Baja 16 truck topper

[baja.bound]

Im considering buying a used Valco 16 Bayrunner Baja style of boat. I would like to make an awesome truck topper taylored to fish Baja. I would like to gut the boat and install new floors and make it an open floor plan with a tiller steer. As I was looking at boats, I noticed that the bow always rides high with a single person on the tiller. Most of the boats Ive seen has the battery and the gas near the transom. Is it a huge no-no to have the batteries and gas on the bow of the boat? Also, has anyone used a 16 footer or larger as a truck topper? If so, do you have any photos? Also, if I gut the boat and install new floors, am I going to have issues with the floors coming out while the boat is upside down on a 800 mile road trip? Thank you amigos!

 

[gillhunter]

Why not trailer the boat?

 

[Attwanl]

I had a 12/36 alimacraft, a friend of mine is a fabricator. He made a fuel tank that went into the front seat, it held 7 gallon full. It made all the difference in the world on how the boat rode, and got on plane. Never did move the battery.

 

[LDUBS]

Valco Bayrunners are great boats. I'm just wondering. Even with removing the center console it would weight more than I would be able manhandle. And it does not seem to be size you would toss a 9.9 HP on. I don't mean to be a downer, but would it really be a candidate for a roof top boat?

 

[baja.bound]

Why not trailer the boat?

1 less thing to have to worry about. Possibly drive 70 mph without having to worry about a small trailer behind me. Plus, a small trailer on mexican dirt roads could potentially beat the crap out of the boat and trailer. Also, if I’m on some backroads I don’t want to have to worry about sharp turns or ruts.

 

[baja.bound]

Valco Bayrunners are great boats. I'm just wondering. Even with removing the center console it would weight more than I would be able manhandle. And it does not seem to be size you would toss a 9.9 HP on. I don't mean to be a downer, but would it really be a candidate for a roof top boat?

That’s the thing. I don’t think too many people have done it. I know the Gregor Baja Special was 15.5 feet and people have used those for truck toppers. Plus the weight of the new 4 strokes is pretty light. I think I can throw a 20 or 25 on it without help.

 

[LDUBS]

I hope it works out. If you decide to go forward, circle back and let us know how it goes. I want to hear about a fishing trip to Baja!

By the way, it is very common to locate batteries up front. And, I would say it would not be considered unusual to do that with the gaso tank too. While I don't think highly of their products, Moeller even makes a portable tank that is shaped to fit up in the bow.