1987 Bass Tracker Overhaul

[capperja]

Good Evening all,

New to posting but I've been lurking through everyone's rebuilds over the past two months and gearing up to rebuild my own recent purchase. A couple months ago I bought an old 1987 Bass Tracker with the 35hp Mercury on it. Guys before me stripped it and set it up for bow fishing. The layout fits my needs perfectly but I want to do away with plywood and instead use aluminum, seadek (or similar), and nice hatches. I also saw that all of the wiring needs redone so I decided to remove everything and start from scratch. Attached are some pics from when I purchased it and how it is now after stripping most of it. I'll first need to address the rotten transom. From there, gluvit, repaint, and then foam. Then additional aluminum bracing to create compartments and lastly decking. If you guys have any advice, I'm all ears and will be sure to post progress as it comes along. This is mostly inspired by the "Flats Tracker" project from rook.

 

[capperja]

Had some time the other day to finally rip out the rest of the foam, extremely glad I did as it was very saturated with water. Here’s where I’m at after removing the last pod of foam and pressure washing. I need some recommendations on a good aluminum cleaner, have heard of star brite and luma brite. I could also use water and vinegar and scouring pad, if you guys have any advice I’m all ears. Really want to get rid of the rust stains and other crap from the old foam sitting wet for so long.
Got the rest of the old wiring out and random wood pieces as well as the last aluminum tray for the battery and gas tank. Next step aside from a thorough cleaning will be the transom, then prep and paint. The trailer needs attention too. Has anyone used 3/4” pvc instead of wood and carpet with success for the bunks? Really excited for this thing to progress after the transom.

 

[Bass Tracker 93]

Alumabright works great and xylene for anything sticky like glue residue from carpeting. I recommend tiny boat nation and Anthony Jones on you tube for great how to videos. Send it jon boats is another good one to watch. Oh, tricked tins, he is a welder who works on boats so has some cool creations. Never used pvc board.

Been restoring a 93 tracker this summer so I feel your pain with the nasty soaked foam. I had a lot of pin holes in my floor so if they were big I drilled them out and used a closed rivet and 5200. If tiny I used flexpoxy from total boat. Keep posting pics.

 

[capperja]

Thanks for the reply and all of the recommendations. I should have some free time this week to get it cleaned up good, outboard off, and over to someone to assist with rebuilding the transom. I looked into those resources and most certainly will be referencing them in the future. Need to do some research as I’m going to do a combination of foam sheeting and pour in, I think. More pics and progress to come in the next week.

 

[capperja]

Had two days to work on getting the bare aluminum cleaned up and make a stand/run the outboard. Next step is getting the boat to someone to help me also a new transom in it. Once that’s done I should be able to make progress on prep, gluv it, and painting. I’m thinking either khaki or FDE right . Here are some pics to compare from previous progress.

 

[capperja]

Thank you much! Had time to address the transom thankfully with the help of a friend’s referral. Should be much much stronger than before. Back needed a whole new skin since the paint hid some serious pitting, also added a mount for a transducer in the future.

I’d really like to sell the 2 stroke mercury 35hp and get a jet prop instead at some point, do you all have any recommendations? I’d prefer not to buy new and figured putting a jet prop on this would dog it’s power too much. Let me know your alls thoughts. Going to do some work on the trailer soon, leaf springs, touch up paint, bearings, and new bunks and starting the boat ready for gluvit and paint.

 

[capperja]

Got some work done on the trailer, making my own bunk glides and going to clean up the leaf springs and put new hubs on this weekend. Have been busy traveling lately. Also, saw a late 80’s model Yamaha 70 for sale locally with controls. What do you all think it’s worth if in good running shape?

 

[Bass Tracker 93]

Looking great, keep us updated

 

[capperja]

Progress has been slow lately, between weddings and overtime I haven’t been able to finish the trailer up quite yet. I did take advantage of two deals on Fb lately, a’92 Mercury 60/40 with jet drive and original lower unit, controls, and power trim as well as an RPD center console. Very excited to keep moving along.

 

[capperja]

Pics

 

[capperja]

Taking some time off of work, getting a bunch done. Scored a bunch of street signs that I’m going to use for decking, debating having someone weld metal in but after I got the street signs for free I decided I’ll rivet them in and use seaflo or similar doors for my compartments.
Found some corrosion and putting on the bottom of the hill, previous owner paint it on the trailer and probably didn’t look or care to look that closely. Wire wheeled those spots and around every rivet. Applied jb weld marine epoxy over the corrosion and cleaning those areas with an aluminum clean. Then applied gluv it to the outside of every rivet and over the jb weld (hopefully I can get a couple years before it has to be cut out and patches welded in.
Also got my trailer hubs in, ran into an issue with a previous ordered set, inner grease seal diameter was too big, these are from etrailer for a 2500lb axle .
Also finished my diy bunk glides, attached and sanded with 220grit, I hope they work well. I made them from 2x4 covered in resin, sistered with 3/4” pvc sheet, countersunk my screws and marine epoxied over the holes. Also replaced the keel roller, strap and built my side steps out of the same pvc, put skateboard tape over them and the wheel wells for traction.
Once the gluv it cures I’ll sand and paint with a primer, waiting for my Parker’s marsh grass paint to come in. Excited to keep moving along.

 

[capperja]

More pics

 

[Jim]

Wow! Really coming along! Nice work so far!

 

[capperja]

Thank you very much! Hope to make some more progress over the next week

 

[capperja]

Was setback today, had every intention of putting gluv it on the rivets inside of the hull and taking care of 2 problem areas with some marine epoxy…. The more I cleaned the more I found. So I decided to set everything down, step away, and go do something else for the rest of the day and leave my frustrations. Looked into aluminum brazing and aside from welding I believe that will be the proper fix for these pinholes and corrosion. I don’t expect a lifetime out of this thing but hopefully 3 years. I’ll be back at it tomorrow with an update and pictures.

The one picture just picked up glare, there are no through holes that I’ve found.

 

[capperja]

Attached

 

[capperja]

Put 2 brazing sticks into the hull, patched what I thought was necessary, realize now I only took one picture of the brazing. Primed it and coated every rivet and seam with gluv it. My brazing isn’t pretty but it seemed strong. Now to let everything cure. Waiting for my Parker’s marsh grass to come in and will start making these signs into decking starting next week. (Don’t mind the two different colors of primer)

 

[capperja]

Got two coats down on the inside today. Parker’s Duck Boat- Marsh Grass

 

[capperja]

Mist coat and full on the outside, gonna try and do one more on Monday. Wish I had smoothed out or sanded the gluvit more but oh well. It’s a river boat for hunting and fishing.

 

[LDUBS]

Looks like a new boat!