Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

[Amsoil Man]

Hey everyone, New to Iboats.com and just wanted to show off my new vessel. I am thrilled to finally be a boat owner (I previously owned a stand up jetski but its not the same). To start off I purchased the boat through craigslist. The guy I bought it from originally wanted $1500 but I lucked out and got it for $1000 including the rusty trailer and a depth finder . The patients paid off big time because I was about to pull the trigger a week eariler on a 15'6" Key Largo hull but I know I would have been dissapointed. Every minute I have off from work and school goes into this boat... I got the bug big time. I couldn't be any happier with my progress. This is definitely a budget build because if the money is not going into the boat it is funding college.

As off right now I have put $1903.64 into this boat project (This includes the boat and a new trailer).

Anyways, thanks everyone for looking. I look forward to hearing from everyone and any comments that would be helpful.

Thanks again,
-Ben.

The night I bought the boat:

 

[jspano]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

good luck!!!

post some pics

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

Dirtbag interior...

Thanks for the words of encouragement

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

The next morning I scrubbed the paint off of this thing.

The old trailer was way to long so I ended up caddy cornering it that night.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I got into the swing of things quickly and installed a tank and goodies.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

After the tank I started working on little things around deck. Lots of scuffs, dings, and scratches to fill and sand. I patched 5 holes with some epoxy puddy. It worked like magic on 4 of the holes. I didn't quite mix it well enough on the 5th hole and now I have to redo it again (Lots of mold and such in the conpartments).

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

Mom totally delivered this year with her gift (She gathered a bunch of stuff from her work and made a first aid kit. I added a few things). I ended up buying the dry storage box, and deck lines. I had an old fire extinguisher laying around so I added that in as well.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I noticed the hole I patched in the front compartment has a pinhole leak of brown water comming out of it so I ended up putting more epoxy puddy over it to stop the leak.

After I sealed the hole I started to polyurathane the inside.

 

[jspano]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

edit your profile to show where you ar located.
where in fla are you ... new tampa maybe??

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

To my supprise I took a peek in the compartment the next day and found water again inside... I was like what the heck... Another hole magically appeared.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I started removing items off of the boat to prep for paint and or to fix. First with the tansom to bow trolling motor mount. Then the pole holders.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

Since perfection is my middle name I home in on things that are poorly slapped together. Here is the refurbished tansom to bow trolling motor mount (New screws included). I sanded the whole thing and found out that is was infact fiberglass so I started icthing. Counter sunk the screw holes and lined everything back up straight as could be. I was happy with the end result.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

It started to get rather chilly around here in Florida so I turned this into winter built (Now it is heating up and I dont have a ice chest to sit on anymore ) Not thinking the weather was going to heat up any time soon I started planning for a new seat install.

Started sanding after I got the baseplate off.... It was really sealed on there good.

Got the dremel tool out for the bow of the boat.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I got really anal and started marking every imperfection I could find on the deck. Every nook and cranny was inspected and marked with a sharpie.

 

[pmillar]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

Looks like good progress. I hope none of the holes you plugged were designed to drain any of the compartments.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

The fiberglass glob on the front of the boat was making me lose sleep so I cleaned it up and preped it for re-bracing. You could imagine the retarded mess I found underneith. What in the heck was someone thinking putting that sliver of wood in there and expecting it to hold.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I started slapping puddy on the deck like a mad man after I used the dremel. The next day it was dry and I started to sand the entire deck. It turned out way better then I expected.

Desided to put some on here too.

And what do ya know - A leak again... What the heck is with these mystery leaks.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I called it a day today and finished up sanding. The sperrys had seen better days. I also started doing a little paint. Results where very nice.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

I have a bunch more things on my to do list including a new seat and a few other one off parts. I haven't ran into any huge snags yet so lets pray everything goes flawlessly. I should be updating my thread every couple days or so -- Keep posted.
Thanks again,
-Ben.

 

[Amsoil Man]

Re: Ben's - 1992 14' Ashcraft Budget Flats Boat Build.

Will do chief - I'm currently in Orlando Florida. (Winter Garden if you are a local )

Drain Smasmain - Haha. I'm going to hacth everything off when I order one. The holes that where there for drainage actually held water instead of draining it. So I ended up sealing them