I've read tons of this sites forums but never been a member! So I'm new to the posting world.
I have a 1959 Starcraft 16' JET model (from the tag). It orriginally had a dash, windshield, and merc super thunderbolt 400. The front was covered more like a run-a-bout, and had two bench seats. I've decided to take the boat in a different direction as I do not ski and have no kids. The boat has actually been in the family since new! (so it will be interesting what some family thinks when done.)
After being out on the lake a couple times on it (before cutting it up) it was pretty easy to see that it was not a fishing boat, and I am in fact a fisherman. So as I said before I don't ski and have no kids therefor it shall become something useful.
I've serviced and rebuilt quite a few motors, but never built a boat from scratch like this. It is pretty wide and should make a worthy fishing vessle. My thoughts;
-Solid seat pedistals in front and back (obviously swivels and such on them)
-removable center seat
-Battery/gas boxes left rear that will double as a work bench for driver (just a tiller on back)
-Long livewell along side on the right middle (give that middle person as much room as possible)
-Some storage below (wet storage is fine) and storage in bow
I've been in a couple of self made bass boats and their floors are always too high, making it terribly unstable. What I would like to do is only bring the floor up about 4-6'' in the back and run it one level forward. I understand that the front will be more narrow by keeping it lower, but I feel that it's a worthy sacrafice for stability. To give you an idea I want to stay BELOW the side ribs in the back.
I think that I'm pretty set on using 1/2 plywood coated with resin and cloth (then carpet) for the deck <--any thoughts?
I'm told that treated lumbed will severly eat the aluminum (some say within weeks pitting and oxidization occur) so I'm really wondering what to do about the framing. Do I just use treated and wrap it with something where it contacts the boat?!? Or use regular and spend a week resin sealing the whole thing?
Also any thoughts on how to attatch/make the framework? I've seen it sheet metal screwed to the ribs (with short screws!). But should I make long runners down the sides? or just do framing across the width of the boat and tie em all together?
I have a 1959 Starcraft 16' JET model (from the tag). It orriginally had a dash, windshield, and merc super thunderbolt 400. The front was covered more like a run-a-bout, and had two bench seats. I've decided to take the boat in a different direction as I do not ski and have no kids. The boat has actually been in the family since new! (so it will be interesting what some family thinks when done.)
After being out on the lake a couple times on it (before cutting it up) it was pretty easy to see that it was not a fishing boat, and I am in fact a fisherman. So as I said before I don't ski and have no kids therefor it shall become something useful.
I've serviced and rebuilt quite a few motors, but never built a boat from scratch like this. It is pretty wide and should make a worthy fishing vessle. My thoughts;
-Solid seat pedistals in front and back (obviously swivels and such on them)
-removable center seat
-Battery/gas boxes left rear that will double as a work bench for driver (just a tiller on back)
-Long livewell along side on the right middle (give that middle person as much room as possible)
-Some storage below (wet storage is fine) and storage in bow
I've been in a couple of self made bass boats and their floors are always too high, making it terribly unstable. What I would like to do is only bring the floor up about 4-6'' in the back and run it one level forward. I understand that the front will be more narrow by keeping it lower, but I feel that it's a worthy sacrafice for stability. To give you an idea I want to stay BELOW the side ribs in the back.
I think that I'm pretty set on using 1/2 plywood coated with resin and cloth (then carpet) for the deck <--any thoughts?
I'm told that treated lumbed will severly eat the aluminum (some say within weeks pitting and oxidization occur) so I'm really wondering what to do about the framing. Do I just use treated and wrap it with something where it contacts the boat?!? Or use regular and spend a week resin sealing the whole thing?
Also any thoughts on how to attatch/make the framework? I've seen it sheet metal screwed to the ribs (with short screws!). But should I make long runners down the sides? or just do framing across the width of the boat and tie em all together?
the keyboard this am 
