1978 Lund S-18 "Big Resorter" & Trailer Project - Fish/Hunt

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dave shady

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
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Location
Clinton Iowa
Hello all, Just found the board when searching on Steel Flex for the bottom of my rivited old Big V-Bow Project. Looks like Im going to have the painter put it on the bottom first next week. Have some rivet issues after water testing the boat. I should of done the test before the new floor was put in but..... live and learn. Nothing TERRIBLE but need to seal her up.

Heres a few pics of my project.

This is what she looked like NEW in 1978 8) She is not gona look like that when Its done.

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Dandy nice outfits could of been the Bradys out fishin eh.

The boat is just has ribs on the bottom and over the years someone cut out the center seat. When i got the rig 2 weeks ago it had a 3/4" plywood floor with a 2x4 under cut like a wedge to support it. they rivited tabs along the 8 feet of center area our of aluminum angle and used the right rivits then attached a 3/4" plywood rod lockers to each side of the boat.The front was 2 layers of 3/4" plywood cut to the shape of the bow the very front small seat was removed and some brackets were again rivited to the sides under the floor down low was an oak almost 3" thick x 8" tall cut on the radius of the front end. on top of that they had built another compartment that was the height of the old seat that had the largest 2" wide steel strap hinge to make a compartment for a trolling motor battery. Needless to say this was a HEAVY HEAVY section of wood.

The rear they cut out the front of the seat and left the rear support to be the new front and decked that in 3/4" plywood and had a hatch to access the battery and the gas tank. They butchered it perty well under all that plywood with not much thought. Now what they did was STURDY but after I have removed it all it FILLED the back of my Dodge Ram Pickup to the dump.......

How it bought it
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Hundreds of pounds of wood removed

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Where I am going from here.

I have removed all the wood and rebuilt the back how I want it out of aluminum stock. This will all be welded in and then reinforced and then decked in 1/8" alum sheet.

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The main 8 foot open floor will have 1 1/2 square tube for a floor support structure, that will be 12" on centers and will have 2-3 of the ribs bent to come up the sidewall to re-enforce the sides of the boat from where the seat was removed. That will also be decked in 1/8" aluminum with foam sheets underneath. This should stiffen up the boat perty good.

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The front will be framed up in square tube and angle to make a full front deck the same height as the seat about. They will weld in a battery compartment for the front motor as well. They are going to weld all holes in the transom from the yeats of transducers being screwed to it as well as all holes in the sides from old bolts and stuff. The front bottom of the boat where there was some wear to the alum strip to protect the bow from rocks and ice will be fixed a bit as it is a bit worn from wear.

I have found a good fabracation shop that does this kind of work often and comes highly recomended. Lots of work to be done. I have done as much as my skills and tools allows me to do. Monday I drop it off at the fab shop and let them have at it. They are also going to bend and make a motor mount for the Minnkota I piolt motor for the bow.This boat will be fished out of and Diver Duck hunted in the fall so I want it sturdy and simple. I think it will handle the open water well and we will get some good use out of it.


Snuck in tonight to see how its going, very happy with what I am seeing. All the old holes for the past 30+ years put in the sides of the hull have been filled, front deck built and re-enforced well. they put 1/4" plate under where the seat will mount.


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The stern of the boat has all been welded up the stuff I added then beefed up from there. they even made a nice radius's on the corners of the gas/battery well. the main beam for the floor has been cut in and leveled out and they will start on the Ribs tomorrow, deck that and bend and weld the trolling motor mount for the front.

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Updated floor layout is getting welded in. Different that what was in my headbut I will say stronger and better. He even has some 1/4" tabs that go from the main tubes to the old ribs on the floor its is SOLID! But not done yet. Also added the 1/4" plate where the seats will be screwed down. so Ill have 3/8" of aluminum there for the screws.

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Ill add again he was not done yet, Still center braces going in yet. I had to stop inand drop off the new I-Piolt MinnKota motor for getting the motor mount right. Got the Rig back from the FAB Shop yesterday, stoped at painters and got my bid
on the paint and Hydro-Turf for the decking. Got home did some wire brushing on the mainly trans area where there was
old glue to get the hull clean and ready for them to prep then do their thing. Got it all done and will take to them before i leave for a business trip today.

Heres a few new pics. Got the motor mount on and its PERFECT! They even had the motor mounted on there already but
I forgot to get a pic. In a hurry to get it cleaned up and ready to go. I will get the trailer back for 5-7 days to work on it
at least!

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Cant wait to get it into its new Camo paint. I know no LUND RED on this hull. Its being painted in a brown pebble finish with
light gray and black cammo of sorts. Hydro Turf in a dark gray on the inside decks also. Illowa Pro-Drive –Phowler builds
boats just down the road from me and they are doing the paint. Their boats look GREAT and its a durable finish. 2 -3 weeks
It should be on the River..... I HOPE!
 
Wow, that interior work is NICE. That boat is to nice for camo IMO!

