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

See, MrWill. That's where I'm aiming-to have a boat that is as multi-functional as possible. If I want to fish overnight, I want to be comfortable doing it. If I want to take my future family out, I want there to be room for everyone. Safe, functional, and in my price range. That means a lot of engineering, sometimes, but I'm having a lot of fun working through the kinks.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Fancy thinking

I think I solved my multi-purpose boat dilema though...My boat is alittle big for the local lake to pull the kids waterskiing and such (other boaters asked if I could keep the wake down even *sigh*) So...I decided that I just need a smaller boat for "lake fun" and keep my 21' for "sea fun". Since I am poor, I found a friend who needed a project and convinced him to buy a boat (thanks Eggkr8). Problem solved. I just now have to convince him to let me use it! <br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

What kind of boat are you looking for, MrWill? I have one that's been sitting in Illinois that I'd sell you for less than the beautiful 160 hp merc in it is worth. I don't want to do any advertising in a post, though, so email me if you're interested. I'll make sure my email addy is in my profile.

 

[a_bullfrog_a]

Re: Fancy thinking

On the bases and post not being used you could<br />create a mount to hold your tackle box so it's always at easy and secure reach plus you'll see it so it'll be hard to trip over,unless you took your friend BUD fishing, lol. I think i'll do this. bolt a plate to the back of a strong tackle box so it slides over the post(snug fit). it'll never tip over. could to the same with a porta grill, table, etc..

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Fancy thinking

Good idea, a_b_a. I keep working on my design, as I have plenty of time to study it out before I actually go to work on it. I've purchased my seat bases and seats now. I found someone on ebay who put a whole package of Swivel-Eze base, 9" dia. base plate(recessed), and adjustable swivel pole togehter for me for next to nothing. I'm going to buy one more, non-adjustable base and do a small table for between the rear fishing seats. Now I have a multi-purpose back area that can be used just for fishing out of, or for eating a meal at while on the water. I figured I'd do a small round table on top of the base, and I'll cut the tabletop in half, with dowels, for quick removal and stowage. Lots of work ahead, but it'll look nice when it's finished.