CATransplant
Admiral
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2005
- Messages
- 6,319
I've mentioned some of this in other threads, but thought I'd show how I set up my little 12' aluminum boat for fishing. It's ugly, I know, but I don't care about that. There may be ideas you can use. A lot was for weight distribution, and the boat planes with its 6hp outboard at around 14-15 mph with just me (190 lb) in the boat.
Here's an overall view.
A small platform moves the rear seat forward to get my weight up a little. Shelves from 1x8 boards fit on the starboard side between the bench seats. They're contoured to the side of the boat. Tackle box, vertical rod holder, and fuel tank go on these shelves. It makes me fish off the port side mostly, but that's OK. Cheap rod holders on both sides for trolling or whatever.
Getting the fuel tank forward helps. Notice the 2x2 base, which holds the tank in position, just forward of the center seat. It's a fairly tight fit.
This is a mailbox, screwed to the transom board. It sheds water and is full of things like a first aid kid, spare spark plugs and small tools, sunscreen, and the like. Very handy and easy to access.
Trolling motor battery goes in this box on this platform right behind the front seat. The platform has two legs that match the boat contour, and is screwed to the crossrib, with the box screwed to the platform. A jumper cable serves as power transmission back to the trolling motor. Forty pounds moved to the front of the boat really helps with weight distribution.
Here's an overall view.
A small platform moves the rear seat forward to get my weight up a little. Shelves from 1x8 boards fit on the starboard side between the bench seats. They're contoured to the side of the boat. Tackle box, vertical rod holder, and fuel tank go on these shelves. It makes me fish off the port side mostly, but that's OK. Cheap rod holders on both sides for trolling or whatever.
Getting the fuel tank forward helps. Notice the 2x2 base, which holds the tank in position, just forward of the center seat. It's a fairly tight fit.
This is a mailbox, screwed to the transom board. It sheds water and is full of things like a first aid kid, spare spark plugs and small tools, sunscreen, and the like. Very handy and easy to access.
Trolling motor battery goes in this box on this platform right behind the front seat. The platform has two legs that match the boat contour, and is screwed to the crossrib, with the box screwed to the platform. A jumper cable serves as power transmission back to the trolling motor. Forty pounds moved to the front of the boat really helps with weight distribution.