Restoring my old bass boat

[Evinbuck]

Recently new member however I've lurked for quite awhile getting great tips from this forum as I decided it was time to re-do my old BassKit. I bought and built this bass boat kit in 1978. Used it many times over 5-7 years and then it sat in storage for many, many years. Rodents made it their home and filled the hull with walnuts, chewed most of the wiring, and ate some carpet. I had always pulled the plugs, sprayed storage oil and turned the prop by hand so the motor is fine other than cleaning carbs. Otherwise, I had to completely rewire, redo lots of things, removed the boat from the trailer and turn it into bunk from old flattened rollers. The trailer was a rusted hulk and took hours of grinding and stripping. Just got it done in time to put it away for the winter......lol! Oh well, when spring comes, I'm ready. I surely enjoy this forum and the tons of helpful info!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

Let me get this straight: You built this boat from a kit?? Very nice!

 

[Evinbuck]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

Yes, this boat is a kit. Hand laid glass hull and hundreds of components. I cut plywood ribs and glassed a plywood floor, assembled the upper deck to the hull. Had to wire it, install whatever gauges I wanted, steering components.....basically putting it all together from scratch and installing the engine. Even had to assemble the trailer. Thanks for the compliment. Doing it yourself gets you totally familiar with everything in it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

Nice job ,she looks brand new!

I like doing things myself but I don't know that I would tackle a hull, wow.

 

[mrlassi1]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

She looks great. I bet she moves fast too with that 85 Evinrude. That's one of the cleanest OMC V4s I've seen. Considering your history with this rig the restoration was probably very satisfying. Nice work!

 

[blifsey]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

Looks awesome! Excellent job both times!

 

[Evinbuck]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

Thanks all. The hull is hand laid glass but hand laid roving from the factory in lieu of sprayed, chopped glass. I can lay glass but did not tackle something this big. The hull and upper deck were separate requiring I build the rib and floor before assembly. The fact it is hand laid makes this 17-1/2 footer pretty fast with the 85. Especially out of the hole. The entire boat without the engine weighs in about 900lbs. At this weight a little caution is required at top speed on rough water. Can't wait til spring.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Restoring my old bass boat

Sweet boat. That Evinrude looks showroom.