18' Sportster

[Pugetsound]

Re: 18' Sportster

Just put glovet on my 16 ss rebuild. Have a half a can left over and I did coat the devel over all the rivits. Went over it twice. Ready to cut wood its only been 2 months since I started.

 

[Backwaters]

Re: 18' Sportster

I bought a used sewing machine a week ago and decided to make a new bow cover. The old cover had a small rip in it and was faded. Also, it shrunk so it was difficult to fasten all the way on toward the windshield. I put the cover on today. It is a good snug fit and it is nice to keep the water out of the bow area. Also, 4 year old likes to play underneath the cover. Sewing a straight stich is very difficult. I can appreciate the canvas people and how well the do their jobs. A new cover was quoted at about $180 plus tax. I completed mine for about $80. Not sure if it was worth it, given the time it took to make but it was a great learing experience.

 

[Backwaters2]

Re: 18' Sportster

Well the winter projects are coming to an end, (restored a 1987 Arctic Cat Super Jag) and with the warm mild winter my thoughts are back on boating. I am considering selling my boat (1977 Sportster Model) and replacing it with another project boat. I am looking for a 14' aluminum boat, open bow that has wide gunwhale sides. I recall from the 80's seeing many of these in several older boat yards. I attached an internet photo of the kind of boat I'm talking about. Any leads would be great. I would do a restore on it and I would convert it over to a straight tiller for the outboard. Basically, the ideal boat I'm thinking about would be a 14' Super Sport model, but I'm not sure if they made one or not.

 

[Backwaters2]

Re: 18' Sportster

After researching hundreds of boats on the internet, this forum, and craigslist, the boat I was looking for was similar to the Starcraft Mariner 16' or the 15' Jetstar. The Mariner hulls seem a litttle small over the Jetstars but the Jetstar would take a lot of work and this year I really would rather be on the water than in the garage. Also the wife and family do not want me to sell the Sportster they seem to like it as a family boat, but I want more of a fishing machine type boat. So what I am considering is modifying the Sportster to fit both needs. I'll come up with a plan and I'm thinking that adding a casting platform in the front and removing the lounge seats might be just the right thing.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 18' Sportster

My setup works pretty well for fishing http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/?start=all

 

[Backwaters2]

Re: 18' Sportster

Zombe,

How did you support your casting platform to your side storage area. Is it some sort of j channel? This is exactly my next goal for the boat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 18' Sportster

It's just angle.