My 17' Aluma-weld restoration

[NolaZach]

Okay I am starting off with a pretty solid boat. It is a powder blue 17' jon boat.

I got the hull and trailer from Craigslist for $300 a little while back and the motor last week off ebay. The motor is a 1975 70 hp Evinrude, I had to drive all the way to Oklahoma to get it, but its a beauty. I paid $500 for it but it was re-built in 1999 and had a new lower end put on last year. The motor is flawless and the tilt and trim are great as well. So all my attention will go towards the boat.


I wanted to post here and keep this thread to update what I am doing and then maybe show it as a completed project within the next month or so.

When I got the boat it had a rotten wooden deck, so I have removed all the wood. The only damage on the boat is a crack in the railing on the port side. I wouldn't even notice it if it didn't vibrate under spreed. I took the boat out for the first time last weekend. I had no problems, and it rides and planes well. I have three props, but am not at the point of testing them yet.

At the Bonet Carre Spillway

this is the front section. I was thinking of cutting into it and mounting batteries here. I need some weight to hold the front down.

This is the middle storage area, I am thinking of putting a bench seat here and then having the middle seat fold up so I can use this storage space.

This is the "command center" it consists of an old car "grant" steering wheel a tach, and a mount for a depthfinder I don't have. Whoever had the boat before me mounted the sonar in the middle of the boat, glued to the floor.

I would like to put in a stand-up center console, but if I can't I may just expand on the current console. Its just I am not a light person and with the console where it is the boat leans and tilts towards that corner when I am alone in the boat.

This is the transom area. At present I have a six gallon tank. I plan on putting in a ten gallon and a six gallon reserve, maybe two 10's. I would like to cover this area and relocate the battery. The battery in the picture is out of my truck, but it is a marine battery, just too big.

I am planning on something along the lines of a bass boat, with a pleasure boat twist. Right now it fishes two with no problem. I want it to be able to seat four, which it has room for. I want to build a long front trolling deck and a rear fishing deck. I plan on having two buckets in the back and adding in a live-well. There are some areas on the boat that seem like nothing more than air pockets. If and when I cut into them I plan on filling the dead space with foam so I don't lose too much buoncy.

I need to paint the boat and i am thinking of going a hunter green. I also want to have the bottom and inside sides of the boat sprayed with a rhino-lining type material. It shouldn't cost me all that much and I have a thousand dollar budget, so i should have the boat back in the water in a month or so.

if anyone else here has done a restoration on a flat boat or has any suggestions or advice, I am all ears.

I want to build the best shallow water fishing boat that I can build. I am starting with a good base.

I mainly need

Paint
Flooring
Carpet
Wiring
live well
depth finder
seats
console
lights
reel mounts
gauges
radio
stereo and speakers



I would also like to set it up to pull tubes.

I am taking it off the trailer today. I have to run to Tennessee this weekend, but I hope to start painting Tuesday.

wish me luck.

 

[daydreamer1252]

Re: My 17' Aluma-weld restoration

Looks like a plan!
Do remember though that all of the weight of all of the additions will reduce the amount of weight left over for people.
It looks like you'll have fun on the bayou!!

 

[NolaZach]

Re: My 17' Aluma-weld restoration

The boat does nearly forty as is. I can sacrifice speed for a deck and live well.

I do wonder how it will be when its loaded down, regardless it should be a good trout and redfish boat.

 

[NolaZach]

Re: My 17' Aluma-weld restoration

Okay so today I got the boat off the trailer. Thats about it, I have to bring some things to my mom in Nashville, so I can't work on my boat until Tuesday at the earliest.

Trailer:
I need to change the bunks, rollers, wheels and tires and then add guides.

This is it up on blocks and wood. I will probably build some stands for the boat before I paint it, but I may not.
Mainly I want to strip the paint and then apply a new self-etching primer, and then paint it. I haven't decided what color to go yet. Though I am toying with the idea of putting rhino lining uder the boat so it gives me a little protection when beaching.
I have a lot of work, but most of it should be pretty easy. Its all basiclly cosmetic work. I hope to be done in a month, six weeks at the latest.

Again any pointer or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I want to have a good solid trout/redfish boat. Basicly I envision the interior of a bass boat, with some pleasure seating. I want to go all out on the electronics and I want the boat to look good, which most Jon boats don't.