1985 Bass Tracker refurb

[Duke62]

You can go to YouTube and search for spray paint carbon fiber. In the video they use Plasti Dip, I used regular spray paint. I have seen the Plasti Dip flake off. Start with a base of black, let dry, put shelf liner over the part and pull tight. Next spray the Metallic Gray and remove the shelf liner. Then spray a couple coats of clear.

While I was experimenting I tried blue metallic over the black and black over blue. Looked pretty good.

 

[gatorglenn]

You can go to YouTube and search for spray paint carbon fiber. In the video they use Plasti Dip, I used regular spray paint. I have seen the Plasti Dip flake off. Start with a base of black, let dry, put shelf liner over the part and pull tight. Next spray the Metallic Gray and remove the shelf liner. Then spray a couple coats of clear.

While I was experimenting I tried blue metallic over the black and black over blue. Looked pretty good.

awsome thanks


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[dwjones16]

That’s cool... I’m gonna figure out a combo to work with camo


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[Duke62]

Decided to put the inside on hold and paint the outside before the weather gets too hot. Taped it up yesterday and sprayed the first coat today, Battleship Gray. So far so good. Will try to get the second coat on tomorrow after work. Once the paint is complete it's coming off the trailer. I have plenty to do on the trailer, it's in bad shape.

 

[Duke62]

I used a HVLP spray gun from Northern Tool. Happy with the performance.

 

[Duke62]

Been awhile since I worked on the Tracker. Been out of town and had some other things to take care of. This morning I put the Bass Tracker decals on and painted a couple of stripes.

 

[gatorglenn]

Looks good


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[onthewater102]

Painted the hinges and attached the rod locker door. Continued working on the console. I'm building from scratch. The one in the picture is version 4. I wasn't satisfied with the other 3 versions. Hopefully I will stay happy with this one.

Looks like you've made it as compact as possible, was that what you were trying to do? Either way your setup certainly saves on floor space - were you still using the factory rotary steering? If so how wide is the top of that side console? I've got a project in the works starting with a similar 80's vintage tracker.

 

[Duke62]

The console is 25" wide, 24" tall, and 14" deep. I am using the original steering box and cables. I am replacing the steering wheel. The dash will be slanted, the top will be flat with a cup holder and storage tray. I also intend to mount the fish finder there on a rotating base so I can seeing it when driving or turn it around for fishing from the front. I have mounted interior lights in the front and side as well. That's the plan right now, subject to change. My design is based on a picture I found on line (see attached)

Painted the hinges and attached the rod locker door. Continued working on the console. I'm building from scratch. The one in the picture is version 4. I wasn't satisfied with the other 3 versions. Hopefully I will stay happy with this one.

Looks like you've made it as compact as possible, was that what you were trying to do? Either way your setup certainly saves on floor space - were you still using the factory rotary steering? If so how wide is the top of that side console? I've got a project in the works starting with a similar 80's vintage tracker.

 

[Duke62]

Boat work on hold, time to work the trailer. Removed the boat from the trailer and started disassembly of the trailer. There are some parts that are in really bad shape. Going to need to replace one cross member and do some weld repairs.

 

[Duke62]

Finally able to get some work done on the trailer. Disassembled the trailer and stripped all the paint. Cut out the old rusted cross member and replaced it with a bolt on. Two coats of primer, two coats of paint complete. Next I will tackle the axle, leaf springs, hubs, and bearings.

 

[MrGiggles]

Wish I would've seen this earlier, I brought an 84 Tournament V17 home two weeks ago with a 60hp Merc.

I really like that vinyl. Unfortunately the previous owner had already started rebuilding mine with tan carpet and included all the materials to finish it, so I opted to use it rather than rip it out and purchase new materials.

I have a question about the rod locker lid. Did you use the old one as a pattern, or did you just measure and cut a straight piece of plywood? I can't tell for sure but I think the side of the boat is curved a little, not sure if the lid needs to be as well. I don't have the old one to trace the pattern.

Additionally, are you going to reuse the old drop in hatch compartments in the rear deck? Mine are badly faded and brittle. Can't just make a plywood lid as there is no lip to support it, and the compartment is not lined.

 

[Duke62]

Wish I would've seen this earlier, I brought an 84 Tournament V17 home two weeks ago with a 60hp Merc.

I really like that vinyl. Unfortunately the previous owner had already started rebuilding mine with tan carpet and included all the materials to finish it, so I opted to use it rather than rip it out and purchase new materials.

I have a question about the rod locker lid. Did you use the old one as a pattern, or did you just measure and cut a straight piece of plywood? I can't tell for sure but I think the side of the boat is curved a little, not sure if the lid needs to be as well. I don't have the old one to trace the pattern.

Additionally, are you going to reuse the old drop in hatch compartments in the rear deck? Mine are badly faded and brittle. Can't just make a plywood lid as there is no lip to support it, and the compartment is not lined.

