Bustin' Bass

[Bugpac]

Boat is back at the house, I have a lot of work to do to prep for paint, seams to fill, sanding, and some grinding to get fitment perfect. Ordered my wire today at https://www.Tinnedmarinewire.com. Was planning to fish a tournament next weekend, But the setback in the fabrication, and now the extensive prep work, It likely just wont happen. Goal now is to try and paint on Sunday, then its easy from there. was looking at the devcon metal fill to do some work, but at 70.00 for 1 lb i just dont know, has anyone tried the pc 11 epoxy? It is a 2 part as well, that claims machine ability. And at 12.00 per 1/2 lb looks much more affordable.

 

[DaveInGA]

Looking good. If you need a hand, let me know.

 

[65tuxedo]

Good looking boat. Anxious to see what you do with it. Congrats.

 

[fender66]

This is one of the nicest, well thought out/planned builds I've seen. Very nice Bugpac.

 

[Bugpac]

Looking good. If you need a hand, let me know.

If you can, stop over Saturday and have a look, maybe I am being to anal about a few things, would welcome your opinions.

Thanks guys. I'm seriously debating ordering some hydroturf or some vinyl.

 

[DaveInGA]

Looking good. If you need a hand, let me know.

If you can, stop over Saturday and have a look, maybe I am being to anal about a few things, would welcome your opinions.

Thanks guys. I'm seriously debating ordering some hydroturf or some vinyl.

What time you going to be up? Saturday is a good day for me.

 

[Bugpac]

Looking good. If you need a hand, let me know.

If you can, stop over Saturday and have a look, maybe I am being to anal about a few things, would welcome your opinions.

Thanks guys. I'm seriously debating ordering some hydroturf or some vinyl.

What time you going to be up? Saturday is a good day for me.

Ill get up around 10ish.

 

[Brine]

Supposed to rain on Sunday :evil:

What's the metal fill for?

Hurry up and get that boat done so I can take your money next week :LOL2:

I'm fishing tomorrow at Black Shoals if you wanna go. Buzz me if so.

 

[DaveInGA]

What time you going to be up? Saturday is a good day for me.

Ill get up around 10ish.

See ya at 12. Call me before 11 if you decide to go fishing instead.

 

[Sharpix]

I like your boat a lot! Its the biggest lightest boat i could ever like. Fitting the thing with an aluminum flat floor would be a huge room for anything, including the domino table, the bar, a 52" Flat TV and all

Our case was having a 1232 jonboat for 3 decades, then we went after a boat like yours, we liked a open space floor plan, but after fiddling with the dealer, we ended up with a equipped, factory decked with storage and rod lockered Lowe Roughneck 1760 with a 4 stroke 60hp.

I can imagine how you feel. You've got an amazing big agile boat. Congratulations! 8)

 

[Bugpac]

Thanks sharpix.

I made some progress today on some plumbing, had a guy over to look at remaking some parts that are not up to my standards. Daveinga was over helping me do a few things. Paint is out of the question till next weekend, there is just to many things to fix and prep prior to that point. Definitley kicking myself for some stupid decisions i have made in the last month, now i just gotta spend more to resolve them.

 

[Gators5220]

Since your a bass buster, thought I'd show ya a little Florida bass action that was going on down in Vero Beach...

 

[Bugpac]

Few pictures of what i just spent 2300.00 to have done with labor and materials. Not to big of smile on my face.

First pic will see how far off the rod locker hatch, and the tackle box hatch is off the deck height port side.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0147.jpg

Next picture just show the grinder removed far to much material to make a nice corner.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0148.jpg

Port side seat hatch gaps. They do not look uniform to me.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0149.jpg

https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0150.jpg

Some more deck height irregularity.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0151.jpg

Didn't have the skill to weld this solid without warping, Tho i have seen welders weld pop cans together, all about letting stuff cool down.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0152.jpg

Some more to much grinder not enough material.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0153.jpg
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0154.jpg

Weld thru I had to remove prior to installing my drain, recommended by the builder, he was well aware the drain sat in the corner.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0155.jpg

Some un square hatches.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0156.jpg

No return lip, per his discretion, 8'2 hatch is suppose to rest on the two angle pieces welded in. This is the most disapointing part of the entire build to me. And it rests right on the lower radius.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0157.jpg
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0163.jpg
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0162.jpg

Really missed square on this hatch.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0161.jpg

More rivets to cut time and add profit. I thought i was paying for a welder. And was under the impression rivets were being used on the ribs as he didnt want the weld to affect the paint.
https://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316/bugpac/Boat/100_0158.jpg


I never put the square on till today, I likely would have asked for even more compensation. As of right now, I was gonna have 4 of the 6 hatches rebent, now i will actually have to take the boat and have the hatches rebent as the holes are not square. So to say the very least, I am very very disappointed in the craftsmanship I received. I was really looking for a professional job as this boat was bought brand new. I wasn't looking to save money nor cut corners, I would have gladly paid for a quality job. The time frame doubled from original, And the builder said he was sick. I would have much rather he said he couldn't handle the job. Even tho he put in about 3hr of work in the original time frame stated to complete the job. I feel he then just rushed to get done, and I feel if I hadn't kept after him it would still be sitting getting bogus tales of how far the progress was along to me. Maybe I,m just being to picky, but from the few people I have had look at it, It seems I am spot on in what I expected to see. I did pay the entire amount owed as I wanted my boat back in my possession, and we met on the side of the highway to take delivery. Regardless of that, I have had a chance to look it over better and feel I am entitled to have the crap reworked or some compensation for me to have it done elsewere. Also he was 100% aware this boat was being painted.

