Here is a link to my first attempt at modding this boat https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17225 I wanted to redo it because it didnt turn out how I had hoped.
First things first is I started from scratch, stripped it and wired wheeled the entire boat.
On my previous build I used pop rivets with sealant to fix a lot of rivets that leaked. well, let me tell you DO NOT USE POP RIVETS. they WILL leak! I looked around town and couldn't find anyone who had solid aluminum rivets. Then I found https://www.rivetsonline.com/ I HIGHLY recommend this site if you need rivets. Their prices are cheap and they make quality rivets. I pretty much drilled out every rivet on the bottom of the boat. The ones that were in there were 3/16" in diameter. I drilled them to a 1/4" and bought 1/4" by 1/2" rivets from that site and replaced them all. NO LEAKS NOW!
After I was done with the rivets, I applied gluvit to the inside of the hull. Let me tell you it's great stuff and dries hard as a rock.
Here is the bracing I'm using for the front deck. A lot of people go crazy with the bracing, but really this is all you need. It has held up perfectly.
After that I started thinking about the layout of the deck. I wanted a built in live well because I fish a lot of bass tournaments. so here's what I came up with. I ordered a kit from bass pro to turn the cooler into a live well.
I wanted storage in the back for life jackets and the anchor. There's also a bulge pump back there. I used 3/4" pine plywood for all of the wood.
Here's the battery holder I came up with for under the front deck. It's just 2x4s screwed together. it's nice and tight and they wont move an inch.
After I got all the wood cut I decided it was time for paint. I primed it with a few coats of self etching primer and found this black paint with gold flake in it....exactly what I wanted. I hit the aluminum with a clear coat for a 2 tone boat.
Black to match my explorer. When the sun is out you can really see the gold flake in the paint sparkle.
Next I bought some marine carpet from lowes and here is the finished product! I have new seats and pedestals I ordered that are on their way. but here it is..
:!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:
Scroll down for new updated pictures!!!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
First things first is I started from scratch, stripped it and wired wheeled the entire boat.
On my previous build I used pop rivets with sealant to fix a lot of rivets that leaked. well, let me tell you DO NOT USE POP RIVETS. they WILL leak! I looked around town and couldn't find anyone who had solid aluminum rivets. Then I found https://www.rivetsonline.com/ I HIGHLY recommend this site if you need rivets. Their prices are cheap and they make quality rivets. I pretty much drilled out every rivet on the bottom of the boat. The ones that were in there were 3/16" in diameter. I drilled them to a 1/4" and bought 1/4" by 1/2" rivets from that site and replaced them all. NO LEAKS NOW!
After I was done with the rivets, I applied gluvit to the inside of the hull. Let me tell you it's great stuff and dries hard as a rock.
Here is the bracing I'm using for the front deck. A lot of people go crazy with the bracing, but really this is all you need. It has held up perfectly.
After that I started thinking about the layout of the deck. I wanted a built in live well because I fish a lot of bass tournaments. so here's what I came up with. I ordered a kit from bass pro to turn the cooler into a live well.
I wanted storage in the back for life jackets and the anchor. There's also a bulge pump back there. I used 3/4" pine plywood for all of the wood.
Here's the battery holder I came up with for under the front deck. It's just 2x4s screwed together. it's nice and tight and they wont move an inch.
After I got all the wood cut I decided it was time for paint. I primed it with a few coats of self etching primer and found this black paint with gold flake in it....exactly what I wanted. I hit the aluminum with a clear coat for a 2 tone boat.
Black to match my explorer. When the sun is out you can really see the gold flake in the paint sparkle.
Next I bought some marine carpet from lowes and here is the finished product! I have new seats and pedestals I ordered that are on their way. but here it is..
:!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:
Scroll down for new updated pictures!!!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