14' Arkansas Traveler redo

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Very nice little boat,
I could see myself fishing out one like it.
Great job and good luck on it's completion.
Have a great day.
Bob

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I do not know what the boat is rated for. There was no plate on it at all, or any paperwork other than the title. The boat is actually less than 14 ft after I measured it. It is 13.7 ft long. I have a Motor Guide transom mount trolling motor given to me. It is good on a day without much wind. I don't know how slow it will be with 15 mph or more wind yet.

Thanks Bob. I think the boat is perfect for me, and there is no payments, which is always a plus. I believe it will last as long as I will be able to fish. (I turn 50 next month...so 25 years of fishing left or so) I plan to take care of it as much as possible. I bought a tarp today to keep the inside nice. I do not know which boat cover would work for this boat, and the tarp is cheap, so I am going with that for the time being. This boat costs much more to fix, than I could probably ever sell it for. Since I don't plan to sell it, it isn't a big deal. I just want to keep it as nice as I can, because I don't want to repaint the boat in the future...it at all possible. It was a lot more work than I had anticipated...that is for sure....lol.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

For those interested, here is a link to my Photobucket boat album. There are many more pictures of the boat work there.

http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo175/Kelkay59/boat/

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Any ideas about sand blasting an aluminum 14 ft. Travler with a very fine sand to take the paint off prior to painting it or just leaving the boat in the natural aluminum coat?

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I have no idea where you can find a bow eye. You will probably have to have one made up by a machinist or something.

Wonder why bow eyes are so hard to find. I have been looking for days. I also have a 14 ft. SP14 Arkansas Travler that need one. Ed Bell

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Sand blasting it would be easier. I hand sanded all the old paint off this boat, and brought it down to bare metal.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Really not a good idea to sandblast an aluminum boat. Use Aircraft Stipper from Autozone. Works really well. If repainting you must use Self Etching Primer to get a good bond. The link in my signature below has some good info on how to paint your boat inexpensively.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I did use a self etching primer on my boat. I highly recommend that as well. I also used can spray paint to paint the whole boat. I did not brush it on.

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Sand blasting it would be easier. I hand sanded all the old paint off this boat, and brought it down to bare metal.

Wow, Kelly! what a great looking boat you have there. Don't think mine will ever look as good as yours. Any ideas about something to go around the complete top edge of the boat. Mine looks like it has something like PVC pipe around it and some of it is missing. Once I get it looking half as good as yours, what would it and a good Dixie Trailer be worth? Thanks for your reply. Ed Bell

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Really not a good idea to sandblast an aluminum boat. Use Aircraft Stipper from Autozone. Works really well. If repainting you must use Self Etching Primer to get a good bond. The link in my signature below has some good info on how to paint your boat inexpensively.

Woodonglass, what great ideas and post that I found in your signature link. Thanks! I bought some of that Aircraft Stripper a month or so ago for some other project. It is quite expensive and I really didn't get it to work that well. I am just a little hard headed so I will probably at least take a look at what my sand blaster will do on a little corner of my boat. Just recently got the blaster and am have some problems getting to to work just right. Thanks again for your post. Ed Bell

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I used pvc pipe, and spray painted that too. That is what the wiring goes through. I am not selling the boat, so it doesn't matter what it would go for in price. It is worth a whole lot more now, than when I got it. That is for sure.