bryanc7688
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- Joined
- Nov 15, 2013
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Well let me start by saying how happy I am to come across this site... This is going to make the build a little bit easier for sure… Wednesday I was just browsing the good ole’ Craigslist and I came across a boat. (1989 Bass Tracker Pro 17 with 45hp Merc) After doing a little bit of research I came across this forum and couldn’t resist the urge to get an aluminum hull boat, sooo I do what I think we all would. Got in my truck drove 2 hours south to Tampa and bought the boat. ($1400)
I recently moved back to my home town (Ocala) from Orlando after living there for 8 years for college and then just stayed because the fishing was so great just down the road in the Mosquito Lagoon. With that being said I am only about 45 minutes from Yankeetown now and well I don’t want to beat the hell out my skiff so I decided it’s time to part with it, and start over with an aluminum build.
Back to the Bass Tracker aka FLATS HOOKER… Boat was in actually good shape from the eye and most people wouldn’t bother going through it however I have a couple other boats that I can fish in the meantime and wanted a project to work on with my dad.
Soo the demo work has begun… Removing the carpet, center console, captain’s chair, and vacuuming the bottom out… At least 50lbs in just dirt and leafs in there. Here's some photos from day 1.
THE GAME PLAN:
- Week 1: Demo decks/console to an empty hull, remove motor off the hull, water leak test on hull, fix any hull problems with hull, Remove all stickers off hull, take boat off trailer
- Week 2: Prep for steelflex paint on bottom of hull and paint, prep and paint interior & exterior of hull, prep and paint motor, patch up center console and paint, insert cd player and speakers, new gauges.
- Week 3: work on trailer: new tires/hubs, trailer lights, crank winch, replace trailer bunks and carpet, paint trailer.
- Week 4: Put hull back on trailer, aluminum frame for decking, new electrical wiring, insert front deck foam, carpet and insert decking, put motor back on hull.
- Week 5: Replace water pump impeller, cosmetics, install push pole platform, and test run.
- Week 6: Load the cooler up with fish…
- 12 month goal: Replace motor with jet drive
Owning an aluminum contracting company is going to be nice for this one!
Any suggestions please feel free to let me know... Thanks! BTW this is my first forum post ever!! I'm always just a reader..
Now... What color paint to go with?...
I recently moved back to my home town (Ocala) from Orlando after living there for 8 years for college and then just stayed because the fishing was so great just down the road in the Mosquito Lagoon. With that being said I am only about 45 minutes from Yankeetown now and well I don’t want to beat the hell out my skiff so I decided it’s time to part with it, and start over with an aluminum build.
Back to the Bass Tracker aka FLATS HOOKER… Boat was in actually good shape from the eye and most people wouldn’t bother going through it however I have a couple other boats that I can fish in the meantime and wanted a project to work on with my dad.
Soo the demo work has begun… Removing the carpet, center console, captain’s chair, and vacuuming the bottom out… At least 50lbs in just dirt and leafs in there. Here's some photos from day 1.
THE GAME PLAN:
- Week 1: Demo decks/console to an empty hull, remove motor off the hull, water leak test on hull, fix any hull problems with hull, Remove all stickers off hull, take boat off trailer
- Week 2: Prep for steelflex paint on bottom of hull and paint, prep and paint interior & exterior of hull, prep and paint motor, patch up center console and paint, insert cd player and speakers, new gauges.
- Week 3: work on trailer: new tires/hubs, trailer lights, crank winch, replace trailer bunks and carpet, paint trailer.
- Week 4: Put hull back on trailer, aluminum frame for decking, new electrical wiring, insert front deck foam, carpet and insert decking, put motor back on hull.
- Week 5: Replace water pump impeller, cosmetics, install push pole platform, and test run.
- Week 6: Load the cooler up with fish…
- 12 month goal: Replace motor with jet drive
Owning an aluminum contracting company is going to be nice for this one!
Any suggestions please feel free to let me know... Thanks! BTW this is my first forum post ever!! I'm always just a reader..
Now... What color paint to go with?...