EXPERT!!!

[jigngrub]

It's amazing how much better a boat looks with a few fish onboard

It would look better if there weren't any Green Carp in there.

... but those Black Crappie look real good!

 

[jrttoday]

Another little Bass on another day...


Jan 1st, 2013. Wasn't cat fishing, but this blue kitty stole my live shrimp. It's amazing how much meat you don't get from a cat this size!!


More my style were these guys....

and their friends. Different day, different fish.



I honestly don't bother taking a lot of fish pictures - not into bragging. But I did choose to document construction of this project because it was something I'd never done and probably never will again. I am no expert anything; just a man that enjoys fishing/boating and doing my own work. Just saying, if you have the desire, you can build whatever kind of boat that you want. Iboats forums!!!!!!!! "I" built this boat with very limited financial resources - I was willing to make sacrifices, though; e.g., my only vehicle is a '93 Ranger I bought from my dad when he was still living. And my other boat is a 1965 Sears 12' Aluminum semi-V he gave me back then. Still in use, just not so often anymore.
and while I'm at this, for your viewing pleasure.... or not! lol
I've caught bigger, none more memorable. It was 102* that day in July (Piedmont area of North Carolina), two of us caught over 100 Bass that day. I hung into this one (9lbs 4oz) around 3pm. Filled the cooler with water hauled tail to a country store, weighed her, came back and released. Was using 17lb test w/zero drag - using drag is cheating!!!!! at least if you're fishing out of small boat. I don't horse 'em, use rod handling and pulling the boat for drag. If she beats me, oh well, there will be others. Running straight off the bow, she pulled 400lbs of us, two full coolers, our gear, and the 8hp Misspelled Mercury at least 30'. (misspelled Mercury is a Mariner lol). And I had been fighting for a few minutes off the port side before she ran deep out front.

 

[jrttoday]

It's amazing how much better a boat looks with a few fish onboard

even an old poverty boat outfitted only with a Ted Williams trolling motor and a skulling paddle!! Boat so old the floor has the rigidity of a water bed, never mind the constant bailing!

 

[jrttoday]

That galvanized pipe could come in handy for fending off pirates and rabid Nutria!:llama:

OK funny man!!

 

[jrttoday]

LIFE IS BETTER IN A BOAT!!!

 

[jigngrub]

OK funny man!!

Yeah, but seriously... galvanized or zinc plated anything doesn't have a place in a boat (but I did notice where you said you were going to replace it.)

 

[jrttoday]

Yeah, but seriously... galvanized or zinc plated anything doesn't have a place in a boat (but I did notice where you said you were going to replace it.)

seriously not in a fiberglass one. This is an "I don't know how old hull" or built by whom. It was sitting in a shabby garage on blocks, standing water above the deck in places, stringers so soggy I couldn't believe they were ever wood. Originally stick steering, my CSI Unit (me) determined that a probably a tiller steering motor had been last used clamped to the transom? Anyway, if the stringers are toast, chances are the transom has some rot.
Tap test said it was solid, hmmmmm; removed old fglass to bare wood in a few spots along bottom of transom and wood was dry, huh? Had a piece of 1/2" marine plywood left over from flooring big enough to laminate entire transom inside, which I did just because...
After five years of running I decided on the bigger livewell, my manual pump started to complain I :laugh: and I had some downtime anyway. Had a pvc nipple but when I drilled the hole hit water. The wood is still solid, but...... in time.... I'll schedule complete transom overhaul down the road - will also need to redesign that compartment to accommodate plumbing and make for better storage.
Does anybody know of a suitable composite board 2 or 3" thick for transom R/R?

 

[jrttoday]

It's amazing how much better a boat looks with a few fish onboard

Like said, don't do online real well... "no expert", but Curly (Three Stooges) says "if at first ya don't succeed, keep on suckin' til ya do suckseed!! :laugh::laugh:
Going back through this post, I've noticed a lot and the suggestions offered - even though it's sorta done - are really valuable information. thanks!
Also noticed that since the new livewell, the fish got better looking, too!!!!

 

[jrttoday]

It would look better if there weren't any Green Carp in there.

... but those Black Crappie look real good!

Obviously, you've never had Bisquick Bass! or boiled filets w/cocktail sauce and melted butter on the side, I love the speckled fish a bunch of different ways, but man.....:hail:

 

[jrttoday]

Afterthoughts..... this thread was not meant to be a tutorial - built five years ago, I have forgotten some of what I did. Posted pics as I could locate them on PC trying to maintain some chronology as to progress with project. Only purpose was to show that if "that so&so can do it", maybe you should try?
I can't answer that question for you. I never said, but the bottom paint was done by brush - not being a painter and will do anything in my power to avoid painting, I was very surprised and proud of how it turned out. Best of luck with whatever you do, C-ya on the H20

 

[jigngrub]

Well your boat looks good, and I'm sure it's much more seaworthy than it was. The only real concern I noticed was the decking not being tabbed onto the hull, but that should be a fairly easy fix the next time you decide to work on your boat again.

It's always good to see someone post up their build, but as you learned... we'll let you know if we see something that should've been done different. Thanks for taking the time to let us see how you did your project.

As for your fish pictures, if it was me I'd go back and delete the pics of the green carp. Those are a common trash fish that anybody can catch. The Crappie, Cats, and Reds look real good though and those pics make me want to load up the rods and tackle boxes and head on down to the GOM.

