1987 bass tracker mod.

fishply · May 25, 2013

I,m currently guttin my tracker to convert to center console. and open floor. one Question I have is will the new steering cables work with my 87 mariner? I plan on replacing all the floorin with 3/4 ply. and building a console and side storage. and getting the whole thing coated with truck bed liner. any suggestions are appreciated. This is my first boat project. Also gonna rewire and new fuse box and switches.

fishply · May 25, 2013

here is where I'm at

Flat Bottom · May 27, 2013

You should have no problem getting new cables to fit your old engine, most of them are universal. 3/4 ply might be a bit much for the floor tho, thats gonna add a lot of weight.

Scorched · May 27, 2013

I used 1/2" with foam support in my tracker MV16, it was plenty and it's solid.

typed by ben · May 27, 2013

lookin good man. im with the others; 3/4 is mighty thick especially with those stringers 16" oc.

your cables will work, just coil them up in the rear under the gunwale. they wont know the difference

fishply · May 27, 2013

Thanks for the input. Gonna go with 1/2 ply with foam sheets cut to fit underneath. also gonna raise the floor stringers up 2". Found new cables at a fair price, Teleflex, have to get new with moving the console to center forward. new Throttle control is kind of pricey. #-o Gonna need new switches and fuse block etc. Not putting a speedometer or tach back on it, got it on GPS if I need to know.Trying to decide what I want to cover it with, carpet or non skid coating (truck bed liner). I definitely have a vision just hope I can put it all together, as long as its done by when the Salmon start runnin I'll be happy. Again thanks for the help and any other suggestions would be great. Like I said this is my first boat mod.... Hope I'm not in over my head :shock:

fishply · May 28, 2013

went and got the 1/2 ply,foam,hardware,primer, and a new cordless drill the old Dewalt was on its last leg. ordered throttle cables and steering cable and assembly, and ultra tuff top coat in sand color. still lookin for top mount throttle control. no hurry on that or electrical switches and fuse blocks etc. hoping to have the electrician from work come help with that later. not my thing...Hope to get at it this weekend, I'll post more pics on my progress next week. Fish on!

nlester · May 28, 2013

Your boat looks like it has really good bones. You are starting out way ahead of most mods.

fishply · May 28, 2013

Thanks. Got the boat from a guy at work who had it in his pole barn for 8 yrs. and never used it much when he did. Got lucky on this one, been a great boat the last couple yrs. My fishin partner got a 16ft deep V lund, so we decided to make this our river boat.

fishply · May 28, 2013

The day I bought it on the bottom and about a year later

Scorched · May 29, 2013

Make sure you do a leak test while its stripped, easier to find and fix leaks.

fishply · May 31, 2013

Did a leak test. 2 small leaks tacked and good. Gonna work on gettin the floor and deck cut and primed this weekend. and start fabing the center console. trying to work from the front back, seems like with the wiring and new cables it would be the right way? plus get the harder mods done first. Some of the storage and hatches are gonna be measure and make when I get there. Thinking about running the new cables and electrical through pvc up the side to underneath the front deck. Good idea or no? plan on boxing that in under a storage box. I'll get some pics of my progress to post later.... FISH ON! :fishing:

fishply · Jun 3, 2013

Got a little done this weekend. seems like more thinkin than workin sometimes. Stuck on what I should do for the center console..and the sides, wanna make some storage but trying to figure out how to attach it to the side of the boat with the contour ...? Should I just buy a console or fab one out of wood and cover it with fiber? anyone got any suggestions or links to consoles or plans for consoles. looked at a lot of pics but they dont have measurements. Still got a lot to do #-o