Help me please. Overhauling my boat

[TheRookieFD]

I am in the middle of a renovation of my 84 Bass Tracker. I have two initial questions.
1. I would like to make storage under the front deck where the poured in foam is. I would love to have marine lids on them but the price is outrageous. I am considering just making my own lids with plywood and having them just flush mounted in. I know this will allow water to seep through. Does anyone know any ways of making a drip edge in a DIY compartment? Some way of shedding the water away from my equipment.
2. I am considering moving my seats (drivers and passenger) up to level with the rear deck. This would provide me a little more needed leg room. Has anyone had any experience with this or have any words of wisdom before I go to the trouble.

Please help.

Thank you for your time.

 

[TheRookieFD]

I will upload some photos as soon as possible.

 

[TheRookieFD]

 

[TheRookieFD]

This is a photo of the seats as they are now.

 

[gm280]

Well first things first TheRookieFD, :welcome: to iboats. Nice to have you aboard!

Not sure I totally understand everything you are asking about. Maybe post a few more pictures and description(s). As far as the storage under the front deck, you will have to remove enough foam to allow the storage area. And then build some type enclose to control the water from entering the storage area if you want it to stay dry. The seat question needs a bit more explanation and/or pictures of what you are wanting to do. JMHO!

 

[Frey0357]

If you wish to highten the seats you have 2 options IMHO, and those include building up the current seat rest that they are on now, or the more simple approach would include purchasing a 4" riser for boat seats and mounting it between the seat and the seat rest (that they are attached to now...). If you raise the seats too much assuming that they spin freely, they may rotate under power or while towing if no one is sitting in them (just something to think about). Also you may wish to remove one and grab a 2x4 and raise the seat temporarily to see how it would be. You may find that it is now uncomfortable when stretched out and reaching the steering wheel , but maybe not.....just some ideas to toss around.

Frey

 

[Frey0357]

Something like this...

Frey

 

[64osby]

A hatch that had a lip on the lower edge and an overlay top, maybe with a rubber seal would be fairly water proof.

 

[bonz_d]

Leg room, have the same issue on one that I'm working on now. In my case moving the seat base higher only makes it worse. What I have decided to do is to raise the height of the helm station by 2.5" and moving it forward 1" which in my case I can easily accomplish. I have already test fitted it to that position and it makes a world of difference.

Sealed water tight compartment should be doable. Maybe with some rubber weather stripping that is used around storm doors.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

I think Bonz has the right ideas

Leg room - By moving the console you avoid having to slouch to the steering wheel (comfort) and by raising less weight you effect stability less.

Sealed hatches - The weatherstip or this hatch tape is probably the cheapest ($1.00/ft or less?) option but if you want a better look and better durability you might want to think about something like this ($3.00/ft?)

 

[Rick Stephens]

I'd be tempted, if I was wanting seat height to be level with the back deck, to make storage boxes to mount the seats on instead of wasting space by using a riser. Never enough storage. Just like bonz_d said, you will need to raise the console - I raised the seats in my converted ski to fishing boat and really don't have the easy options you do to raise the dash since it is molded in. But your boat is made to be modified, I'd love that ease to adjust things!

When I decked over the bow seating on my boat, I installed the plastic waterproof hatches, several companies make them. They are a lot less expensive than the metal framed ones like in the stern deck. Not as nice to look at, but serviceable and strong.

Rick

 

[gm280]

Some really great ideas offered thus far. And I actually like some of the products listed as well. However, before I would lay out $3 bucks a foot for sealing material (figure up the perimeter and multiple the cost...ouch!), I would certainly look at the big box stores (Lowes, HD etc) for the usual garage door sealing material to see if you could make something like that work. A heck of a lot cheaper and easily obtained as well. But a lot can be accomplished in the initial design as well to keep water at bay. JMHO!

 

[TheRookieFD]

First of all, Thank you all for taking the time to help me out. Those are some excellent ideas. I hadn't even considered the problems I was going to cause by raising the seat and leaving the console as is. I will ponder this more before I commit to making a change.

