Console

[poolshark38759]

i would like to add a steering console (with sterring wheel) to a boat. what is the best way to do this?? i have thought about makin it out of wood.. is this a good idea.. i would rather have one out of aluminum but dont have anyone to weld it up or into boat. i would like to put a live well in front of it.. it will be on a 14ft. john boat.<br /><br />i have also thought about adding stick steer to it and a seat up front and place the livewell and storage there..<br /><br />which idea do yall think is better??

 

[Pogo123]

Re: Console

I've built consoles for several boats with plywood over a light frame and covered in fiberglas for under $200, but you can also find used consoles floating around for sometimes under $100. Consoles built for the smaller Carolina Skiffs and Boston Whalers are nice looking and functional units.<br /><br />I also have two 14' 1980 Polar Crafts, and I think the floor plans are probably similar, but I don't know if you have the two LARGE flotation boxes mounted about 3 feet forward of the aft seat and attached to each side.<br /><br />I removed them from mine which gave me plenty of room to mount a console over two adjoining ribs and I went with wood.<br /><br />I could have made it with aluminum, but the cost alone ruled that out, not to mention the tedious work involved. I don't mind welding aluminum, but that's a lot of thin sheet welding that I preferred to do without.<br /><br />My suggestion would be to deck the area supporting the console (if you haven't already) with 1/2" Marine plywood, build a light wood frame with 1 X 1 or 1 1/2". Screw the 1/4 ply panels to that and, when structurally complete, glas over the entire unit. <br /><br />Or ... shop for a used one.<br /><br />One of my boats came with a livewell between those two flotation chambers I mentioned which I didn't like as it (and the flotation chambers) required me to step over a very wide section to get to the bow. But, it also gave me factory installed through hull fittings with brass plugs. <br /><br />I removed the factory aluminum live well and built my own further forward, again, with 1/4" glassed plywood. I then ran the plumbing to the factory inlet/outlet fittings under the floor that I had installed. You could easily build your live well on the front wall of your planned console or make it separately and just locate it against the front console wall, which I would recommend in the name of future maintenance.<br /><br />Hope this helps some and ... good luck.<br /><br />BTW ... A long time ago, I lived in Meridian for a few years and really enjoyed all the Bass and Cat fishing in Ms. <br /><br />Great people and a super place to fish.

 

[mikemerrill50]

Re: Console

jasonj converted his boat to center console. his site is pretty interesting:<br /> http://70silverline.250free.com/Skankybeast.html <br /><br />he's a pretty helpful guy, and i'm sure he'll be poppin into this thread soon.

 

[poolshark38759]

Re: Console

thanks. i did purchase a book on converting john-boats but havent had a chance to read thru it..

 

[crab bait]

Re: Console

NEVER REMOVE ANY FLOATATION..

 

[poolshark38759]

Re: Console

actually on the boat i plan to "add on" i would not have to remove any thing from the boat.. it has a front deck and a rear bench.. that is why i like this boat.. main thing i am doing is exteneding front deck with storage and rear bench with livewell.. and maybe add a seat for stick steer set-up up front.. and replacing the floor with a new one..

 

[leebo95]

Re: Console

This thread mirrors the one I started today with no response yet. I am glad I looked at it.<br />POGO thanks for the info. I take it that the 1/4 ply worked out ok? Did you round the endges?<br />Lee

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Console

If you go with stick steering you'll eliminate the need for a console. I looked at this for a previous boat but it was a way low-dollar project so I couldn't justify the expense. I learned that the materials are commercially available and I think it makes a lot of sense when you're talking about a relatively small boat where you don't want to give up space to a console. <br /><br />Check out the tracker boat website - they're among several manufacturers who still offer stick steer boats. You'll find that most are installed in john boats like yours. <br /><br />When I was a kid we had friends of the family with a boat with stick steering. It was a relatively small fiberglass tri-hull set up for fishing. Without a steering console there was more usable interior space. You have the benefits of tiller steering while still being able to run the boat from a forward position.

 

[poolshark38759]

Re: Console

yeah... system i am going to install is like the old style with cable and pulleys.. a boat i had previous had it in it and worked great.. so for my boat i will put in a center seat stoarage box or may vix it so i can make my rear deck larger and add a livewell/storage to it with the stick steer set-up in the back.

 

[Pogo123]

Re: Console

Yes, Leebo95, I did round and smooth the wood edges before glassing, but just enough to remove the sharp corners. The glassing process provided all the "rounding" necessary.<br /><br />Once glassed, you could drive a truck over the 1/4" ply console without hurting it, plus, this is not a high stress component. 1/4" is plenty.<br /><br />I do agree with Terry, though and have tried to recommend stick steering for most small boats in the 12 to 16 foot range. For a small boat, you give up a lot of open deck space to have a console and for a fisherman that's less than desireable, in my opinion ... but ... consoles do look nice.