Ill have to resize pics to img code them, sorry about the links, but they will show a much better picture.

 

[DaveInGA]

I've seen this boat in person and I don't think you're being picky. This actually looks worse in person than in the pictures folks.

Things I noted while viewing the boat in person:

1. Incomplete welding seams all over the boat. Long areas that were spot welded when they should of had complete welds.

2. Poor welds that were ground down and are already starting to crack.

3. Oddly shaped hatch lids every where.

4. No middle support bracket on any of the hatches, even those long eight footers.

5. Huge gaps around hatches, doubt carpeting could close some of those gaps.

6. 1/4" drop off from front deck to beginning of custom work. Just enough to possibly cause stumbling when moving around boat.

7. Stuff riveted for no apparent reason that could have been welded. Still scratching heads as to why so much riveting on a high dollar custom job.

8. Couple of ugly looking brackets riveted where battery trays were supposed to be. Based on the size of the batteries I saw, no way those could support the tall Group 31 batteries Bugpac was intending to use.

9. Monster glob of weld right in the way where the drain hole needed to be drilled.

10. Grinding and polishing on all the sheet metal for no apparent reason I could see. I understand doing that in the areas needing welding, but I don't understand doing that every where. Used up a lot of time better spent elsewhere.

I hope the fella you contracted to do the job works with you to make you happy. I'm a big believer in customer service. To me, the customer is always right (within reason) and a contractor stands and lives/dies on his reputation. When he's paid to do a custom job and do it right, it should be done right.

I understand if he makes a mistake, but he should either fix it or refund the customer's money. After all, when you hire a custom job, you want custom quality, not mediocre production quality, much less sloppy shade tree work.

I feel with professional tools, I could easily do better work at home than what you've gotten there. I would probably have to take that whole thing out and if not start over, at least rework it and get it right. That work is not acceptable quality for a hired professional. Good luck in getting the situation resolved.

 

[fool4fish1226]

Sorry to hear you are disappointed with the work that was done on your boat. I hope that this situation works out for all that are involved.

I do however like the lay out of the boat and again I hope everything turns out right.

 

[fender66]

That work is not acceptable quality for a hired professional. Good luck in getting the situation resolved.

Agreed. Not for that amount of $$$.

Good luck. I'm not sure how I'd handle this.

 

[Gators5220]

Sorry to hear about the spotty work, hope it all gets taken care of...

 

[hsiftac]

Sorry to hear about that, hope you can resolve the situation and get the job your money paid for

 

[Bugpac]

Today my wife and I dropped the boat of to a guy I know, He is a professional fabricator full time. He re bent all the hatches, Added battery trays up front, and welded the deck seams continuous. On the way up one of my seat hatches blew open, the way they are hinged they don't open and lay back flat, Or they didn't anyway, they will now. So the hatch lid blows open and I noticed it in the mirror it getting closer and closer to being opened all the way. When I got to the house the hatch lid destroyed the hinge and actually sheared 5 rivets clean off, I was amazed. Another thing I will be changing is the rivets used in the lids, I will be putting the high strength ones in like I used on the floor. I will also be raising the hinges so the pin is above the deck, There round they should not be that bad on the feet. Then the hinges wont spring, and the hatches can lay flat when opened if need be. Originally the seat hatches opened to the rear, That just isn't gonna work, I had him weld the holes up were they were riveted in the deck and will be opening them to the side. I used .060 1/8 pin hinges as well, Next time I ever use a hinge on a hatch it will be the .075 3/16 pin no doubt. I may even use them on this, Just getting tired of spending money on things 2x. I could have upgrade for 27.00 the first time, Instead of spending 80.00 round 2. Live and learn I guess. Ill try to get some pictures up in the next few days, Worked yesterday and got all my thru hulls, pumps etc in, got to get a bit more hose and thats done. Gonna work on wiring, and paint prep this week, gonna try and paint on friday.

 

[thegr8cody]

My hinges are a hair above the lids and I wish I wouldve lowered them.i havent stepped on one but ive put my knee on them two or three times and in 90 degree weather I thought it was gonna burn through my leg they get hot. If I was you I would try to put an extra piece of carpet over the hinge somehow, thats what im gonna try to do