Building a catfish boat

[DM1975]

Just some pics...

 

[Jim]

Really coming along. Looks fantastic!

 

[DM1975]

Really coming along. Looks fantastic!

Thanks. Progress is slow but at least it’s progressing lol.

 

[Jim]

Hey....Rome wasn’t built in a day. LOL!

 

[DM1975]

Hey....Rome wasn’t built in a day. LOL!

Well I’m almost done resin coating the switch console. Once it’s painted and wired up all I have to do is finish the front deck and add a few electrical tidbits. I’m also looking at getting a Minn Kota Edge to replace the transom mount trolling motor I have now. One with a tiller handle. I can’t ever figure out those foot pedals lol.

 

[DM1975]

I’ve decided to use some black eva foam to cover the deck. Since the whole theme of the boat is Rambo I’ve decided on a layout that I derived from the Panama sole of a jungle boot.

 

[DM1975]

Switch console is all painted up and gaskets cut and installed.

 

[Jim]

You do this for a living? :beer:

Stellar work man!

 

[DM1975]

You do this for a living? :beer:

Stellar work man!

Thank you sir! No, I’m just a retired grunt is all. But I grew up doing a little bit of everything in life.

 

[LOTOANGLER]

Brother you have a great thing goIng here. My name is Tony, and I’m a 49 year old fishing addict... I am currently building a boat for limb lines and jugging myself...with a bit of Crappie here and there. My boat is slightly different in design ( Richline 1450 V Hull), but I’m using your layout as inspiration. My boy and I just got done hittin the Spoonbill ( I got a 68 pounder, so of course, the little booger caught a 70 pounder...his head won’t fit through the door now!). We’ve caught lots of Blues and Channels, but we really want to target Flatheads this year. I was born and raised in Lake of the Ozarks, and know many of the great spots to hit if you ever wanted to come down this summer. Last year we were nocturnal, I **** you not in 3 1/2 months we fished every night but 8 total ( Im retired after a catastrophic motorcycle accident ripped off both my arms at the elbows...thank God the surgeons had a lot of bailing twine and knew how to sew because they were reattached... ain’t life awesome! At any rate, I’ll post pics soon but I’m having trouble getting em’ to upload ...says they’re too big ..( what a problem to have eh?). I absolutely LOVE the rear bar and bait well, and that console Sir, is amazing! Currently repurposing a cot I have ....and quick question, on that console, is that a cutting board on top? Looks like it, and the material would be perfect. Hope your year is starting out good and I’d love to have y’all down sometime and show you some Ozark hospitality. Trust me, this lake isn’t too big for boats like ours, you just can’t be a dumb ass, reckless, or go anywhere near the main channel from Glaize Bridge to Bagnell Dam. We fish the SH!T, out of the Glaize arm, back near the Ft. Wood Recreational Area and never ever have issues.... Oh, and thank you much for putting foot to ass for America Sir. Your service is greatly respected by me and mine

 

[DM1975]

Thank you so much!!! Yes it is a cutting board I bought off of Amazon. I hate to hear about the motorcycle accident. I’m an avid rider and have been since I was in high school. I have a couple Harley's now but I don’t get out on them much.

 

[DM1975]

Back at it again! I’ve purchased a bow mount trolling motor, a tan Bimini top, and a full sheet of mocha seadek. While it was cold I painted my mascot (Jon Ramboat) onto the console and have the deck hatches cut and just have to finish waterproofing tomorrow and put in the supports going to the floor of the boat. I’m probably going to leave the anchor hold open instead of making a hatch for it.

 

[akboats]

This boats looking very good man. =D>

 

[DM1975]

More stuff...

 

[DM1975]

I have the deck supports on and the upright piece cut for it. Now I just have to wait for the weather to waterproof and paint it.

 

[stomper]

Amazing work. Looks real professional and I agree with the above posts that your wood working skills are top notch. I would like to know more about what you used and how you finised the console and your bait tank lid, if you don't mind. They look awesome and don't even look like wood.

 

[DM1975]

Thanks! I just kinda eyeballed it all, put Bondo on what needed it, sanded it, covered it with a heavy coat of Bondo fiberglass resin on everything and sanded, and sanded, and sanded, and sanded... then I sanded it some more, primed it all, finish sanded the primer, re primed, re sanded, then I rolled on several coats of Rustoleum protective enamel paint, and then sanded down the orange peel, and painted it once more.

You may notice a theme there lol.....

 

[DM1975]

So I’m like 99.8% done. Some updates...

I made this mount for my trolling motor to hook up to via a quick disconnect mount.



I’ve gotten everything prepped and Im painting now.



I have most everything pulled out of the boat for a finally cleaning tomorrow and added a Garmin Strike Plus 5cv and added seat post mounts, although I have to finish bolting them on tomorrow.

 

[DM1975]

And added an “official” boat knife! And what more appropriate for a boat named Jon Ramboat than a replica of the Rambo 4 knife?!?!

 

[DM1975]

Done son!!!!!! Well... almost lol. I still have to wire it up and let the paint on the deck cure before I put down the Seadek the boat is pretty much done. I’m going to add a bow plate with a light fixture up front and some casting lights in the back also. Other than that I’m done lol.

I decided I wanted to prop the Bimini top up and back instead of laying it flat on the deck when not in use so I could add four rod holders up front. Well I’m NOT paying $75 for two aluminum “sticks” so I made my own with PVC pipe and zip ties.