12 Foot MirroCraft modification/to bass boat

[Fudoshin]

Here is a pic of what I used to hold the seams together and corner pieces of the frame. Just a basic hardened steel angle, they hold extremely well, picked up a pack of four at Home Depot for like $2.50 per pack. If you look close I also used Gorilla (wood) glue in all the seams even with the screws just to prevent squeaking and to really make it solid. I used a clamp on those three pieces and held it together over night, I literally stood on the three pieces and it didn't move or make a sound! If you look at the bolts through the wood bracket attached to the side of the boat I used the threaded nuts to prevent it from coming off down the road or bending or anything. Its an extra .30 cents per pack but well worth the lack of a headache

Then the other pics are the rest of the framing for the casting deck, and the side storage boxes. I have a few things to tighten and switch on some of the frames but after it is done I will be mixing up a batch of fiberglass resin to completely seal all of the top wood and frames. I plan to making a door on top of the casting deck to throw life jackets and what not in there. I made extra supports and really just left a little bit of room for the jackets, I needed more supports because I'm 6'4" tall and weigh 220lbs, I do not need to be falling through [-X

 

[wihil]

Lookin' good so far! My 12 has a 7.5 (8), and bare boat with me and rods/tackle it'll move me fine, with an additional like sized person/rods/tackle it slowed up a bit more than I was expecting. Still got on plane, but we weren't going to be the first to the hole if you know what I mean.

I thought about upgrading to a 15 this year, but I'm putting motor money into the "16' DeepV Tinny fund" instead. This one will get me around, and the my 12 is a perfect test bed to practice for the next one.

Again - looking great! Hope it doesn't weight too much, but it sure looks sturdy!

 

[TheMaestro]

Very nice framing..I especially like the angled motor-well!

 

[Fudoshin]

Thanks guys I appreciate the feed back, wasn't sure what I was going to do and every idea I had I thought about and changed about twenty times...lol..overall I'm sure it'll do the trick and catch me fish! And I hope to help out the next person looking to change their boat into a bass boat...the experience on this site is immeasurable

 

[fool4fish1226]

Looks great man, you did a heck of a job on the framing =D>

 

[novaman]

=D> =D> Welcome and great job!, looking forward to more of the same .

 

[Fudoshin]

Thanks for the support everyone, now I am just worried I'm going to do a crappy job cutting the pieces and laying the carpet, I have to figure out how I'm going to go about it, I am painting the fiberglass resin on this week, let it settle for a couple of days and paint the motor. Not too long now, I am shooting for July 4th weekend to get it up and running!

 

[wihil]

Man I hear you on the carpet - I'm all kinds of unsure about sticking it down.

Just got my front deck done, need to get some Spar or FG resin on it this week (not real sure which is better - used Spar on the transom, but with the deck I don't know which would be best), then it's carpet time.

Still think it's looking great - hope it doesn't end up too heavy once all the ply is on, but I think it's gonna be killer.

 

[Fudoshin]

Yeah Wihil it is making me nervous too...lol..I guess the worst case scenario is I screw it up and have to redo it. I did a lot of research on what to seal the wood with besides buying Marine wood. I didn't buy Marine wood or treated wood because i didn't want to run into problems with chemicals and oxidizing and all that jazz. But I was told FB resin is the best thing to use. It does not dry out, it does not peel off, it seals the wood and makes it weather proof. On top of that use all weather carpet, and it doesn't hurt to get a few cans of water proofing spray to go over the carpet for that extra protection. That is something good to do once a year I guess. Do you have pictures of your project on your boat?

 

[Andy Taylor]

I thought using OSB was bad in a boat? It absorbs water like a sponge.

 

[wihil]

Fudoshin - No pictures yet - going to to start a new thread shortly now that I've actually started BUILDING on the tin instead of tacking things on to it.

Still trying to decide what to do with my benches as they're riveted in (and at this point I need them in.. :lol: ) Got plans though, and that's what matters most, right?

Keep it going! Love small boat builds.

 

[Fudoshin]

mine were riveted as well, they also had the foam attached to the bottom, I just drilled out the rivets and put bolts through the holes into my new structure. It's an option for you, but if you are making a floor over the seats that will probably act as a better support anyways. Good luck hope to see the pics soon.

 

[Fudoshin]

Well she's done!! It's been a long year or so, and especially the last four months I have spent at least five hours + on it a day. I individually covered each piece with fiber glass resin, carpet glue, and each was stapled down on the back side. The floor was also resin'd and glued, carpeted. I rolled out each piece every 30 minutes until the glue cured. Got the carpet cheap at Menard's it cost me $80 for a huge roll and I still have tons left after the project, and it is all weather carpet. So now I ran into a snag with my pulley assembly on my 15HP Johnson, A piece broke, so I ordered new parts and I'm having trouble getting it to work right. For now I have my Mercury 9HP, it will move me slowly with the extra weight I'm sure but none the less get me to the spots. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[Fudoshin]

Here are the rest.

 

[Brandon]

Looks amazing! I am interested in hearing how she does in the water. I have a 12' I plan on modifying. Thanks for the ideas

 

[Fudoshin]

Thanks Brandon, it was a learning process, I can help you along the way feel free to hit me up with any questions, I hope my pictures through out the whole process help you out. I will post how she runs on the water, I will probably take it out tomorrow morning to test, just got the registration in the mail and put it on this morning.

 

[Pan Fisherman]

Outstanding Mod! I too would be interested to hear how it does on the water!

John

 

[Brandon]

Thanks Brandon, it was a learning process, I can help you along the way feel free to hit me up with any questions, I hope my pictures through out the whole process help you out. I will post how she runs on the water, I will probably take it out tomorrow morning to test, just got the registration in the mail and put it on this morning.

Thanks man! I am going to start on mine this fall so be on the lookout for questions! oh and dont forget to take pics on the first water test!

 

[Fudoshin]

Thanks Pan fisherman, and Brandon I will for sure take pics, and give suggestions if something is to rocky or heavy and what not, and I'll be waiting for the questions.

 

[Brandon]

Thanks Pan fisherman, and Brandon I will for sure take pics, and give suggestions if something is to rocky or heavy and what not, and I'll be waiting for the questions.

Sweet! Can't wait