1976 Duracraft

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Matt24

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Joined
Mar 29, 2012
Messages
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Location
Mid MO
The first boat that I owned, was a 87 Tracker TX17. Great boat, loved the way it was setup. Side console, livewell, nice front and rear decks for fishing. I bought that boat in 99, I think, and sold it 12 years later. Growing family, small kids, wasn't doing as much fishing etc. Bought a big Deep V tin, fish and ski boat. Awesome for the family, great for boat riding, not bad for crappie fishing...definitely usable, PITA to run trot lines or limb lines out of (at least for me). I had buddies to catfish with. They had easier to run boats so not a huge deal. But I wanted a smaller boat. So I started looking for something small like a 14 footer to run the little rivers catfishing with my oldest boy. Found one after awhile for the right price and proceeded to set it up how I wanted it. Liked it but finding/funding the right motor just wore on me. I really didn't like the pull start and tiller steering on what I have on there so I started searching Craigslist and local for sale sites for something more up my alley in the motor department. Honestly everything I saw was just more than I wanted to spend on a $500 boat, but I kept looking. Finally one day I see this boat, motor, trailer, all titled and all working (for the most part) for about the price I'm thinking of spending for a motor for the 14 footer. The thing isn't pretty but it's gonna be a hell of a catfishing boat. It's about 6 different shades of green the carpet is shot the transom needed replaced (which I did that almost immediately after I got it home). It runs absolutely perfect, hits 25+ mph with just me in it. I'm going to gut it and set it up a lot like my old BassTracker. Going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to start catching catfish outta it. I'll try to post up the work in progress as I go.
 

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The model boat is a Duracraft 1720...which I've seen another one on here. Seems like good bones for starting point.

The motor is a 85 Suzuki 30 HP. Part of the "good deal" on this was I was on my way to look at this thing and the guy calls me saying I went out to start it up and I put it in gear and I can't get it outta forward. I figured the price was good, it'd probably get better, so I tell him, I'll still come look at it. I get there look over the boat...it's a little beat up, but stout. He starts the motor up and it's running and he's apologizing about the shifting. The motor is just purring, spitting water great. He immediately dumps the price on it to a point where I can't say no. Anyways I pick the thing up the next morning and stop by the local ATV/Boat/gun shop (Hilkemeyers in Freeburg MO, it's worth your time to just stop in) and one of the brothers there comes out with a "lets look at it" within 30 seconds he says "there's your problem" the linkage nut had come disconnected. Slipped everything back together and says "try it" and sure enough, it's shifting. =D>

Trailer is an 85, not sure on the make. Seems well put together. I really like the "aftermarket" guides. Never loaded a boat so easily.
The trailer, if you can tell in the pic, was set up weird. The axle was way, way forward...the trailer would want to stand up when not hooked up. I was sorta concerned but have an uncle right up the road that's a helluva welder so I figured it'd work out. Anyways got to looking at it and the axle/fenders are u-bolted around the box frame and are moveable. I was able to just loosen things up and jack up the trailer and slide the axle into a more normal position.
 
Just gotta love tin boats and graigslist! Good deal. what do you think of the Suzuki? We don't see many around here in Wisconsin.
 
bonz_d said:
Just gotta love tin boats and graigslist! Good deal. what do you think of the Suzuki? We don't see many around here in Wisconsin.

So far I really like the little Suzuki. Starts easy, runs quiet, sips gas. We don't see many older ones around here either. Tons of the newer 4 strokes though.
 
Matt24, I'm the other 1720 Duracraft. I haven't posted much in a while but I really like mine, it gets me wherever I want to go. I upgraded from a 20hp Mercury to a 50hp Mercury jet. I'm still not done with my project but I'm on the water so there's a lot less urgency. I also couldn't help notice your close to me in Missouri, I'm in Union, where are you located?
 
Past due for an update on this. Finished up last fall. Might take the cover off er tomorrow and dip it in the river.

And Buckethead. I'm from Rich Fountain Mo. About an hour west of Union.
 

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The boat looks good. I just finished building a brand new galvanized trailer for mine, I thought I was ready to go until my suburban refused to start this morning. Pulled it to a local garage this afternoon, hopefully he'll get it figured out. I'll tell you, just about the time you think you're ready to go something else needs attention, frustrating.
 
Buckethead said:
The boat looks good. I just finished building a brand new galvanized trailer for mine, I thought I was ready to go until my suburban refused to start this morning. Pulled it to a local garage this afternoon, hopefully he'll get it figured out. I'll tell you, just about the time you think you're ready to go something else needs attention, frustrating.

Thanks. All in all it worked out pretty well. I'm plenty happy with it. Won't be long and it'll be time to find out if it'll catch fish! Hooked up the big boat for today. Got the wife and the 2 year old riding along later. Figured with the forecast calling for some 20ish mph winds it might be the best idea.

Good luck with the Burban. Hope it's nothing too serious.
 
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1458080685.537474.jpg

Here's my boat on the new trailer. The pic was more to show the trailer. I still need to fab a few more pieces of aluminum in but no rush.
 
Got the boat broke in this weekend. Lots of first all around. 1st fish on the boat was the biggest flathead of the weekend a 30#. My buddies son was with us, it was the first fish he'd caught running lines with his dad. My boy was along that evening, his first time running lines with me, and the first fish we caught was a 45# blue cat...biggest fish I've had in any boat of mine. Great morning yesterday. 11 fish on 45 hooks, some nice flatheads in the bunch. Lots of laughs, good times and memories made. Couldn't have went any better. My 2 buddies that went along liked the layout of the boat...it definitely works as intended.
 

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That is one monster of a cat!

Question about the foam. Have you ever used it before. I am using the same stuff but I am not sure if it will absorb water?
 

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