1990 Tracker Pro Deep V17

[jerseycat9]

Well the time has finally come. I've setup 2 other trackers using the ideas and knowledge I've gained on tinboats, one a Topper 14, and the other was a 1983 Bass Tracker III. I learned a ton but those were mere add ons and upgrades. This project is going to be much more involved and time consuming as well as wallet consuming.

Way back when in 1990 my grandfather bought a Tracker Pro Deep V17 which was a high brow boat for my family back in them days. My grandfather was always in poor health due to the company he once worked on poisoning him over time with caustic chemicals that they stayed hush hush on its evil side effects. He knew he wasn't gonna be around forever but he always used to tell me that "Peach, yes my nickname was Peach growing up, this is your boat when you grow up and don't let anyone tell you different". Well when he died the family went to crap and there was a lot of people that just looted his fishing stuff and the boat included. My aunt got the boat out from under my grandmother and I spent the next 17 years begging her to sell me my boat back. Not only did I want what was always supposed to be mine but they weren't using it and it was just sitting in their yard going to crap.

Well hell froze over and she called and we made a deal. It wasn't registered since 2011 and didn't hit the water again till she finally sold it back to me in 2017. I payed $3500 for it mostly because of the barely used 60hp 4 stroke mercury on the back of it. Now of course that boat motor wasn't stored properly so ethanol just had it's way with a lot of parts on it and almost 2 years later on still fighting gremlins from time to time as a result.

My plan is to convert it over to vinyl flooring like the newer Trackers for a few different reasons. The wood is pretty much shot throughout and I've been in the process of ripping the flooring and carpet up for the past couple days. My uncle used nothing but sheetrock screws throughout the boat when he "fixed it up" so all hardware is rotted away to nubs and also lots of other rinky dink hack work on the wiring and other things in gonna have to tackle. I'm using the same game plan as a few other members on this site have done on the same model with the carpet to vinyl conversion. There maybe modifications made to the layout but I'm not quite sure if I want to change due to the sentimental reasons, that's a decision I'll make when im putting the flooring in. I don't have a lot of pre rip out pictures but rest assured the floor was a total loss with no wood able to be salvaged for a reinstall.

 

[jerseycat9]

Here's a couple more.

PS that's not me in the picture lol

 

[jerseycat9]

Here's the current progress. I plan on sticking with the updates throughout the build to help chip in and give back after all the cool ideas and tricks I've learned from this site over the years. Any ideas are gladly welcome and encouraged

 

[jerseycat9]

Oops forgot the pics.

 

[Weldorthemagnificent]

I really like those v hull trackers. Sharp looking boats. Good luck with the refresh!

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[jerseycat9]

I really like those v hull trackers. Sharp looking boats. Good luck with the refresh!

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Thanks! Sitting for all those years in the New England winters with all that moisture took its toll but this old tin boat means the world to me so she's gonna get the royal makeover. This time she should hold up well since I relocated her down here to Georgia with me. I'm just gonna have to be patient and stay the course and under no circumstances cut corners or put something off till later just to get on the water faster.

 

[thedude]

Great boat and thanks for sharing the story. I love the open layout.

If you are looking for upgrades check out millennium seats. I have mine on 12 inch posts and love them.

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[jerseycat9]

I have almost all of the wood pulled up but I broke my sawzall blade and didn't have time to run out and grab more. There is not one screw anywhere that can be removed with the drill or screw driver but it's just the face that's rotted away so i cant just pry it up without twisting metal and loosening rivets. Some screws I drill out and others where applicable I just cut them with the sawzall. It's slow goes it but I dont wanna break anything or create any new problems trying to solve old problems. I'm going to leave the main floor intact to have somewhere to stand while I do all my prep work to the boxes and storage areas.

Im going to paint all of the vertical surfaces that originally had carpet cause using vinyl on those surfaces would just look dumb. Ive decided I'm also going to be relocating battery boxes to accommodate my 24v trolling motor and balance out the boat better.

 

[jerseycat9]

One of the transom caps came off when I had the boat shipped from Jersey to Georgia. I was going to just do one but I liked how well the first one came out so I decided to make a pair that way I didn't have one stainless and one cast aluminum. I'm a machinist by trade, manual and CNC but mostly manual these days, so it's not that big of a deal to machine certain parts from scratch. I don't do much welding but I have access to some of the best stainless and aluminum welders in North Georgia and a good portion of those guys owe me favors for some off the radar machining jobs here abd there over the years and i think its time to cash in those favors lol.

 

[jerseycat9]

Sorry for the delay guys and gals life got in the way of my refurb project. I ordered the vinyl and glue last night and I'm taking the week off for memorial day to knock it out and move on to my next project.

 

[jigngrub]

That vinyl isn't as easy as it looks, is it Terry?!

 

[jerseycat9]

That vinyl isn't as easy as it looks, is it Terry?!

I didnt like how the first piece came out so I ripped it apart and started over. Spent some time researching on a few different ways to wrap it and settles on what I felt was best. By the second peice I was rocking and rolling. It went from just a basic carpet to vinyl project and has since turned into a full on restoration project.

