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The next step is to carpet the boat. Then, we fabricate some drop-in boxes, followed by bending a set of lids. The shape of support lip for the box provides a built in coaming, thus all of the water that drains off the top of the lid will not go into the storage box, and will instead...

Been a bit too long since I've last posted any project pictures. Just been a bit too busy, and recently, a handful of what I've done has been carbon copies of boats I've already posted in the past - nobody wants to see the same deck extension in another one of the same boats. Anyway, a local...

Use a stainless steel wire brush instead of the carbon one, on anything aluminum. Steel wirebrush will imbed unwanted particles of itself in the aluminum, while the stainless one won't.

Now we're back to square one - the bags get punctured, and the foam gets waterlogged, and you have the concrete blocks that PSG mentioned. :D I'm not trying to be critical here - just furthering an interesting, all the while constructive, debate.

Why bother with the foam, in that case? Bags of air would actually provide better flotation, as they wouldn't have the weight of the foam counteracting them. I'm not a big proponent of foam (there are better options for water displacement, which is all that is desired) in aluminum boats, but...

I've water skied, comfortably, behind a 15' powered by an old (crank rated, pin drive) 40 hp. Probably wouldn't be the best way to teach an absolute novice, unless they are fairly small, as one does have to push water for a bit, but once you get moving, it works well. Funny thing is, a...

We've used them a bunch of times, and have always been very pleased with them. Ordered a set of 4 from them last week, and they arrived about 18 hours after ordering. Seeing as we can mount and balance at my dad's shop, their prices, especially when they run rebates and specials, are quite good.

Acid etch it. Some folks have had good results with various homebrew mixes, but my experience is only with the commercially available stuff - Zep-a-lume and Alumabrite. It will leave a uniform bare aluminum color, and as long as there isn't anything amiss (stray electrical current, trapped...

The lifejacket that Ahab posted is a very good one. Canine Ruffwear, I think they call it. On the smaller dogs, it is easy to pick them up from the handle to carry them through the parking lot, without messing around with a leash, and does make recovery much easier on a dog in the water. Some...

Look in the yellow pages. With a quick look, I found a few possibilities for new aluminum, that will still be cheaper than Lowes. Ashley Steel Charleston Aluminum Charleston Steel and Metal American Steel Fabricators Not all of these may sell in small quantities to the general public, but in a...

How is the axle attached? On some trailers, they are adjustable forward and backwards, by means of U-bolts, or through bolts. This allows the same trailer to be sold with a number of configurations. On others, they are welded on, so you'd be out of luck there. Otherwise, the only thing...

IN!

In my eyes, longer is better, unless it has to fit in a garage. On a shallow ramp, the extra length is indispensable, and it also helps when you need to open the tailgate with the boat hooked up. I don't know what thickness the original tongue is, but I'd be comfortable even up to 10' with 2 x...

Mcmaster Carr has hundreds of variations of rubber sheeting, in a wide range of thicknesses and colors. I'd probably look at something in the 1/8" range, give or take - should provide just as much cushion as carpet, yet stay clean and dry. It may cost a bit more than the blue foam from HD (may...

You've got to get the corrosion out first. Zepalume or Alumabrite would be a good choice if using acid, or if the pitting is mostly on the surface, it can be removed mechanically, with a 3M scotchbrite (TM) or equivalent. The important thing will be to get rid of all of the white, chalky...

I would say this would be a big concern. A bead of 5200 will prevent a lot of water from entering, but I really can't see completely eliminating the water from entering entirely.

Neat boat. I have the Fish N Ski version of that boat (same hull, only with a walkthrough windshield and forward seats instead of the covered bow). Been sitting on a trailer in the yard for years. Have plans to someday do something with it, but that isn't going to be anytime soon. Lund makes...

Most of the time.... :shock:

In my area, that boat would certainly bring more than 400 bucks, but that is due to the high number of electric only boats, and most of these guys want project boats anyway, and don't need consoles. The big thing is that around Atlanta, it is near impossible to find a welded 16' boat, without...

Vinegar and water should help some. The commercially available products are Zep-a-lume or Alumabrite, but they are fairly dangerous in concentrate form (they are the phosphoric acid PSG mentioned). The whole goal is to acid etch the metal. The acid starts eating away at what is there. I've...