Mark_VTfisherman
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,489
OK - so just in case anyone is like me and wants to see, I just took some (grainy) pictures of my Niagara on my phone. I have posted in the MFG section occasionally and have been asked for photos of my layout but have neglected to post any. Until now...
Looks like just another Niagara:
But it isn't. Modifications include the 1/4" aluminum strip epoxied to the prow. This allows me to land on concrete boat ramps, beach into gravel, and otherwise use my boat without the annual 'glass work to the prow from wear. Wicked good idea
The interior has been changed as well:
Pedestal seats leave lots of foot room, and the extra height gives a clear view of the water, although ducking down while WOT is sometimes needed to stay out of the wind and spray- your head may be above the windshield if you are taller. The other advantage to sitting up at standard chairmaker's height is no cramped legs!
You can almost see the fuel tank strapped safely under the bow deck.
Behind the two forward seats along the gunnels two dry lockers reside. They double as settee seats and are a testament to the quality of 3M 5200! They are waterproof with a water-shedding drip edge on the tops. Rain stays out and gear stays in with keyed-alike locks.
This view to the rear shows how much floor space I have managed to get out of such a small boat. The cooler doubles as a rear seat, and both tackle boxes and two batteries are tidily out of the way.
New brass ferules are epoxied and 5200-ed in place, the '85 suzuki 40HP is lighter than the OEM Johnson with more power (and it has an 8amp alternator!) The weight savings make the added trolling motor and battery less of an impact, and with the fuel under the bow, the transom is not too heavy.
One "little" thing I did which makes such a big difference to waterproofing of the boat is to plug all the factory seat attachment holes in the floor. I used 5200 and hardware store plastic plugs. 8 years and still going. Nothing gets into the underhull, nothing comes out, and they are smooth underfoot when shoeless. A little thing but it makes a huge difference to appearance and keeps the underhull "moisture chamber" dry even in rain.
I have wired the accessories into a single switch. All power can be cut by throwing a single switch- even the lights. The motor is on it's own factory cabling and key switch. The accessories include a basic VHF, a 480 pixel sonar, a 640-pixel GPS, and a 12V socket.
Trailer is a 1964 Sea King. Probably the whole package was bought through Montgomery Wards- don't know.
Sorry for the grainy photos and sorry if they are oversized. They shouldn't be but it just occurred to me I did not check them.
Keep it up on the old MFGs. I wonder why another boat mfg. hasn't come out with something so durable and useful that it would have the draw of these old corvette-inspired molded boats.
I use mine for fishing, camping, and just enjoying the water. Usually while fishing. I have been on it all day for 12 hours before in 90 degree weather and have had to thaw out the steering cable at 16 degrees.
Here's something from a good day fishing on Champlain. Lots of fish that day:
Mark
Looks like just another Niagara:
But it isn't. Modifications include the 1/4" aluminum strip epoxied to the prow. This allows me to land on concrete boat ramps, beach into gravel, and otherwise use my boat without the annual 'glass work to the prow from wear. Wicked good idea
The interior has been changed as well:
Pedestal seats leave lots of foot room, and the extra height gives a clear view of the water, although ducking down while WOT is sometimes needed to stay out of the wind and spray- your head may be above the windshield if you are taller. The other advantage to sitting up at standard chairmaker's height is no cramped legs!
You can almost see the fuel tank strapped safely under the bow deck.
Behind the two forward seats along the gunnels two dry lockers reside. They double as settee seats and are a testament to the quality of 3M 5200! They are waterproof with a water-shedding drip edge on the tops. Rain stays out and gear stays in with keyed-alike locks.
This view to the rear shows how much floor space I have managed to get out of such a small boat. The cooler doubles as a rear seat, and both tackle boxes and two batteries are tidily out of the way.
New brass ferules are epoxied and 5200-ed in place, the '85 suzuki 40HP is lighter than the OEM Johnson with more power (and it has an 8amp alternator!) The weight savings make the added trolling motor and battery less of an impact, and with the fuel under the bow, the transom is not too heavy.
One "little" thing I did which makes such a big difference to waterproofing of the boat is to plug all the factory seat attachment holes in the floor. I used 5200 and hardware store plastic plugs. 8 years and still going. Nothing gets into the underhull, nothing comes out, and they are smooth underfoot when shoeless. A little thing but it makes a huge difference to appearance and keeps the underhull "moisture chamber" dry even in rain.
I have wired the accessories into a single switch. All power can be cut by throwing a single switch- even the lights. The motor is on it's own factory cabling and key switch. The accessories include a basic VHF, a 480 pixel sonar, a 640-pixel GPS, and a 12V socket.
Trailer is a 1964 Sea King. Probably the whole package was bought through Montgomery Wards- don't know.
Sorry for the grainy photos and sorry if they are oversized. They shouldn't be but it just occurred to me I did not check them.
Keep it up on the old MFGs. I wonder why another boat mfg. hasn't come out with something so durable and useful that it would have the draw of these old corvette-inspired molded boats.
I use mine for fishing, camping, and just enjoying the water. Usually while fishing. I have been on it all day for 12 hours before in 90 degree weather and have had to thaw out the steering cable at 16 degrees.
Here's something from a good day fishing on Champlain. Lots of fish that day:
Mark
