1973 mirrocraft 16` lake fisherman

[diveralex]

Hello to everyone , I am new to this forum, and have been reading post upon post of great information ! Just thought i could share with you my first boat purchase and ongoing restoration !

Got this boat for 1300$ ( i think thats not a bad price ! Its a 1973 mirrocraft lake fisherman 16 footer complete with console and 60hp 1985 johnson and 9.9 marine 2 strokers.

I have been working on it now for 3 weekends and just cant seem to stop thinking about what I have to do next. I am a machinist and welder by trade and this boat restoration stuff is so much fun.

So as you can see, ive been working on a flat floor and now i need to replace de floation foam in the seats. Then a new aluminium console and some trailer work. After that fishing time !!!

Pleasure reading you all !

 

[FatChad]

Nice boat, and nice samurai in the background

 

[diveralex]

Thank you I will post more pictures once i get the floor in !

 

[diveralex]

Progress !

New console is all tacked up, new solenoid setup for up and down trim, flat floor, new flotation and plywood in benches.

Now I was wondering if I should secure my console to the floor and the bench or only to the bench ( vibration of floor ? ) Anybody have some input on that ?

Thx ! Pleasure reading you all !

 

[Captain Ahab]

We have the exact same boat!

 

[Kevin D]

Nice boat, I would just attach it to the seat, vibration shouldn't be a issue. I modded my starcraft and vibration was greatly reduced.

 

[diveralex]

Great, thanks for the input. I will start off with fastening to bench only and will test it out !

 

[Craigmax]

Great bench idea. I have to do the same thing with my project. Do you have any other pictures of the bench build or can describe the process/methodology? Thanks.

 

[Captain Ahab]

My boat had the console to the bench originally and it was fine


It goes to the floor now because I decked the boat and put in swivel seats

 

[diveralex]

Progress !

Finished wiring , fully welded console , installed seat and got 60hp seahorse shifter linkage unseized (although timing advance braket seems to not come back to original position) and my 9.9 is purring like a kitten.

Now looking to paint exterior and modify my trailer.

Tested out in the water and that 60 is fast. pretty sure I hit 25-30 mph ! But it drank over 2.5 gallons in 1.5 hours ? is this normal lol , mind you i was at WOT alot.

 

[KillerJ]

Awesome boat! $1300.00 would have been a good price with just the 9.9. Where did you purchase the foam? I want to replace the bench foam and carpet in my boat (already bought the carpet)

 

[diveralex]

To be honest i cheaped out, and got blue foam from Rona, ( equivalent of home depot ) built blocks and glued it together with pl foam. This is a budget build

 

[KillerJ]

I'm definitely on a budget too. I'll check out home depot this weekend, thanks.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Do not paint the exterior

 

[diveralex]

really ? why not paint the exterior ? i not to keen on the baby blue mirrocraft color lol !

 

[Captain Ahab]

really ? why not paint the exterior ? i not to keen on the baby blue mirrocraft color lol !

I strongly feel that painting a tin boat is a waste of valuable fishing time and money that could be used to buy gear with. Teh grand thing about aluminum is that you do not need to do anything to protect it - like paint.


Plus, 80% of your boat will be under the waterline while in use - so no one but the fishy life will see the new paint.


BTW fish could care less if your boat is painted



It is your time but I plan to fish as early as long and as often as I possibly can - everything else is just a means to get me back on the water

 

[diveralex]

Great advice I might just keep the painting for the winter months or maybe wont even do it at all.

 

[jasper60103]

... Teh grand thing about aluminum is that you do not need to do anything to protect it - like paint.


Plus, 80% of your boat will be under the waterline while in use - so no one but the fishy life will see the new paint.


BTW fish could care less if your boat is painted



It is your time but I plan to fish as early as long and as often as I possibly can - everything else is just a means to get me back on the water

Well said. :fishing:

 

[diveralex]

Took the boat out for its first fishing weekend ! It was great ! Covered more than 38nautical miles on one 25 litre tank ( i did use the 9.9 for trolling ) She performed good in the chop , but even if she is wide and deep , the chop from 30 knot Wind on that big lake was alot to handle.

 

[diveralex]

Couple pics of the day !