Need ideas!

[Lil Ronnie]

I just got my first boat, a 15' fisher marine. It's 38" wide at the bottom and 58" at the top. What you see is how I got it except that I replace the transom. I would like to keep it an open floor like it is. I don't really need a casting deck. I want to keep everything low and light because me and my fishing buddy are around 250lbs each. I want to build some storage and possibly a live well. Does anybody have any ideas?

 

[Lil Ronnie]

Re: Need ideas!

Also want to put in a floor and add some floatation because as of now there isn't any

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need ideas!

Others will argue with me but for the floor decking I would use 5/8" bcx plywood, not pressure treated! Reason being is that the rib framing is close enough that I think 3/4" would just add unneeded weight. Then either rivet it down or use flat heat sheet metal screws. Then either epoxy coat the ply or 3-4 coats of a good topside paint to seal it.

Use sheet foam layed in between the ribs under the ply.

What are you thinking for seats? Benches or posts?

 

[Teamster]

Re: Need ideas!

I'd use something like this for a livewell,......

Toho-Rig Livewell | Bass Pro Shops

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Need ideas!

Dunno if you've had it out on the water yet, but a 1538 is gonna be pretty "tippy" with two 250 pounders in it.

Can't tell for sure, but it looks like that boat used to have benches in it center and aft, would probably be a good idea to fix something back like it was. On a wider boat you could put some decks in for support, but with a narrow boat the center of gravity would be way off the charts and unless you a good surfer or skate boarder you'd never be able to stand on them.... but you find all this out after you've been on the water with it once or twice.... oh, and raised pedestal seats will be tricky to sit in too.

I agree with the 5/8" plywood decking, and it would be real good if you could get the floatation foam to the same height as the top of the ribs/bottom of the decking for additional support.

I'd be really skeptical about a livewell with 500 lbs. of people, and OB motor, and fishing equipment/coolers. The water in a livewell adds considerable weight and you'll probably be pretty close to your limit with everything else.

 

[Lil Ronnie]

Re: Need ideas!

Thanks for the replies, I like the 5/8 plywood for the floor. Not gonna do any type of decks, just two pedestal seats. I found this pics of this boat and I like the idea. What do you guys think?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Need ideas!

What are you going to be doing for a motor? Just an electric trolling motor?

An OB will require the rear pedestal to be offset from center on the starboard side, and if that's the case the front pedestal should be offset the same distance from center on the port side.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Need ideas!

I guess it all depends on how and where your gonna use it????

For backwater slough fishing it would be fine,..

I wouldn't want to take it on any bigger waters though,.....

What and where and how would determine how I would outfit seats and stuff,......

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need ideas!

from the looks of the last picture of your boat it appears there may have been floatation foam on the sides also then covered with thin ply.

I would suggest one of these in the center, would also solve your livewell problem.

Todd Swingback Seat 175818A - iboats
Moeller Cooler/Livewell Seating - iboats
Todd Deluxe Swingback Seat/ Cooler/Livewell 179218U - iboats

 

[Lil Ronnie]

Re: Need ideas!

I plan on using around a 10hp OB, nothing real big, and I don't plan on getting in any big water. I know the boat isn't the best, but for free I wasn't gonna turn it down. I just want it to be safe and the best it can be. I also don't want to put a ton of money in the boat, those storage/livewell ideas were nice but way too expensive.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need ideas!

I can certainly understand a budget and you are right those seat/coolers are a bit pricey. Maybe you could keep a watch on craigslist or ebay, they do pop up on there now and again. Just seen one locally this past weekend and the guy was only asking $150.00

If you don't have an engine for it already I might suggest a late 70's through 80's 15hp johnson/Evinrude. They are very nice engines and the 15hp weighs the same as the 9.9hp.

 

[Lil Ronnie]

Re: Need ideas!

Thanks bonz d for the info on the 15hp. What does everyone think about this idea, the pic is a sketch of the cross section of the boat. Is it too much?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need ideas!

I'm NOT a tinner but...If you use the Foam board then I'd say 1/2 plywood would be ample for the floor and 1/4" for the sides. The foam will support it. You might even get by with 3/8". Weight is an issue so you want to save as much as possible. 3/8 might feel a bit spongy but by the time you either coat it with 2-3 coats of epoxy or a layer or 2 of resin and glass it will stiffen up a bit. That's my 2? worth!!!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Need ideas!

just and observation from my past. I currently push the scales at 205, and a few years back was fishing with my daughters in a friends small row boat with 6hp johnson. His was 60" wide, had the typical formed aluminum plank seats and floatation foam underneath.

the boat was way too tippy for my liking, especially with a 4 year old and a 9 year old on board. As Jigngrub mentioned you may want to float it first with two people in it first as well as a bunch of gear.

 

[Lil Ronnie]

Re: Need ideas!

Another question I have is, the ribs that run across the floor have a slight v to them how would I get my floor to be flat? Should I rip a 2x4 to fit or get some aluminum angle and screw to the side of the ribs? The 2x4's are going to be a whole lot cheaper!

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: Need ideas!

I would just use the 2x4s coated in resin

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need ideas!

I would cut the ply down the center and lay it right on the ribs. The pitch isn't going to be that great that it will make a big difference overall. Though it will allow to place foam under it which will do 2 things. One it will provide a flater surface and eliminate the ribs as a source of tripping and 2 will act as a good sound barrier between the boat and the water. It will also aide in not having to add more weight for the supports to actually get it flat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need ideas!

Again, I'm not a "Tinner" but I'd run a 1x2 stringer along the edge angle to fit the ribs then fit the foam to the angle and lay the plywood across the bottom and fasten to the stringers. Like this...

Screw or rivet the stringers into the ribs then screw the deck into the stringers. The Foam will support the middle sections of the deck. But I am, just an...

so you might want to think of something else.