Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

[sutor623]

I have an '86 starcraft fishmaster. Didnt really have much room for more than one other person. I use the boat primarily for fishing, so I did not want to buy a Super Sport. The second console takes up too much room, and I would like a windshield, but I sometimes use this boat for bass fishing, so a windshield would get in my way. I also need the front casting deck for the majority of fishing that I do. Here is what I have fabricated. Took lots of time and innovation. Hope you guys can appreciate it!

Here is a view of the boat in "fishmode"

Here you can see the casting deck and the "universal" base after paint. The one with the "U" shape is actually screwed to the boat and is not detachable. The casting deck sets on top of it.

Next I had to custom make some backing for the front seats. I had a vision of a bowrider that I could instantly remove the "lady parts" off of and put back on the casting deck. Talk about made from scratch......

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

More pics of seats pre-upholstered.

I did NOT use a very strong sewing machine, so unfortunately I could not top stitch the seams. They have only a one stitched seam. The seams feel very strong and came together nicely. I am more of a motor guy, so doing upholstery was a challenge. I practiced many, many seams before going into the main peices.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I like this...

Can we see a pic with the casting deck off?

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Next up was the frames for the unsupported parts of the seats. What is lightweight and resists rust? I ordered 50' of aluminum L channel. I measured, cut drilled and riveted the frames. It took a lot of time.

Only issue was when it was all riveted together, it was way more wobbly then I expected. I did not want the seats to collapse. So I brought them both up to the local welder and had him tack the seams. $30 well spent!

Obviously there was more work to be done, because this is surely unsightly!

So I added a padded backrest, and contact cemented/pop riveted some carped onto the frames.

And left carpet flaps on the sides for storage.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I see I got too anxious...looks real nice..

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

The bases are screwed to the seats, and laid onto the floor. I put in some pins into the wood BEFORE I laid the foam on the seats, and epoxied them. These pins will slip into the main"U" base to keep the seats tight. Then I will slip cotter pins into them to hold everything down tightly. I made these on both seats and the casting deck.

And here we are! Totally changeable from girls in bikini's to fish guts!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I sense that you're forced into the "and/or ski" mode by a dominating family member... I grieve for you.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I see I got too anxious...looks real nice..

Thanks Trooper! I have no room for a 2nd boat and no desire to upkeep one. I had to make this work. Takes me about 5 minutes extra to swap seats in and unclamp bow mount motor.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I sense that you're forced into the "and/or ski" mode by a dominating family member... I grieve for you.

Nah I like bringing couples with us to just cruise around and hand out in the coves. Gotta have room for the ladies up front. My buddy and I typically fish off the back with access to the fishfinder and transom mount troller, while the wives sit up front, listen to music and catch some sun. Works great!

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Man! Almost lost one of my front seats at 60MPH yesterday because I forgot to cotter pin them down for the ride. What a dummy.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Good job, I like it!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I like it! Looks very functional and easy to switch back-forth.

Are you going to have people (bikini clad) up front while the boat is under power? If yes you should install a grab bar/hand rail to each gunnel. You'll have to check your state's regulations, but out here there must be grab bars if people are sitting in the bow while under power.

 

[glnbnz]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Very cool conversion...this is similar to what I would like to do with my boat. I am going to save that for the fall/winter project. But thanks for the aluminum "L" channel idea. I think that it would be better to frame my idea with that instead of wood.

I am with you 1 boat to keep up with is enough!!

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Good job, I like it!

I like it! Looks very functional and easy to switch back-forth.

Are you going to have people (bikini clad) up front while the boat is under power? If yes you should install a grab bar/hand rail to each gunnel. You'll have to check your state's regulations, but out here there must be grab bars if people are sitting in the bow while under power.

Very cool conversion...this is similar to what I would like to do with my boat. I am going to save that for the fall/winter project. But thanks for the aluminum "L" channel idea. I think that it would be better to frame my idea with that instead of wood.

I am with you 1 boat to keep up with is enough!!

Thanks guys, I am very happy with it. Dan, where would I find such regulations? And thanks for pointing that out I may have to look into that.

And Glenn, just remember that the cutting, riveting idea is great, but you will still have to get welded or it will be rickity. I would not want to see what those braces would cost to have fabricated!! Just the seat upholstery would have cost around $400 had I not done it on my own.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Looks great sutor! I love anything DIY, especially when they look that good. Getting two boats for the price of one ain't bad either. Oh, and you got some sewing skills for sure. Leave it to a fellow guitar picker to come up with all the cool ideas

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

where would I find such regulations? And thanks for pointing that out I may have to look into that.

I'm not sure, department of wildlife does it out her. Or at least they will give you grief if they see someone up in the bow, if the boat is under power and there are no grab rails. We got a warning coasting into the launch ramp dock once and I've seen other's having a chat with the DOW officer about it....

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Looks great sutor! I love anything DIY, especially when they look that good. Getting two boats for the price of one ain't bad either. Oh, and you got some sewing skills for sure. Leave it to a fellow guitar picker to come up with all the cool ideas

Thanks man. And my guitar fingers are natural thimbles.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

I'm not sure, department of wildlife does it out her. Or at least they will give you grief if they see someone up in the bow, if the boat is under power and there are no grab rails. We got a warning coasting into the launch ramp dock once and I've seen other's having a chat with the DOW officer about it....

Gotcha. Well I am dealing with porpoising right now, so it is a little cruel to stuff the girls up there while porpoising at 32MPH!!! Just kidding, it only hops around when there is no weight up front.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Wife enjoying new seats.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Fish OR ski, not fish AND ski. You gotta check this out!

Thought I'd update. About to slap on a monn kota riptide and saving up for the new ilink!!!