14 Foot Fiberglass Bass-Walleye-Pike Boat Project

[cprince]

Re: 14 Foot Fiberglass Bass-Walleye-Pike Boat Project

Here are some quick pics of the almost finished - I have no idea what I am doing - even when I know what I am doing, it is not done right - frustrating and rewarding project boat!

I still have some lids to put on my lockers and figure out some other color to paint them other than blue!! There is a tarp on the seat so they wont blow away.

I will have some more comments after super.

Home made trolling motor mount;

Thestaples really show with the flash!!

 

[cprince]

Re: 14 Foot Fiberglass Bass-Walleye-Pike Boat Project

A lot has happened since I last posted. I will try to run through them as quickly as possible.

Went through 3 gallons of resin. (Probably could have used 5 quite comfortably.)
Decided to use carpeting instead of the paint and sand anti skid trick.
Got sick and tired of working on this thing and just want to go fishing now.

Doesn't look like much spread out over three lines... But it was a LOT of work!

I had to rip out some of the glass I put in due to terminal bubbles. It was WAY too much like rotten ice. Too weak. So I reglassed and used a **** load of Peanut Butter. Framed and PB'ed the rod locker. Every stick of wood was covered in resin and most with mat and roving. I will go lie down now. I started today at 6:30 am and finished at 9:15pm. I am going to a cottage next week for 7 days, and I HAD to get the boat done so I am not stuck shore fishing and my kids wont make fun of me!

Between that crappy rainy weather and work, I had to take advantage of this great day. Good weather is not guaranteed.


So I painted inside and out. The bow trim is now royal blue and matches my car. I was not sure if that was a little fancy or not... still not so sure...

Any how... it needs more color. I look like I should be selling poutine out the back of this thing as it sits there now. I will paint the new lids a different color... not sure what color.... when I get them from some dumpsters at construction sites near the house. I will likely use *gasp* chip board. It will obviously be a somewhat temporary solution. I ran out of money and patience.

One word of caution to anyone planning on laying carpet in their boat... or any where else for that matter; do not make any upwards thrusting motions with a screw driver in an attempt to remove a staple when your arm is any position to catch the business end on the follow through.

OUCH!

 

[cprince]

Re: 14 Foot Fiberglass Bass-Walleye-Pike Boat Project

I am looking for suggestions about what to use for a molding type thing for the edges of where the carpet meets the hull and sides. I am thinking about some sort of rubber type thing... black preferably. It has to bend and not bind to follow the contour of the hull... a hose cut in half?

Any one?

 

[cprince]

Re: 14 Foot Fiberglass Bass-Walleye-Pike Boat Project

Well, I did it! I finished the boat a few weeks ago, and I decided that it was too heavy for my needs. I am also quite paranoid about putting holes in it; getting it on the trailer, off the trailer, while I am driving with it on the trailer, boating in shallows... I am just a nervous wreck. Likely not well founded by in large... but that was the situation.

I traded the boat straight up for a 14 foot aluminum Springbok. I am not sure if I did the right thing by way of dollars and cents... I am reasonably certain I could have recouped my expenses and even got a few bucks over cost... somewhere in the range of $600 or $700... but rather go through the sales process, I found someone who wanted to trade straight up. His boat *might* be worth $300 or $400 with a full tank of gas.. but it is exactly what I want. Light, manageable and tough aluminum boat. Great in the cold and no worries about punching holes in it.

There will be a new thread for the Bok, I need to redo a bunch of rivets and seal some seams. I will likely reinforce the transom and benches to try and safely run a 15hp (It is rated for a 7.5). Might even try and put a casting deck on it. Certainly will repaint and redo the awesome logo.

See you in another thread!