I didn't use any of the old bins and lids, threw them all away. They were cracked and broken. The rod locker lid is straight plywood, didn't use a template. It is actually longer than the old one. I used the old hinges and put it far enough away from the side to deal with the curve. For the drop in compartments I used plastic bins from WalMart. I painted the outside black. This makes them dark and also the paint won't get scratched from the inside. They are wedged in with pink foam. To support the plywood lids I riveted angled aluminum to create structure (you can see the bins and the structure in some pictures on page 4, I will add some better ones later). For the rear deck. I actually added 1/2 plywood. The aluminum deck was warped and I cut several holes in it to get the foam out. So I used plywood to cover it rather than gluing the vinyl to the deck. I love the vinyl. I planned to use carpet, until a trip to Bass Pro changed my mind. I looked at the new Trackers with the vinyl and I knew that was the way to go. I have learned a lot of things through trial and error on this build, so feel free to ask as many questions as you need. I can hopefully save you some trouble with my lessons learned.

 

[MrGiggles]

Wish I would've seen this earlier, I brought an 84 Tournament V17 home two weeks ago with a 60hp Merc.

I really like that vinyl. Unfortunately the previous owner had already started rebuilding mine with tan carpet and included all the materials to finish it, so I opted to use it rather than rip it out and purchase new materials.

I have a question about the rod locker lid. Did you use the old one as a pattern, or did you just measure and cut a straight piece of plywood? I can't tell for sure but I think the side of the boat is curved a little, not sure if the lid needs to be as well. I don't have the old one to trace the pattern.

Additionally, are you going to reuse the old drop in hatch compartments in the rear deck? Mine are badly faded and brittle. Can't just make a plywood lid as there is no lip to support it, and the compartment is not lined.

I didn't use any of the old bins and lids, threw them all away. They were cracked and broken. The rod locker lid is straight plywood, didn't use a template. It is actually longer than the old one. I used the old hinges and put it far enough away from the side to deal with the curve. For the drop in compartments I used plastic bins from WalMart. I painted the outside black. This makes them dark and also the paint won't get scratched from the inside. They are wedged in with pink foam. To support the plywood lids I riveted angled aluminum to create structure (you can see the bins and the structure in some pictures on page 4, I will add some better ones later). For the rear deck. I actually added 1/2 plywood. The aluminum deck was warped and I cut several holes in it to get the foam out. So I used plywood to cover it rather than gluing the vinyl to the deck. I love the vinyl. I planned to use carpet, until a trip to Bass Pro changed my mind. I looked at the new Trackers with the vinyl and I knew that was the way to go. I have learned a lot of things through trial and error on this build, so feel free to ask as many questions as you need. I can hopefully save you some trouble with my lessons learned.

Thank you. That is great info.

Does the rod box lid use a piano hinge like the rest of the compartments?

 

[Duke62]

Rod locker had two hinges, no piano hinge. I painted them black and used them on the new door. The new door is bigger than the old. I attached pics of the hinges and the old door. Also a shot of the plastic bins.

 

[Duke62]

Disassembled the axle, hubs, leaf springs today. Bearings are totally shot. Stripped the paint from the axle and put two coats of primer on it.

 

[Duke62]

Made a little progress today. Cut bunks, drilled holes and attached carriage bolts. Will remove and cover with carpet tomorrow. Started running conduit for wiring. Hopefully I will get the hubs and bearings installed tomorrow. How do you like my trailer supports? Buckets from the big 3, Home Depot, Lowes, and Northern tool!

 

[Duke62]

All carpet installed on bunks and fender covers. Installed new hubs, that was an adventure. I bought hub kits from Northern Tool rather than buy the individual parts to rebuild my hubs, thought it would be easier. How wrong I was. The kits I bought were the only two they had that fit my axle. I should have known better. I could tell by the packaging they had been purchased and returned. I looked the best I could to make sure all parts were there. When I started to install them today, to my surprise there were parts missing. Also the kit comes with two seals, a 1.5 and 1.25. One of the kits I had came with two 1.25 seals, I need 1.5. On one kit they had installed the extra seal in the front of the hub. They actually hammered it in. The hub does not take a seal in the front. It was also obvious they tried to hammer a 1.25 seal onto a 1.5 shaft. The spring on the seal was damaged. This would have been easy if Northern Tool was close, but they're not. Thankfully I managed to get what I needed between Auto Zone and O'Reilly's. Hubs repaired and installed. Although I think I may have damaged one of the bearing buddys trying to get the grease gun off. Going to talk to Northern Tool about their return policy. Anything related to wheel bearings should be no return. Thankful for the progress, it is actually starting to look like a trailer again.

 

[MrGiggles]

Looks 100x better in black. :beer:

 

[Duke62]

Looks 100x better in black. :beer:

Agree