wwcenturion
Well-known member
Introduction
Hey guys, I’m new to the site/forum and I wanted to introduce myself (and my project boat) to everyone. First, like many people, I found you guys while researching ideas for my new boat, and like many people, I am overwhelmed at the amount of information and the level of expertise many of you possess. In short, you guys are awesome. Enough about how awesome you guys are, let’s talk about how unawesome I am when it comes to boats.
A little about myself…
I live in the great state of Alabama where there is plenty of things for good ole’ country folks to do. Obviously, one of those things is getting out on the water and fishing. For you collegiate football fans out there; yes, we actually have other things in Alabama other than a great football team! Since I work for the University of Alabama, I am knee deep in it. Roll Tide! I digress, I recently moved the family into a lake house that needs some work but the view is spectacular. I joke around with friends that we have an average house with a million dollar view! The best thing about the home is that it is on waterfront property with plenty of lake access. There are two piers connected together with a slip between them. However, there is no way to launch a boat from the property and I don’t want to mess around with trailering a boat to and from the boat launch park even if it is right around the corner.
The boat bug bit me hard, but I didn’t want to spend a ton of money for something I may be leaving moored to the pier all summer long. At first, I entertained the idea of getting a canoe and attaching a trolling motor to it. The wife and I could get out on the canoe and do some fishing, but then I thought of how nice it would be to explore all 176 miles of shoreline this lake has to offer. I quickly realized a canoe just wasn’t going to get it done unless I could get the UA Rowing team to give me some lessons.
Next, I started looking at bass boats or a ski boat I could convert into a bass boat, but my budget for a vessel was not very high (<$3000) and it was getting exhausting looking at boats for sale, making offers, offending people (low-balling), and email after email trying to make a deal. Another consideration I had was that I didn’t want to leave a fiberglass boat in the water all summer long. This led me in the direction of an aluminum bass boat. Ouch, those things are expensive; no bass boat for me. Lastly, my options were further limited by the lack of owning a suitable vehicle to tow a larger boat (I have a Mazda 3 rated at 1000 lbs towing).
The boat…..
I guess by now your understanding how I ended up here. All signs for getting out on the water and fishing started pointing to an aluminum jon boat. I looked at a couple 12-footers, but since I wanted to take my wife out and maybe one of the kids occasionally, a 12-footer wasn’t going to get it. I found a couple 14 & 16-footers that were already customized, but they were getting near the top of my price range or were in crappy shape for what they were asking. I finally decided I was just going to buy a clean 14’ – 16’ and outfit it the way I want. Below is what I ended up with. It’s a 15’ v-hull. Not sure on the brand name or how old it is, but it appears to be structurally sound and has no leaks that I know of just yet. I gave the guy $560 for it and it came with a nice trailer that I drove 100 miles with it behind my car yesterday when we picked it up. I am thinking I am about $300 into the boat given the trailer may be worth around $300. I am assuming this is a great deal, but I don’t know much about these things. Academy Sports is selling flat bottom 15’s for $1200 plus tax and no trailer, so I am thinking this was a good deal.
The motor…..
On the way back from picking the boat up I had my wife send messages back and forth to this guy selling a 1968 18hp Evinrude Fastwin outboard on CL for $400. I got him down to $375 and he threw in a 6-gallon tank with fuel line and the original service manual (sweet, I love the retro stuff). The motor was recently serviced (he showed me the receipt) and assured me it is in good running condition and the only reason he was selling it was that it is too much motor for his 12’ jon. The motor appears to be solid, man they don’t make things the way the used to. When we got home my son asked if the old motor would last (it’s one year older than me) and I just replied, “it’s been around for 45 years, what do you think?” I understand this motor is oooooold, but again, I am on a limited budget. Worst case scenario, if it turns out to be junk I will turn around and sell it for whatever I can get out of it and count my losses as few on the motor.
What I have so far…..
OK, so now I am about $1035 into this project:
• Boat & Trailer - $560
• Old Motor, Gas Tank, Fuel Line - $375
• 40lbs thrust Trolling Motor, Marine Battery, Battery Box and Anchor - $75 (purchased from a friend)
• 4 - PFDs from Academy Sports - $25
My plans…..
My plans for the boat are to build carpeted fishing decks in the bow and stern, complete with pedestal seats, mount the trolling motor up front, and add plenty of access panels for storage and a live well. Initially, I am not going to worry about painting it, but I am sure in the off season I will want to put some Rustoleum on it and make her shine.
Today, I am going to Lowes to pick up plywood, 2”x4”s, carpet, misc hardware, electric staple gun, and a bunch of other stuff so I can get started on the decks this afternoon. I have no idea what I am doing and will probably mess things up considerably the first few tries. However, I have beer and you fine people to help me out. I don’t normally rant like this, so please don’t be afraid to communicate with me in the future. I just wanted to do a proper introduction of myself and the project.
