PriceTR24speed
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- Jan 27, 2023
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- Katy Texas
Have a new-to-me Alumacraft 1542 with side console steering and really struggling to come up with a plan/design for a front deck. My want is to deck from the existing stock bow seat (deck?) back to the middle seat with storage underneath and a pedestal seat. Plan to use under the middle seat for storage also. I have a bow mount remote control (no foot pedal) trolling motor to install. Plan to use aluminum framing and plywood decking.
I am a complete newbie so have been searching everything I can find. The problem has been that the Alumacraft is built a little differently than most other popular 1542's like Tracker etc., so the general deck and framing designs for them dont quite work on the Alumacraft. Basically have lots of questions and I am hoping y'all can help with. Maybe someone has specific experience with an Alumacraft? What are the odds anyone has a drawing of their layout and framing?
Initial thought is to run the deck level with, instead of on top of, the bow & middle seat to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. One issue is the Alumacraft seats have a lip on them 3/4" x 1" thick) which makes it a pain to attach the framing to the front edge of the seat (actually haven't figured that out yet...). Most of the designs I have seen run on top of the seats, or at least on top of the middle seat. Wondering if that is for ease of framing or to make it perfectly level (front seat seams a little higher than middle seat)? Running it from the front gunwale level back would make mounting trolling motor simpler. Would those extra inches tall affect the stability?
Next step is designing layout in a way to be simple to construct, yet provide ample storage and support for a pedestal seat. Where is best place to mount seat - right in the middle of the deck, or set back to give more open floor space? What are the best storage compartment dimensions? Where should the trolling motor battery (12 volt so single battery) compartment be?
Planning to use plywood hatches not the high $$ prefab dry hatch lids and drain system - is that a mistake?
What other design or construction items/issues am I forgetting?
Any ideas and info greatly appreciated.
I am a complete newbie so have been searching everything I can find. The problem has been that the Alumacraft is built a little differently than most other popular 1542's like Tracker etc., so the general deck and framing designs for them dont quite work on the Alumacraft. Basically have lots of questions and I am hoping y'all can help with. Maybe someone has specific experience with an Alumacraft? What are the odds anyone has a drawing of their layout and framing?
Initial thought is to run the deck level with, instead of on top of, the bow & middle seat to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. One issue is the Alumacraft seats have a lip on them 3/4" x 1" thick) which makes it a pain to attach the framing to the front edge of the seat (actually haven't figured that out yet...). Most of the designs I have seen run on top of the seats, or at least on top of the middle seat. Wondering if that is for ease of framing or to make it perfectly level (front seat seams a little higher than middle seat)? Running it from the front gunwale level back would make mounting trolling motor simpler. Would those extra inches tall affect the stability?
Next step is designing layout in a way to be simple to construct, yet provide ample storage and support for a pedestal seat. Where is best place to mount seat - right in the middle of the deck, or set back to give more open floor space? What are the best storage compartment dimensions? Where should the trolling motor battery (12 volt so single battery) compartment be?
Planning to use plywood hatches not the high $$ prefab dry hatch lids and drain system - is that a mistake?
What other design or construction items/issues am I forgetting?
Any ideas and info greatly appreciated.