1985 18' 1710 Bass Tracker OVERHAUL ( Dedicated to my Grandpa! )

[Warbringer]

Hello everyone of Iboats the names War! I have been lurking the forums for a month or so now, I would like to share my progress, and setbacks of this overhaul for your viewing pleasure!

In November my grandpa passed of lung, and bone cancer. He was the best fisherman I ever knew, and one of the greatest men on earth. He had a 20+' boat with a 250hp motor of his own that he sold to my uncle a few months before he passed, to re leave my grandma of the dept, and pain of having to get rid of it. I offered to buy it, but he told me to look form something a little smaller, and a lot easier on gas. Because it just wasn't fun to take out. He said to get a tracker.

After he passed I never wanted to fish so bad in my life. I soon found myself looking on Craigslist for that boat he described. It didn't take me log to find one that needed some love about 160 miles away. My fiance' 100% supportive asked when are we going. We left about 2 weeks later, when we got there I handed the man 350 bucks, he handed me the title already signed, and I hitched up the boat a took it home.

I dedicate this build/boat to my Grandpa Kenneth Pugh, one of the greatest man/fisherman I ever knew.

 

[Warbringer]

Re: 1985 18' 1710 Bass Tracker OVERHAUL ( Dedicated to my Grandpa! )

Well I got to go pick up a new toy today for the boat!

It says 135 but its really a 1977 140hp Evinrude, and it runs like a champion only paid 500 bucks for it. Came with a 10 gallon tank all the steering components, and power tilt and trim.

I also striped all the carpet and took all the locker doors off the boat along with the rub rail getting ready to pull the cap hopefully after work tomorrow.




You prolly can't tell but this is the drain closest to the captains chair. The whole cavity below the deck is full of expansive foam.... I am assuming the previous owner decided it would be a good idea to dumb a bunch of foam down there to stop or slow a leak. :facepalm:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1985 18' 1710 Bass Tracker OVERHAUL ( Dedicated to my Grandpa! )

When attempting to pop the cap on this boat you may find that it has been glued with resin at various points around the perimeter and you will need to cut it free. A Multi-Tool works well for this. At the transom this is especially true. It will probably be very well resined into one sold piece and you will need to cut either from the bottom up or top down, along the interior edge of the transom all the way through the cap to get it free. You can patch it when you go back on. There a lot of builds of similar style boats here on the forum so do some searching and you'll find a lot of helpful threads with pics and descriptions to help you with your restoration. We'll be here to help, so ask your questions and post your pics.:joyous:

 

[Warbringer]

Re: 1985 18' 1710 Bass Tracker OVERHAUL ( Dedicated to my Grandpa! )

When attempting to pop the cap on this boat you may find that it has been glued with resin at various points around the perimeter and you will need to cut it free. A Multi-Tool works well for this. At the transom this is especially true. It will probably be very well resined into one sold piece and you will need to cut either from the bottom up or top down, along the interior edge of the transom all the way through the cap to get it free. You can patch it when you go back on. There a lot of builds of similar style boats here on the forum so do some searching and you'll find a lot of helpful threads with pics and descriptions to help you with your restoration. We'll be here to help, so ask your questions and post your pics.:joyous:

You the man WoG, and thank you! I was just about to ask about this because... Well that is exactly what is up on the transom where the cap meats. So much resin that I'm going to have to cut it.

Where the transom, resin, and the cap meet.

 

[Warbringer]

Re: 1985 18' 1710 Bass Tracker OVERHAUL ( Dedicated to my Grandpa! )

Haha! An update ish... I have been waiting on my full face respirator to come in from ebay so I can get this cap off. So in the mean time I built a motor stand.

Drum roll please!
TA DA!

As you can see its clean under the cap. Starts right up no problem.

 

[noahblake10]

Love this man, got any more pics?