BWR1953
Admiral
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
- Messages
- 6,320
Reference this thread for my decision parameters.
As mentioned in the thread above, I recently acquired 2 boats, an overpowered 15? and a 23? with no engine, neither of which is truly water-ready at this time.
I?ve decided to work on the small boat first because it gets me on the water faster and is also cheaper overall. And I do NOT want to be working on the big boat for many months with the little boat just sitting there unused. At least with the little one finished, I can still go fishing while I?m working on the larger boat. And that also gives me options on how to approach the big boat project.
The small boat is named Merlin and my thinking at this point is to get a motor on there and get it in the water so I can figure out what deck layout I want. Originally, I thought I?d just put an electric trolling motor on there and fish the canals. However, yesterday a friend offered me a working 9.9hp with an extended shaft for a very cheap price that came off his pontoon boat. It?s even set up for console steering. Sweet.
The little motor will be strictly a temporary thing and eventually I?ll put something bigger on there. Maybe even TWO somethings!
Last week I printed out the photos and was drawing deck layouts. I was thinking I?d set it up like a bass boat, but realized that since I?m going to gut it down to the stringers that I might have the option for a center console layout too. If the weather ever warms up, I?ll get outside and take some pix of what is under that carpeting.
And that brings me to where I am now. I need to get it on the water and see how it sits and feels. Also, it has those side shelf thingies in the hull and I?m not sure if they can be removed or not. If not, then there wouldn?t be room as a center console. Decisions, decisions?
For the larger boat, since the project will be delayed, I might be willing to go for the twins initially, rather than going with a single and then later refitting for twins. Not sure about that though. I'm just as impatient to see that boat on the water quickly too. And it's a cost thing as well.
I hope to get started on project Merlin in the next couple of weeks.
At the moment, I'm dealing with broken automotive issues.
-BWR
As mentioned in the thread above, I recently acquired 2 boats, an overpowered 15? and a 23? with no engine, neither of which is truly water-ready at this time.
I?ve decided to work on the small boat first because it gets me on the water faster and is also cheaper overall. And I do NOT want to be working on the big boat for many months with the little boat just sitting there unused. At least with the little one finished, I can still go fishing while I?m working on the larger boat. And that also gives me options on how to approach the big boat project.
The small boat is named Merlin and my thinking at this point is to get a motor on there and get it in the water so I can figure out what deck layout I want. Originally, I thought I?d just put an electric trolling motor on there and fish the canals. However, yesterday a friend offered me a working 9.9hp with an extended shaft for a very cheap price that came off his pontoon boat. It?s even set up for console steering. Sweet.
The little motor will be strictly a temporary thing and eventually I?ll put something bigger on there. Maybe even TWO somethings!
Last week I printed out the photos and was drawing deck layouts. I was thinking I?d set it up like a bass boat, but realized that since I?m going to gut it down to the stringers that I might have the option for a center console layout too. If the weather ever warms up, I?ll get outside and take some pix of what is under that carpeting.
And that brings me to where I am now. I need to get it on the water and see how it sits and feels. Also, it has those side shelf thingies in the hull and I?m not sure if they can be removed or not. If not, then there wouldn?t be room as a center console. Decisions, decisions?
For the larger boat, since the project will be delayed, I might be willing to go for the twins initially, rather than going with a single and then later refitting for twins. Not sure about that though. I'm just as impatient to see that boat on the water quickly too. And it's a cost thing as well.
I hope to get started on project Merlin in the next couple of weeks.
At the moment, I'm dealing with broken automotive issues.
-BWR