Some nice paint, silver and white,blue,red or black, and some new Lund graphics, and nice carpet, and that's going to be one of the nicest boats here.
 
LonLB said:
Wow, that interior work is NICE. That boat is to nice for camo IMO!

Some nice paint, silver and white,blue,red or black, and some new Lund graphics, and nice carpet, and that's going to be one of the nicest boats here.

Got my vote on that one!! You can always use camo blind material when hunting. I say show of the puppy with some nice color. But hey....you gotta make her into what you want.

I'll just make a quick note on the steel flex. Everything I've read tells me that Gluvit is better for flexibility than steel flex and it is designed to be painted while steel flex is not necessarily designed for painting and has been reported to get too stiff and crack after time. Gluvit also works into cracks better. Keep in mind, this is only based on what I have read and not personal experience. This info is what made me decide to go with Gluvit for my project (which is just getting under way). Just thought you might want to do a little more research before making a decision.

**My info is from google searches that brought me to this site and others like this and the individual products' web sites if anyone cares or questions. I have no personal knowledge or preference for either product, but have chosen to use Gluvit based on my research. (How's that for a "duck under the table and point a finger" disclaimer?? :lol: )
 
Its Gona be Cammo for sure lol. Mississippi River Cammo to boot.

The guys painting the boat said they normaly use the steel flex and did not mention any
issues with cracking but now ya got me worried. I have used gulvit in the past on a buddys
boat bottom and not sure if we didnt get it on right or just more leaks than we thought.

They are going to TIG some of spots that can be and we will go from there. Bilge pump will
be installed for sure I do know that lol. With the dog going in and out bringing back
ducks he hauls in alot of water anyways!

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Nice job on the boat.
First time I seen the bracing for the deck done that way,looks like nice work.
Looking forward to the camoed up pictures...great picture of the retrieve.
 
Foam inbetween Ribs on floor so far........ Thats all have acces to under front for foam filling the battery box still lifts out. The rear not sure yet.
 
You're doing an awsome job. Keep up the good work. Ill ship you mine, so you can weld me in some decks.... :LOL2:
 
Thanks guys we hit a speed bump at the Painters lil behind inline due to the fact we decided to
Steel Flex 2 coats on the bottom. So waiting for product and then back in line for the paint.

I have everything else i need here ready to go for bilge pump and interior wiring,
trolling motor wires and jacks, running lights ect.

Need to get the trailer from them as soon as its on a paint trailer so I can strip that and do some
mods, new bunks all around new lights off the wind guides for sure. Now if it were just done being
cold and SNOW id be real happy!

More pics as soon as we get somewhere.
 
Looks real good so far, and that pic of your dog is awesome.
 
Thanks thats my 5 year old Gordy, Diver Duck Retriever he loves it as
all Labradors do. he has really done well in the open deep water from
the old boat that I sold 2004 Roughneck with full metal blind I welded up.
just not the right boat for our current hunting anymore.

Here is my Favorite photo from hunting, he made a 200 yard 20 minute chase
on a cripple buffelhead and finnaly after repeated diving on him and chase snagged it by
the FOOT! he brought it back and was crossing a underwater log when I took
this photo of him.

I cant wait to get the new boat up to speed and get a dog swim ladder fabricated
up and we can start working from it to get ready for November.

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My Old Rig

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Have a great day folks.
 
Started work on the trailer now, weather is not going to cooperate on temp for paint grrrr

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Took most everything off and ready to get all the loose rust off and smoothe it out a bit.

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I think the wind guide bunk brackets that were on the trailer will be heavy duty enough.

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Got it all wire wheeled and scuffed up ready for the herculiner next I guess. In hope to get
that step done tomorrow gotta get some heat in my buddys garage winter is still hangin on
here in Iowa.

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Slow dirty process that was.
 
Heavy Head I think he was keeping that one... I will email him and ask though its in Desmoine Iowa....


Ok Herculiner.... PAIN IN THE AERSE to put on inside the tubes corners wow that was FUN! lol
but it looks good when I left it. Had to run the big propane heater in my buddys garage had it on
high and got to about 80 in there after 3 hours. 7 hours total start to finish. Got it coated nicely
was about 2 hours till the 1st coat was no longer tacky so had some down time. Thank god the
wife brought me some lunch and we sat out in the sun for a while. Got herculiner all over my arms
that I didnt see... long sleeve shirt GOOD IDEA!

Hers a Wet pic will have more tomorrow.

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Dry is was so I got it home and in the outbuilding.

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Now onto Lights, New rollers and bunks and carpet.

The boat has been steel flexed. I purchased a set of 4"x10" black bunk sliders and enders like I had on my old boat.
but will that be ok with the steel flex and rivits?
 
Just a little advice, I used 2x4 trek decking boards & if I unwinch my boat to soon, it will literally slide off the trailer going down the boat ramp. Just a suggestion. Plus you never have to worry about it rotting.
 

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