I'd be tempted, if I was wanting seat height to be level with the back deck, to make storage boxes to mount the seats on instead of wasting space by using a riser. Never enough storage. Just like bonz_d said, you will need to raise the console - I raised the seats in my converted ski to fishing boat and really don't have the easy options you do to raise the dash since it is molded in. But your boat is made to be modified, I'd love that ease to adjust things!

When I decked over the bow seating on my boat, I installed the plastic waterproof hatches, several companies make them. They are a lot less expensive than the metal framed ones like in the stern deck. Not as nice to look at, but serviceable and strong.

Rick

Mr. Stephens,
If you get a chance and it isn't too much trouble I would greatly appreciate a link to those hatches you referred to. If I could find them in my price range It would solve my compartment problems all together.

Again, Thank you very much for all of your assistance.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I used a hatch of a different dimension, but same build as this Tempress hatch. You get a 5% discount for being a member of this forum from iboats.

http://www.iboats.com/Access-Slam-H...689171--session_id.523955989--view_id.1183130

 

[TheRookieFD]

Ok here is an update of progress. I'm going to try and attach a link to the story mode of Photobucket. If this doesn't work please let me know. I'm not very good at this stuff. Also, I don't know how to switch the order of photos to Oldest first so you have to go backwards to see the original boat.

Anyway. The carpet I got wasn't as good of a quality as I had hoped. It seems to pull apart pretty easy and when you bend it on a corner the fibers seem to separate and show the backing. Don't really like that but it was too late. Due to all the rain that we have been getting hardly any of the glue is setting up. It is all really sticky so I am keeping it in the shop until the weather changes.
As You can see I raised the seats and the console up 3.5 inches. I hope that this wasn't too much and it will be more comfortable. I had to add a board to the starboard side of the console to attach it back to the boat as the steering cable would not allow much movement.
I also made a place in the existing center storage area under the deck for my trolling motor batteries. I am going to eventually get two batteries and wire them in parallel to make them last longer. I also installed some charging ports on the starboard side of the boat to charge both batteries at the same time due to the difficulty of getting to the batteries. The batteries will be mounted to the board in that compartment which I left enough slack in the wiring to pull them out into the floor if I ever had to get to them. But I didn't want to have to do that each time I wanted to charge the batteries.
I did purchase some deck lids from Iboats like it was suggested by Mr. Stephens. They were a bit pricey still but affordable. I cut in to the existing foam and removed enough to make room for storage under the lids. I don't think you can have too much storage area and I gave up a little by putting my batteries in the center area.
I removed the Bass Tracker rear deck lid due to needing a flat surface to set folding chairs. This eliminated the ventilation for that compartment so I ordered two clamshell ventilators to go on the cowling port and starboard. Along with hinges for the new back deck and a latch. These haven't come in yet so I will install them next week.
I still haven't found anyone that is willing to make the rear two removable dry storage boxes for a cost that I can afford so I will be putting the one that I have that is still in fair condition back in the boat and boarding up the hole of the other until I can get one.
I also need to replace the fuse box. It is outdated in my opinion and I will be shopping around for a new one.

Please feel free to comment and criticize. I will take all as constructive to help me out. Thank you for your time.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Glad you added that it was newest first, I just scrolled the story clear to the right and started from there.

Looks like you did a very nice job giving it a face lift! :encouragement:

 

[TheRookieFD]

Awesome. Yea, it would suck if I had changed it from what it is to what it was. LOL. Thanks for the comment.

 

[bonz_d]

Rookie I personally think it looks good. Even the carpet. Way to go!

 

[gm280]

Seem to work for me. Any time you can customize any boat for better comfort or usability, it is a big deal in my book. :thumb:

 

[Rick Stephens]

That's great, it's coming along. Just a thought, for deck lids that don't have to be water proof and that can take a chair or walking on, you make your own. Pieces of plywood sealed up well, some carpeting and a lot of glue, and a stainless pianer hinge and you got a lid. Add a little strap to open it.