Fishheads project!

[fishhead16]

Well I was able to get in a few hours today. I put the motor on and tried out the platform in the back. I didnt like how far forward I was so I tore it out. I put new wood in the old bench and put that back in. In these pics, the wall on the left side will have rod holders mounted there. The little bench on the right Im going to cut out the lid to house plastic tackle trays, cup holders and misc. stuff that I dont want

 

[fishhead16]

Got out today for a bit more and finished everything up. Now Im ready for carpet. Painted the inside, and started putting the final paint on the exterior. I'll post pics later... heck Im starting to wonder if anyone looks at my pics. I dont seem to get any feed back so I hope Im doing everything right!! [-o< I did have a question maybe someone can answer, where do you get the handles for you storage compartments?

 

[caveman]

Fishhead
Yes people are looking at your pics but from my take with my mod most just want to look at finished product. It looks great good job

 

[ober51]

Got out today for a bit more and finished everything up. Now Im ready for carpet. Painted the inside, and started putting the final paint on the exterior. I'll post pics later... heck Im starting to wonder if anyone looks at my pics. I dont seem to get any feed back so I hope Im doing everything right!! [-o< I did have a question maybe someone can answer, where do you get the handles for you storage compartments?

I am looking and enjoying - I am just so new I don't have much to say but good job, lol. If I think of anything I will pipe up but for now I'll sit back and watch!

 

[Henry Hefner]

I've been watching, but I generally just post if I have questions myself or I think I have an answer for a question of yours. As far as storage compartment handles, I don't have any that need to be recessed. For my sliding doors I made small knobs from galvanized carriage bolts, and for the glove box I used a common hasp. I think you are asking about your hatches that are incorporated into the deck? Some people buy latches made for the purpose, but the cheapest is just strips of strong fabric (think seat belt material) that you make into a loop and staple the ends inside the lid with the loop hanging out. You can walk on them all day without hurting them, but they won't hold the door closed. This route relies on gravity to keep the lids shut, so if you go that way make sure that wind will keep them shut instead of open!

 

[fishhead16]

Great idea for the pieces of fabric. I have a couple extra dog leashes and some tie downs I can use. I also wanted to know about staples used on the carpet. What are you guys using? I didnt know if they would rust or not. I thought maybe dab them with some fingernail polish. ( Im not making ice jigs right now, so I've got plenty! :lol: )

 

[ilinimud]

Looks great, but i didnt know it got 71 degrees in MI. LoL

 

[grizzly]

i dont know if the staples would rust or not, but i imagine they would and the polish wouldn't hurt. i assume you are going to wrap the edges and staple underneath and use contact cement. it may hardly be noticeable if they rust. i used arrow brand staples. love what you did to the sides of the boat, now i wish i'd taken out my middle seat!

 

[Stryker777]

You could also drill, seal the wood, and use plastic upholstery buttons to hold the carpet on the bottom.

 

[fishhead16]

Looks great, but i didnt know it got 71 degrees in MI. LoL

Yea I couldn't belive it either, heck I even went for a walk to see if any morels were out! There still a couple weeks off here.

i dont know if the staples would rust or not, but i imagine they would and the polish wouldn't hurt. i assume you are going to wrap the edges and staple underneath and use contact cement. it may hardly be noticeable if they rust. i used arrow brand staples. love what you did to the sides of the boat, now i wish i'd taken out my middle seat!

Yea I just wanted to add some under the compartments, I've never worked with the glue before so I dont know how strong it is. Thanks alot guys for the feed back, I've only had 2 people stop by the house and give me any input. Im currently out of work, so I dont like spending money on things twice.

 

[Jim]

Doing a great job man, Lots of people are reading trust me on this. :beer:

 

[RBuffordTJ]

I am pretty new to this whole thing and have not started the mods to mine yet because I am looking to see what kind of setups are out there. I must say I love what you are doing with your boat. I'm watching and enjoying the pics.

Bufford

 

[fishhead16]

I can't help myself Im overtaken by the color red. So since I finished off the inside I looked at the exterior and said "it just doesnt do anything for me" So I grabed some RED paint and this is what happened
Before....

Midway....

Now....

 

[ilinimud]

Matching your boat to your truck will automatically make you a better angler!!! LoL Just look at the pros.

 

[grizzly]

that looks nice, great choice on the paint line. just enough color.

 

[ober51]

Nicecolor, really like it. What kind of paint did you use?

 

[RBuffordTJ]

I really like that look! Nice job. =D>

Bufford

 

[pjb153]

I have been watching your build and waiting to see the end result.. but maybe we can help each other out. I have a 1975 Smokercraft.. just about the same boat it appears.

Mine already had the floor and a front bow deck for a trolling motor.

A friend and I took the boat out last week and we had some great ideas as to what would make it better and more compfy. We decided that the rear seat needed to be up a little higher and moved back about 12”. That would put me on top of a storage area I want to build for the batts and fuel. I think that would also give more room in the middle for a third person.

My boat also has a splash tray which drains to the rear. I will be utilizing this for a built in ice chest which a bottom drain for cold drinks. Also a must is cup holders.. we spilled two drinks within the first 5 mins out.

The boat floats nice and I can use the extra weight in the rear and center to offset the body weight when alone in the front (see photo). (I plan on installing a bow mount foot control.)

I also noticed that more storage is def needed.. mostly to keep things tucked away when I have the kids in the boat so they do not trip.

I am going to build a raised front deck and put a bass butt seat there for me to fish from, of course it will be interchangeable with a folding seat as well.

I found myself with little working area, meaning to grab my hooks or change lures, I was working on my lap and had no “table space” like you installed. I will be adding some form of that.

I think the most important thing is to use all the space you can to get things off of the floor and out of foot range, with these small boats.. you need all of the floor space for moving around.

My goal is to wire lights, radio, build cubby areas to put stuff in, a cooler and keep everything as neat as possible. I hate being cluttered and messy.

I love the paint and have been wondering what different two tone paint lines would look like and I think I am going to copy your paint line and use a different color. Some vinyl SmokerCraft stickers would offset and make it look really good.

Feel free to ask any questions about mine and my ideas for it.

 

[fishhead16]

I painted the boat with good ol' rustolem and a sponge roller. I have a jeep I take in the mud/2 track with it and that is painted with the same thing and it holds up great. I swear by it!!!!! I could not decide on blue/grey, red/silver, or hunter green/light tan.Im going to put the carpet in this weekend its suppose to be mid 70's here. I looked on ebay for smokercraft stickers but couldn't find any. Lots of Lund. If anyone knows where I could get some I would appricate any help. Thanks again everyone for comments/feedback. =D>

 

[russ010]

get a custom made sticker from Darryl at Iquangrafix for Smoker Craft... he does awesome work - i've got a couple different designs from him.


Here's another place that I use... you can play around with their lettering to see how it will turn out.

https://www.signspecialist.com/namemyboat.com/samples_boat.cgi/SMOKER/CRAFT/

Check out how the lettering will look in silver with Fat Cat lettering... that's what I did my Alumacraft stickers in and man they look awesome