Hey everyone...first off, this is going to be a long project so don't expect much! I've been reading and browsing to figure out the direction I want to go and figured I would start this thread so I can keep everything in one place.
Now, a little history. My father in law has been my fishing partner since the early 90's, he had a 14' Jon boat with a wood floor and casting decks front and rear that raised up and had the gas tank and battery underneath. After years of use the wood rotted away and slowly the boat rotted away. In 04 my mother in law bought him a new Crestliner 1436 hull and I put a floor in it for him. I had no idea what I was doing, but I got it done. Fast forward to present day and after a few strokes and other health issues he no longer can get out and in a boat. He has moved off to live with my brother in law in Kansas City and he is giving me his boat. Somewhere between selling his house and moving all of his paperwork for everything has come up missing so we are trying to figure out how to get it tagged in my name....hopefully we can jump through the paperwork hoops without too many kinks. Anyways, so now you know that I do have a little history with this boat.
My goals are to do something similar to what he originally had. I am wanting a casting deck between the front seats and carpeted floors. It's 36" wide and has a 15hp motor so I don't want anything top heavy or too heavy to get on plane and move around. I'm sure a 20hp would be better but it's not going to happen. It has a foot control trolling motor and I'm tossing around the idea to recess the control in the front deck. It has a live well in the center seat and my plans are to take the lid off and run the casting deck over the top of that seat and put a hatch in to get to the livewell, and then add an aerator pump. I am wanting to add storage under the casting deck...would love to figure out how to do built in rod holders but they aren't a must. I would also like to move the trolling motor battery under the casting deck and leave the fuel tank in the rear. Add a few lighting options and a fish finder and probably call it good.
Anyways, here is what I'm starting with. The hull is in great shape, the motor and trolling motor work fine, the trailer is in good shape for a 92 model, but the wood and carpet is shot.
Now, a little history. My father in law has been my fishing partner since the early 90's, he had a 14' Jon boat with a wood floor and casting decks front and rear that raised up and had the gas tank and battery underneath. After years of use the wood rotted away and slowly the boat rotted away. In 04 my mother in law bought him a new Crestliner 1436 hull and I put a floor in it for him. I had no idea what I was doing, but I got it done. Fast forward to present day and after a few strokes and other health issues he no longer can get out and in a boat. He has moved off to live with my brother in law in Kansas City and he is giving me his boat. Somewhere between selling his house and moving all of his paperwork for everything has come up missing so we are trying to figure out how to get it tagged in my name....hopefully we can jump through the paperwork hoops without too many kinks. Anyways, so now you know that I do have a little history with this boat.
My goals are to do something similar to what he originally had. I am wanting a casting deck between the front seats and carpeted floors. It's 36" wide and has a 15hp motor so I don't want anything top heavy or too heavy to get on plane and move around. I'm sure a 20hp would be better but it's not going to happen. It has a foot control trolling motor and I'm tossing around the idea to recess the control in the front deck. It has a live well in the center seat and my plans are to take the lid off and run the casting deck over the top of that seat and put a hatch in to get to the livewell, and then add an aerator pump. I am wanting to add storage under the casting deck...would love to figure out how to do built in rod holders but they aren't a must. I would also like to move the trolling motor battery under the casting deck and leave the fuel tank in the rear. Add a few lighting options and a fish finder and probably call it good.
Anyways, here is what I'm starting with. The hull is in great shape, the motor and trolling motor work fine, the trailer is in good shape for a 92 model, but the wood and carpet is shot.




