Alumacraft 1542 Front Deck Layout Help Needed

[fwman1]

Some really easy storage to access is under the front deck of your boat. If it is similar to my Alumacraft, it is open, and not filled with foam. A quick Amazon hatch and you have an easily accessible, pretty dry area. I keep my paperwork, and bags of plastics in this area.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q887FF9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[fwman1]

Something like this:

View attachment 113842

This is how I transferred vertical loads to the seat. I trimmed the. 2" angle height. This was riveted to the seat lip. I then used angle stock to accomplish what LDUBS is illustrating. It is solid, and pretty fast to do.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Advantages? Such as? Maybe if your 5' tall the extra foot will put you on par with your 6' buddy? I don't fish for bass though, water hereabouts seems to murky for 'em.

 

[wis bang]

My same thoughts, just install a flat floor in it to make a flat surface for casting from and keep you from tripping on the ribs, personally I would do that before I would put a raised deck on it.

I found a moss and mold covered alumacraft 'Crappie Jon' in a driveway. The interior ribs and sides were covered with aluminum sheet and the two seats are on storage pedistal boxes. Cleaned, sanded, primed, and painted then re-carpet without any thoughts of decking. Shallow draft but able to handle 20hp [I use a 3.5 tohatsu] fine on the area lakes and the Delaware north of Trenton. It will handle two people but usually I am alone with no problem switching seats between outboard and trolling motor.

 

[PriceTR24speed]

Advantages? Such as? Maybe if your 5' tall the extra foot will put you on par with your 6' buddy? I don't fish for bass though, water hereabouts seems to murky for 'em.

Yea - it’s a Bass fishing thing. And I might resemble that comment about needing the extra foot……

 

[beagle]

I don't know if this will help any but Alumacraft did a 15' "Bass Pro" version in the 70's that had casting decks. I have one that is buried right now but I'll try to get some pictures of the structure for you. The brochure might give you some ideas? ALUMA-MY77-Catalog-ENUS

 

[PriceTR24speed]

I don't know if this will help any but Alumacraft did a 15' "Bass Pro" version in the 70's that had casting decks. I have one that is buried right now but I'll try to get some pictures of the structure for you. The brochure might give you some ideas? ALUMA-MY77-Catalog-ENUS

That's awesome - Thanks!

 

[jtsokes]

I have a 1648 with the lip on the front deck. I saw online where a DIYer was using pop rivets to attach angle directly to the lip. That’s what I’m going to try and use aluminum as the deck extension. In other words the angle will be attached just a little less than flush than the deck to account for the width of the aluminum decking. Using .09 aluminum for the decking. If it doesn’t seem sturdy enough I’ll brace the angle from below.

 

[jtsokes]

Original casting deck when purchased

 

[jtsokes]

Original casting deck when purchased

Plywood and steel.

 

[jtsokes]

Prior owner was using lag bolts to attach to the deck. I used an endoscope to look behind the front deck. There is 3/4 inch plywood below the metal then a 1/4 inch gap then styrofoam. The model year of this boat is 2016. The issue with the lag bolts was that they would really only fasten to the metal at that level,

 

[jtsokes]

Prior owner was using lag bolts to attach to the deck. I used an endoscope to look behind the front deck. There is 3/4 inch plywood below the metal then a 1/4 inch gap then styrofoam. The model year of this boat is 2016. The issue with the lag bolts was that they would really only fasten to the metal at that level,

Carpet glue was brutal. Will never put carpet down again. Heat gun and scraper for 4-5 hours then sanded down.

 

[jtsokes]

Carpet glue was brutal. Will never put carpet down again. Heat gun and scraper for 4-5 hours then sanded down.

After sanding painted with topside primer then attached 1/16 angle using pop rivets. Left a small gap for aluminum deck.

 

[jtsokes]

After sanding painted with topside primer then attached 1/16 angle using pop rivets. Left a small gap for aluminum deck.

Added aluminum deck and test fitting of seat mounts. Setting boat up for crappie. Work in progress…

 

[PriceTR24speed]

This is how I transferred vertical loads to the seat. I trimmed the. 2" angle height. This was riveted to the seat lip. I then used angle stock to accomplish what LDUBS is illustrating. It is solid, and pretty fast to do.
View attachment 114924

Thanks for reply - looks like a great way to attach to the lip. What flooring did you use for the deck and how far back did you extend it?

 

[PriceTR24speed]

Added aluminum deck and test fitting of seat mounts. Setting boat up for crappie. Work in progress…

That looks great and thanks for the pics!
In my boat the front deck is not level - slopes down towards back (see my bad drawing 1st page). Is yours that way? It looks like you matched the deck to the slope of the front deck?
Are the seat pedestals going to be attached to just the decking, or the decking and supports underneath? Are you using a backing plate under them?
Thanks for the help.

 

[fwman1]

Thanks for reply - looks like a great way to attach to the lip. What flooring did you use for the deck and how far back did you extend it?

I used the FRP/polystyrene composite from my thread where you asked a question. It is flush with the middle seat and runs to the bottom of the lip of the front seat/deck. So my deck is on plane with the middle seat, giving me the longest run of deck that is flat.

 

[jtsokes]

That looks great and thanks for the pics!
In my boat the front deck is not level - slopes down towards back (see my bad drawing 1st page). Is yours that way? It looks like you matched the deck to the slope of the front deck?
Are the seat pedestals going to be attached to just the decking, or the decking and supports underneath? Are you using a backing plate under them?
Thanks for the help.

Yes, matched the slope of the front deck. Wasn’t a fancy method just put a level on the front deck and drew a line to the ribs and then used some judgment to account for the thickness of the aluminum. The vertical 1 inch tubing was fitted to purposely support the outer mounts. They are 33 inches a part on center. Attached just to the deck and not usng back plates. Going to see how things feel on the water and adjust as needed. It will be easy to add additional support as the deck extension will be attached with machine screws where I can reach the fastener underneath the deck and either blind rivets or rivet nuts where I can’t reach the fastener underneath. In other words, I’ll be able to pull the deck out if needed.

 

[PriceTR24speed]

Yes, matched the slope of the front deck. Wasn’t a fancy method just put a level on the front deck and drew a line to the ribs and then used some judgment to account for the thickness of the aluminum. The vertical 1 inch tubing was fitted to purposely support the outer mounts. They are 33 inches a part on center. Attached just to the deck and not usng back plates. Going to see how things feel on the water and adjust as needed. It will be easy to add additional support as the deck extension will be attached with machine screws where I can reach the fastener underneath the deck and either blind rivets or rivet nuts where I can’t reach the fastener underneath. In other words, I’ll be able to pull the deck out if needed.

Have you had a chance to get it in the water yet to see if your front deck is level when you’re floating?

 

[jtsokes]

Have you had a chance to get it in the water yet to see if your front deck is level when you’re floating