BossHogg
Active member
She's a 16' Tracker sportsman with 48" across the bottom of the hull, and just shy of 70" across the gunwales at the stern. It came with a 24V bow mount TM, 12V transom mount TM, 1993 Johnson 9.9, stern and bow fish finders, 3 deep cycle batteries, and a EZ Loader trailer. Package was $1,200.00 and at first I thought I got a great deal. Then I got her home and started digging.. o.0 It's been sitting outside for at least the past 2 years uncovered. I'm sure the batteries are shot and I wouldn't be surprised if I need new FF's and TM's too. I already replaced both trailer wheels. A friend of a friend is going through a bankruptcy and needed to get rid of it fast. I googled it, and found almost nothing on this exact boat, so if anyone has any experience with it I'd be very appreciative!
Anyway, I picked her up this past Sunday, and have had her in the garage tearing the old conversion out and shop-vaccing. I have also been spending a fair amount of time lurking here and trying to wrap my head around this project. You guys are awesome! It makes me wonder how people pulled stuff like this off pre-net! lol.. lots of trial and error I suppose.
Ok, a little background:
I fished like a fiend for several years starting back in the late 80's and through the mid 90's. In about 96' I basically traded it in for the game of golf. Well here it is almost 2010, and I got my handicap index down to the mid 8's, and I'm burnt to a crisp on the game. I'm ready to shift gears again and start chasing little (hopefully not too little) green fish! If I were to keep golfing, I think I could expect a short life as my head would likely explode some day. #-o
Occupation:
The only reason I'm including this is to provide a bit of a peek into my design / workmanship habits and tendencies. I have spent the last 13 years working in various capacities for a company that does contract machining work for the medical device industry. I made my rounds through many different departments. I have done fixture design and fabrication, programming, setup, and pretty much anything else that needed done. Here's part of what scares me a bit about tackling a project like this.. If you need an implant made to +/-.0001", I'm your man. But a carpenter I AM NOT! lol. The previous conversion that was built into this boat was done by a machinist, and I damned-near had to cut it out with a sawzall to get it out and it wasn't even fastened to the hull. (see pics)
Except for fixture design, I have always had drawings to work from. And even then, the way in which the workpiece is dimensioned and toleranced basically dictates (along with the machine tool envelope, throughput quantity, and machining discipline) the jig design.
Anyway, I need to always be on guard against over-thinking or over-engineering things. Form, Fit, and Function right? Right!
I'm still very early in the design stage, and haven't even decided if I'm going to repaint her, so if any of you guys have any suggestions, thoughts, or ideas, I'm all ears, and now's the time, so speak up! I have to get this done in like 3 months tops!
Some random thoughts that have been bouncing around while lurking and tearing apart the old build, so keep in mind, just brainstorming at this point.
1) DO NOT copy what the last guy did! lmao..
2) I notice some people choose to put the bow pedestal bracket almost right against the drop behind them. I'm thinking I'd like to be able to keep almost all of my gear behind me so that when I want to swap something out, I can just spin around, and there it is. I'd never have to get out of my seat to tie something different on, and it would keep the area in front of me free of clutter to stand, move about a bit, fight a hogg, or w/e. Maybe tackle storage in recessed pockets in front of me or off to the side?
3) The boat came with 6 gal can and two deep cycles all in the area behind the last bench against the transom. I'd like to redistribute this weight a little more evenly.
4) I'm undecided about the center bench. It has a built-in bait/live well, and I think I'd like to have one at least at some point in the event I decide to join an area electric-only club, but I'm unsure of the best way to go about accommodating this; especially since I'd like to include an 8' rod locker. Prefab maybe? Have to look into that.
5) I would like a centralized electrical panel with toggles for all devices and easy access to both the front and back of the panel; or at least design it so that it's very easy to remove and gain access to the back-side should something need added or removed later-on. Oh, also, an on-board charging system.
6) Modular decking design? I'd like to explore the possibility of being able to just reach down, grab a couple of recessed handles and pull out a section of deck if I need to. Has anybody ever attempted a floating/sectional deck design?
7) Since my harrowing experience tearing out the old decking, I've looked into the possibility of using Seaboard as my deck material. Has anyone used this before? Any known pitfalls associated with its use? I'm thinking gluing carpet may be one, but that's an unknown at this point. For the last couple of years I've been working as an estimator, and as a result I have acquired a modest network of vendors. I contacted one of my plastics vendors the other day and they can offer me 3/4" x 54" x 96" (1 or 2 pcs) for $306.00/ea. Pretty sure I'd need 2 sheets. 3/4" thick enough in Seaboard? Probably depends on my framing and how close together my supports are I suppose.
Ok, getting a little long-winded here now so I'll wrap it up and post some pics. Again, speak up guys! Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi.. You're my only hope! lol
Bow deck as it was. I thought the moss was a nice touch. Gives it that "rustic" look.
Stern end as it was.
More moss! o.0
Original battery / outboard fuel area
Mid-boat view of live/bait well and a little platform they put in I guess to support a 3rd seat.
The stern seat on a scissor-type adjustable riser.
Removed batteries and got out the shop-vac
After a little cleaning up. Ok, a lot of cleaning up!
Little raised platform.. seen better days
This is the underside of the decking in front of stern passenger. Oh, btw, this thing probably weighed at least 100 lbs. Thought I was gonna have a hernia getting it out by myself!
Nice! Seaboard here I come!?
yup! You counted right. 16 screws holding down 1 pedestal base. Oh, and all fasteners used in this boat were neither aluminum nor SS, and almost all were torx. I already feel like I have been beat up and I haven't even built anything yet! lol
Bow deck after removal. Yup, that's a 2x6. Again, probably 100 lbs.
So there we have it! I wanted to post those as prime examples of what NOT to do and as a frame of reference for a starting point.
Things will naturally be a bit busy through the holidays, but after that it's full steam ahead!
Anyway, I picked her up this past Sunday, and have had her in the garage tearing the old conversion out and shop-vaccing. I have also been spending a fair amount of time lurking here and trying to wrap my head around this project. You guys are awesome! It makes me wonder how people pulled stuff like this off pre-net! lol.. lots of trial and error I suppose.
Ok, a little background:
I fished like a fiend for several years starting back in the late 80's and through the mid 90's. In about 96' I basically traded it in for the game of golf. Well here it is almost 2010, and I got my handicap index down to the mid 8's, and I'm burnt to a crisp on the game. I'm ready to shift gears again and start chasing little (hopefully not too little) green fish! If I were to keep golfing, I think I could expect a short life as my head would likely explode some day. #-o
Occupation:
The only reason I'm including this is to provide a bit of a peek into my design / workmanship habits and tendencies. I have spent the last 13 years working in various capacities for a company that does contract machining work for the medical device industry. I made my rounds through many different departments. I have done fixture design and fabrication, programming, setup, and pretty much anything else that needed done. Here's part of what scares me a bit about tackling a project like this.. If you need an implant made to +/-.0001", I'm your man. But a carpenter I AM NOT! lol. The previous conversion that was built into this boat was done by a machinist, and I damned-near had to cut it out with a sawzall to get it out and it wasn't even fastened to the hull. (see pics)
Except for fixture design, I have always had drawings to work from. And even then, the way in which the workpiece is dimensioned and toleranced basically dictates (along with the machine tool envelope, throughput quantity, and machining discipline) the jig design.
Anyway, I need to always be on guard against over-thinking or over-engineering things. Form, Fit, and Function right? Right!
I'm still very early in the design stage, and haven't even decided if I'm going to repaint her, so if any of you guys have any suggestions, thoughts, or ideas, I'm all ears, and now's the time, so speak up! I have to get this done in like 3 months tops!
Some random thoughts that have been bouncing around while lurking and tearing apart the old build, so keep in mind, just brainstorming at this point.
1) DO NOT copy what the last guy did! lmao..
2) I notice some people choose to put the bow pedestal bracket almost right against the drop behind them. I'm thinking I'd like to be able to keep almost all of my gear behind me so that when I want to swap something out, I can just spin around, and there it is. I'd never have to get out of my seat to tie something different on, and it would keep the area in front of me free of clutter to stand, move about a bit, fight a hogg, or w/e. Maybe tackle storage in recessed pockets in front of me or off to the side?
3) The boat came with 6 gal can and two deep cycles all in the area behind the last bench against the transom. I'd like to redistribute this weight a little more evenly.
4) I'm undecided about the center bench. It has a built-in bait/live well, and I think I'd like to have one at least at some point in the event I decide to join an area electric-only club, but I'm unsure of the best way to go about accommodating this; especially since I'd like to include an 8' rod locker. Prefab maybe? Have to look into that.
5) I would like a centralized electrical panel with toggles for all devices and easy access to both the front and back of the panel; or at least design it so that it's very easy to remove and gain access to the back-side should something need added or removed later-on. Oh, also, an on-board charging system.
6) Modular decking design? I'd like to explore the possibility of being able to just reach down, grab a couple of recessed handles and pull out a section of deck if I need to. Has anybody ever attempted a floating/sectional deck design?
7) Since my harrowing experience tearing out the old decking, I've looked into the possibility of using Seaboard as my deck material. Has anyone used this before? Any known pitfalls associated with its use? I'm thinking gluing carpet may be one, but that's an unknown at this point. For the last couple of years I've been working as an estimator, and as a result I have acquired a modest network of vendors. I contacted one of my plastics vendors the other day and they can offer me 3/4" x 54" x 96" (1 or 2 pcs) for $306.00/ea. Pretty sure I'd need 2 sheets. 3/4" thick enough in Seaboard? Probably depends on my framing and how close together my supports are I suppose.
Ok, getting a little long-winded here now so I'll wrap it up and post some pics. Again, speak up guys! Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi.. You're my only hope! lol
Bow deck as it was. I thought the moss was a nice touch. Gives it that "rustic" look.
Stern end as it was.
More moss! o.0
Original battery / outboard fuel area
Mid-boat view of live/bait well and a little platform they put in I guess to support a 3rd seat.
The stern seat on a scissor-type adjustable riser.
Removed batteries and got out the shop-vac
After a little cleaning up. Ok, a lot of cleaning up!
Little raised platform.. seen better days
This is the underside of the decking in front of stern passenger. Oh, btw, this thing probably weighed at least 100 lbs. Thought I was gonna have a hernia getting it out by myself!
Nice! Seaboard here I come!?
yup! You counted right. 16 screws holding down 1 pedestal base. Oh, and all fasteners used in this boat were neither aluminum nor SS, and almost all were torx. I already feel like I have been beat up and I haven't even built anything yet! lol
Bow deck after removal. Yup, that's a 2x6. Again, probably 100 lbs.
So there we have it! I wanted to post those as prime examples of what NOT to do and as a frame of reference for a starting point.
Things will naturally be a bit busy through the holidays, but after that it's full steam ahead!