Cheers…
Hey guys, I’m new to the site/forum and I wanted to introduce myself (and my project boat) to everyone. First, like many people, I found you guys while researching ideas for my new boat, and like many people, I am overwhelmed at the amount of information and the level of expertise many of you possess. In short, you guys are awesome. Enough about how awesome you guys are, let’s talk about how unawesome I am when it comes to boats.
A little about myself…
I live in the great state of Alabama where there is plenty of things for good ole’ country folks to do. Obviously, one of those things is getting out on the water and fishing. For you collegiate football fans out there; yes, we actually have other things in Alabama other than a great football team! Since I work for the University of Alabama, I am knee deep in it. Roll Tide! I digress, I recently moved the family into a lake house that needs some work but the view is spectacular. I joke around with friends that we have an average house with a million dollar view! The best thing about the home is that it is on waterfront property with plenty of lake access. There are two piers connected together with a slip between them. However, there is no way to launch a boat from the property and I don’t want to mess around with trailering a boat to and from the boat launch park even if it is right around the corner.
The boat bug bit me hard, but I didn’t want to spend a ton of money for something I may be leaving moored to the pier all summer long. At first, I entertained the idea of getting a canoe and attaching a trolling motor to it. The wife and I could get out on the canoe and do some fishing, but then I thought of how nice it would be to explore all 176 miles of shoreline this lake has to offer. I quickly realized a canoe just wasn’t going to get it done unless I could get the UA Rowing team to give me some lessons.
Next, I started looking at bass boats or a ski boat I could convert into a bass boat, but my budget for a vessel was not very high (<$3000) and it was getting exhausting looking at boats for sale, making offers, offending people (low-balling), and email after email trying to make a deal. Another consideration I had was that I didn’t want to leave a fiberglass boat in the water all summer long. This led me in the direction of an aluminum bass boat. Ouch, those things are expensive; no bass boat for me. Lastly, my options were further limited by the lack of owning a suitable vehicle to tow a larger boat (I have a Mazda 3 rated at 1000 lbs towing).
The boat…..
I guess by now your understanding how I ended up here. All signs for getting out on the water and fishing started pointing to an aluminum jon boat. I looked at a couple 12-footers, but since I wanted to take my wife out and maybe one of the kids occasionally, a 12-footer wasn’t going to get it. I found a couple 14 & 16-footers that were already customized, but they were getting near the top of my price range or were in crappy shape for what they were asking. I finally decided I was just going to buy a clean 14’ – 16’ and outfit it the way I want. Below is what I ended up with. It’s a 15’ v-hull. Not sure on the brand name or how old it is, but it appears to be structurally sound and has no leaks that I know of just yet. I gave the guy $560 for it and it came with a nice trailer that I drove 100 miles with it behind my car yesterday when we picked it up. I am thinking I am about $300 into the boat given the trailer may be worth around $300. I am assuming this is a great deal, but I don’t know much about these things. Academy Sports is selling flat bottom 15’s for $1200 plus tax and no trailer, so I am thinking this was a good deal.
The motor…..
On the way back from picking the boat up I had my wife send messages back and forth to this guy selling a 1968 18hp Evinrude Fastwin outboard on CL for $400. I got him down to $375 and he threw in a 6-gallon tank with fuel line and the original service manual (sweet, I love the retro stuff). The motor was recently serviced (he showed me the receipt) and assured me it is in good running condition and the only reason he was selling it was that it is too much motor for his 12’ jon. The motor appears to be solid, man they don’t make things the way the used to. When we got home my son asked if the old motor would last (it’s one year older than me) and I just replied, “it’s been around for 45 years, what do you think?” I understand this motor is oooooold, but again, I am on a limited budget. Worst case scenario, if it turns out to be junk I will turn around and sell it for whatever I can get out of it and count my losses as few on the motor.
What I have so far…..
OK, so now I am about $1035 into this project:
• Boat & Trailer - $560
• Old Motor, Gas Tank, Fuel Line - $375
• 40lbs thrust Trolling Motor, Marine Battery, Battery Box and Anchor - $75 (purchased from a friend)
• 4 - PFDs from Academy Sports - $25
My plans…..
My plans for the boat are to build carpeted fishing decks in the bow and stern, complete with pedestal seats, mount the trolling motor up front, and add plenty of access panels for storage and a live well. Initially, I am not going to worry about painting it, but I am sure in the off season I will want to put some Rustoleum on it and make her shine.
Today, I am going to Lowes to pick up plywood, 2”x4”s, carpet, misc hardware, electric staple gun, and a bunch of other stuff so I can get started on the decks this afternoon. I have no idea what I am doing and will probably mess things up considerably the first few tries. However, I have beer and you fine people to help me out. I don’t normally rant like this, so please don’t be afraid to communicate with me in the future. I just wanted to do a proper introduction of myself and the project.
Cheers…