 

[jrttoday]

Well your boat looks good, and I'm sure it's much more seaworthy than it was. The only real concern I noticed was the decking not being tabbed onto the hull, but that should be a fairly easy fix the next time you decide to work on your boat again.

It's always good to see someone post up their build, but as you learned... we'll let you know if we see something that should've been done different. Thanks for taking the time to let us see how you did your project.

As for your fish pictures, if it was me I'd go back and delete the pics of the green carp. Those are a common trash fish that anybody can catch. The Crappie, Cats, and Reds look real good though and those pics make me want to load up the rods and tackle boxes and head on down to the GOM.

Thanks and you're welcome!! I had too much going on when I built her and didn't bother taking pics of everything. Couldn't remember every moment/task etc either. It's been five years and I even had trouble finding pics on this laptop. Typing is not my friend because I graduated from the 8th grade in 1971 :lol: I've had to go back and look to see exactly what I did after you pointed out the tabbing.

One pic of the floor shows a piece of chopped strand mat (csm) laying over the bilge. I used csm all over the floor and upper deck (putting the pieces back together). I used scissors to chop the csm to make flux (think that's what you call it?) - this flux I stuffed in the seam between the floor and the hull, then laid three and four layer strips 6" wide (3" floor/3" hull) because of the way the hull is. It is very solid.

I started out posting an engine problem cos I can't seem to find anyone that honestly wants to fix it. Hey, I understand everybody needs to make a living, but......they all seem to want to retire off of my wallet. FTS!!!! So, I was just killing time waiting for a shop manual by posting - got it today!!!
but THANKS again. I have really appreciated iboats forums and everyone's input here.
PS: regarding the fish pictures, just threw 'em out there cos I hadn't seen them in awhile

 

[jrttoday]

big sigh.... still chasing a problem in the ignition? but found a four blade s/s I couldn't pass up. If I can't fix it soon, gonna have to buy the motor the prop came off of!! lol

 

[jrttoday]

continued going through engine wiring, etc... but took a few minutes on this prop. It came off of a 2002 Evinrude 90hp. Somebody help; seem to remember something about max diameter somewhere? Only have an inch between prop and cavitation plate.http://

 

[jbcurt00]

You'd be much better off posting motor and prop questions in the correct motor forum

 

[jrttoday]

You'd be much better off posting motor and prop questions in the correct motor forum

10:4!! thanks

 

[jrttoday]

No Title

Yeah, and that decking needs to be tabbed to the hull as well.... but other than that the work looks real good.

Let's hit the rewind button for a second; it's been five years and have trouble with remembering five minutes ago!! Plus I'm not skilled with virtual dialogue and posting online. This has been a good exercise for me to remember what I've done and with typing!! lol But hey, I just remembered that if you press CTRL and plus(+) or minus(-), the screen zooms in or out. Look at this pic again and zoom in.

I had an understanding of structure long before I read anything on here; although, it was with steel, much of that understanding applies to fiberglass. The deck was not tabbed until I could get the hull outside and have more room to work around it. Also, using flux (cut up matt mixed w/resin) in the gap between deck and hull caused the sides to draw inward.

If you'll notice the darker areas along edge of deck, that's where it's tabbed. And I waited until strips along the top of the gunwales had been triple wrapped w/matt. Then used a jack and braces to position tops of gunwales, leaving it that way until tabbing had cured.

 

[jrttoday]

I contacted the previous owner of my outboard and he says he dialed back the throttle/timing to not be tempted - and that's "why" it won't turn over 4600. Not really interested in going any faster, though. Original prop has been reworked a time or two before I got it.

11 7/8" diameter now, new was 12 3/4"

 

[jrttoday]

Horsepower seemed to be an issue for this tub during this thread, but I find that 100 to be just about perfect given the weight etc. Writing here caused me to reminisce about an '84 Skeeter I once owned - fond memories of that 150 Black Max and a prop that seemed to have cleats. Boat control like you wouldn't believe...

 

[jrttoday]

that it even matters? It matters to me..... The first year of playing with my new toy, had the original prop 12 3/4" x 21" - OMC thick/heavy aluminum. It had been reworked a time or two, plus it had some recent knicks I was able to file out. 4600r's was it, loaded w/3 or empty. The trim unit wasn't that powerful, but if I set it just right, she would run on that last couple of inches of the hull. I always thought a different prop might get my revs up, but that wasn't the problem.

The linkages on the carb and timing had been tampered with. Which is OK by me in this instance; riding on just the skeg was fun 20 years ago!! During the second year, I was introduced to an unfriendly sand bar!!! Was only turning 1800r's but man! Bent two blades and had to take 0.25" out of all three. Smaller diameter yielded no increase in WOT?? hmmmmm Didn't investigate why, bc it is fast enough as is.

So, "why" go with a 115 now? I wasn't even looking for it, but I have it. That four blade came off of a fuel injected 90hp measured at the prop. The 115 is carbureted and measured at the crank. They oughta match up fairly well - we'll see. Not looking for speed and it has an OK hole shot, but........
I did finally make it to a scale; empty with much less than 6 gals of fuel (15 gallons max), tipped the scale at 1,900 pounds. Add two people and gear etc, plus I always run with a half full 41 gallon livewell. That old V4 is a powerhouse; load her down with camping gear, too - 4,600 rpms, no sweat. I ran it there once to test it, 4,000 is enough. Thanks for letting me rant! :facepalm: