1969 Applebee flat bottom project

[Flyinhillbilly]

Hello everyone, new to the site, but not to forums.
My (I just call her wife at this point because we’re only three weeks away from that, and I can’t say the word fiancé without thinking about Oh Brother Where Art Thou ) bought a beat down old 16ft flat bottom and trailer about a year ago. We bought it because it has deep sides, and is a full 4 feet wide across the floor. We like to jug fish, and had been borrowing her cousins 20ft riverboat, but it’s narrow with low sides, and not the best for leaning out of to pick up jugs.
This boat was a mess when we got it with several small holes in the hull, a completely wrecked and broken bow, and a transom that had so many holes drilled in it that it looked like it had been used for target practice.
So far, I’ve welded all 200+ rivets on the bottom, repaired the bow, welded up the holes in the hull, and am planning on trying to finish the transom today. Once that’s done, I’ll need to get to work on the trailer so we can actually go fishing in our own boat on our honeymoon.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I only started welding Aluminium three weeks ago. I’m pretty proficient at mild and stainless steel, but always wanted to learn Aluminium, plus the ability to weld Aluminium has several benefits in my other hobby, which is Racing unlimited modified dirt karts.
so please go easy on my welds, I’m learning as I go.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

While it was sitting in our yard, someone chopped a hole in it with a hatchet, axe, or something of the sort. I was pretty upset about it, and that was what really caused me to buy the tig welder to do the work on the boat.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

At this point, I believe I’ve used about 4 bottles of argon, and several pounds of filler rod, but my welds are consistently improving.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I almost forgot fish pictures

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Finished the transom last night. It ended up being a 14 hour project to take it from just skinned to something you could tow a bulldozer with. I have an 8.5 Mariner for this boat, and also a 1969 Johnson 9.5, but I know me, and I like fast things, so I built it way too sturdy for a small motor, because it probably won’t stay a small motor.