And I deleted my FB account btw jigngrub. Your help has been invaluable.

This weekend it's all about finishing the interiors metal painting and glossing. The front metal flashing and console box are what the new interior color will be after this weekend.

 

[jerseycat9]

Man I tell ya! As far as all the trades go I have worn many hats and have found Plumber and Machinist to be the best fits for my life but I've spent time in almost all of them trying to find what git me best. I was a plumber the first half of my working career and then I decided although the money was excellent, as I routinely made over $80k a year doing something thing I mostly enjoyed, plumbing was not something that was easy on the body since I did mostly remodel work which was most profitable and interesting.

I decided to make a switch and pursued becoming a machinist where the money was similar and the work was extremely satisfying and challenging. Fast forward I now have a decade in the trade and am well payed and highly respected for my ingenuity amongst my coworkers. I'm the one you bring the problem too when you've exhausted all ideas and tricks.

Now to wrap up my ramble; I hate painting!! This is the trade I have the most ire for lol. The whole process, the taping, the edging the precision, the patience etc etc etc. It takes all this work and preparation and then still takes forever after that to complete!!! I know 2 different painters who have their own business with dozens of employees and they make serious bank and started from nothing to get there. I have had a handful of opportunities to go into this business myself as it turns out I'm pretty good at painting both household and automotive but dang it man I freaking hate painting!!! :LOL2: Ok. Rant over. Time to get back to painting and madking surfaces

 

[jerseycat9]

Word of warning. I decided to just buy a box of stainless steel 18-8 #10 1-1/2 panhead screws for the flooring from Westmarine. I was there getting something else and they looked to be of decent quality so I said screw it and bought them due to convenience of not having to hunt them down elsewhere. I understand that stainless has a tendency to want to twist and spin off the head of screws and bolts cause I deal with it all the time at work since stainless is 95% of what I machine but these things SUCK!! It took zero effort for these screws to twist apart even drilling a oversized pilot hole. The minor diameter for #10 screws calls for 1/8 pilot hole and I even took it up to 9/64 and they still tried to screw me over (pun intended). I attempted using 4 of them and one broke off and left nothing to grab but a 1/8 inch stub sticking up through the vinyl :evil: It's in the back of the boat just barely in front of the tank area so it shouldn't be an issue but I know it's there and its pissing me off. In the end I had 2 more that twisted and were on the verge of breaking and one successfully fasten. Doesnt take a genius to figure out this isn't good odds when you have 100+ screws to sink. I demanded a refund on both boxes even the opened box. At first the girl at the counter said she couldn't sp I asked for her manager. After a little guilting the manager for me having to suffer due to the quality and how the screws actually left permanent issue with my finished product they refunded me 100%. I was pretty PO'd at the whole fiasco.

I decided to abandon that style of screw all together and went with stainless steel #10 self drilling modified truss screws. They have a much wider pan style head which will also eliminate the need for a washer as long as I dab a bit of sealer underneath to give it a little lube to keep from twisting the vinyl as I torque down and this will also seal the screw holes to prevent water intrusion when it cures.

Long story short; dont buy those crappy screws from Westmarine!! The convenience isnt worth the work stoppage down the line due to inferior quality.

 

[PBRMINER]

Your story hits home. I went with my grandpa in 1988 when he picked up his brand new 1988 Ford F150. I was the only one who had interest in vehicles and he wanted me to have it. When we pulled it out of the garage and the family saw that it was in mint condition with 18,000 miles, they saw a payday. I ended up having to buy it. I had a brand new pickup so it's not like I needed it but I had to have it and I will never regret paying for it. Nice boat!

 

[randyo3629]

i'm getting ready to do the vinyl on my 90 deep v 17.
you mentioned you didnt like the way the vinyl appeared on the floor on your first attempt. what was wrong with it. (so i know what to look out for).

this will be my first attempt at using vinyl.
was it easy to wrap the lids?

any more advice would be helpful.

enjoyed reading your story on the boat.

just shows you can't trust relatives..they can be very two-faced.

 

[jerseycat9]

i'm getting ready to do the vinyl on my 90 deep v 17.
you mentioned you didnt like the way the vinyl appeared on the floor on your first attempt. what was wrong with it. (so i know what to look out for).

this will be my first attempt at using vinyl.
was it easy to wrap the lids?

any more advice would be helpful.

enjoyed reading your story on the boat.

just shows you can't trust relatives..they can be very two-faced.

Hey man sorry I didn't reply. I don't have tinboats linked up to my email address I hope your project went well

 

[jerseycat9]

Well it's finished. The project got pit together side for a minute while I focused on some old truck projects.

Finished up the wiring last weekend after I got frustrated and cut the original wire harness and fuse panels out and started over from scratch.
I think it came out pretty good but I'll probably fabricate new hatches out of aluminum diamond plate down the road at some point.

 

[Weldorthemagnificent]

Nice! I like that boat!

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