Rowboat Mods...

[cbavier]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

You guys are awesome! Keep the info coming!

I plan on using probably 5/8" or 3/4" plywood (not pressure treated because of hardware corrosion problems???) and sealing the top surface with some rubber torch-down roofing material (because I have it available for free) and then carpeting it. I may put a very small bow cover on it to mount a trolling motor on and make a casting deck out of the front seat area with like a glovebox storage area between the two.

I have the wiring in mind of how I want to do it and may be going to a two battery set up mounted mid-ship.

JCF350, Is your RV at the Orange Lake near me in NY or down in Fla?

Millwood, Sound like I want your old boat! What do ya think of this pic?

Keep us posted with some pictures of your project as you move along.

 

[F_I_Sherman]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

It will be a few days before I show any progress with the boat as I am dealing with trailer issues. I had sold my 12'er but kept the trailer that it was on because I thought that it was plenty long to carry my new to me 14'er. Well, I was wrong and consequently am adding 3' to the tongue length of the trailer. I went to the local metal supplier and bought a new box tube to make the trailer longer. The trailer is all torn apart now and I have to drill and paint the new steel so that'll keep me busy for the next couple of days if the weather co-operates. Damn that trailer is going to be long! But I'm told that it will be nice to have a little "longer reach" when launching from some of the shallow places that I go.

Thanks all for the suggestions. Now I have a plan!

 

[cbavier]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

It will be a few days before I show any progress with the boat as I am dealing with trailer issues. I had sold my 12'er but kept the trailer that it was on because I thought that it was plenty long to carry my new to me 14'er. Well, I was wrong and consequently am adding 3' to the tongue length of the trailer. I went to the local metal supplier and bought a new box tube to make the trailer longer. The trailer is all torn apart now and I have to drill and paint the new steel so that'll keep me busy for the next couple of days if the weather co-operates. Damn that trailer is going to be long! But I'm told that it will be nice to have a little "longer reach" when launching from some of the shallow places that I go.

Thanks all for the suggestions. Now I have a plan!

You won't regret the longer trailer. EVER!

 

[F_I_Sherman]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

What about seating guys? I'd like to have the option of using short (say 6"-9") pedestals or no pedestal at all and would like them to lock in so that I can even trailer the boat with the seats in place. Is there such a way to do this?

 

[JCF350]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

JCF350, Is your RV at the Orange Lake near me in NY or down in Fla?

It be here in sunny (past couple days rainy) FLA.

Adding pedestal seats would depend on how strong your existing seats are as to whether or not you can just add the pedestal mounts. But since your going to be adding and modifying anyway you can always make sure they are.

 

[millwood]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

That is a nice looking Bass Sherman. Hope to get a few of them around here in a month or so.

You may want to consider a little longer seat pedestal for the front of that boat if you are going to place a deck on it. I like to sit up farther so I can see what is going on in the water. With the right sunglasses and angle on the water You can see quite a ways off. My seats also lock in one position so they do not fly around when traveling. This is similar to what I have on my boat.

http://www.iboats.com/Swivl_Eze_Sna...07593967--**********.790179582--view_id.38022

Believe it or not, I find myself standing more and more in the front rather than sitting. Just like to be ready for the action.

 

[F_I_Sherman]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

I want to go with the shorter pedestals where I am mounting seats on the original benches.

 

[BF]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

Hiya,

Check out this old thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=194224

In there it has what I used on top of the bench seats... It's a heavy plastic clip thing that I attached with stainless steel screws. You mount a standard swivel under a folding seat, and then slide the swivel into the base. Easy to remove (no tools) to bring the seat in, out of the weather. It could also be mounted onto a tube extension (which come in assorted lengths), which would also allow quick removal of the seat in the bow.

I've also bought them at wallyworld around here... I boats didn't carry them last time I checked.

Good luck.

 

[F_I_Sherman]

Re: Rowboat Mods...

Well, progress has been slow until lately but I have been working on it literally all weekend (patient wife who likes to fish) long. My trailer originally had my 2004 Meyer 12' Laker and wanted to trade up in size so I sold the Meyer and bought the 14' Starcraft thinking that the trailer would be plenty long since I had extra room with the old boat. Well, wrong on that thought! In the past couple of weeks I have rebuilt the trailer with a brand new 3' longer tougue, sanded and painted the bottom of the boat green (boy I sure would like to slap the boneheads who painted this thing without doing any prep!), designed and built pedestal mount flanges, installed short pedestals, swivels, quick release seats and came up with a simple, cheap and effective "insurance" mod to make sure that the seats don't accidently pop out of the quick release mount while travelling down the road like I have read about by adding a mini bungee cord.

Alot older than my "old boat" and showing it's years a little here and there but I am looking foward to adding a second battery, an on-board charger, a bow mounted trolling motor (which I have to build some sort of deck mod to install it on), some lights and possibly a semi mounted cooler/live well set-up.

For now it's ready for the water and I can't wait!!!