IndyWingmaster's Duck/Bowfish Combo 14' V

[IndyWingmaster]

Hey everyone, I just joined the site a couple days ago. I am getting around to getting pictures of my boat in its current state. It has been so miserable here Indianpolis that I really don't care to pull it out to take some pictures. My Boat is a 1976 Alumnacraft 14' Deep V. I am working on getting a motor some time soon. Probably around a 25 hp. outboard. I have an idea for how I want the finished product to look, but I think I don't have the know how to get it there. My usual motto is "wing it", but I see that not being the best of ideas. I want to build a raised deck just under the side railing of the boat. With this elevated floor I am going to have to do some framing. I am not carpeting the boat, but will probably put down a non skid material for the surface, linex, herculiner, Cabelas non skid, etc. I have several questions that I need your help with before I start this build.

Framing - I read on another post in here about using galvanized brackets and attaching them to metal saying that is a bad idea due to chemical reaction between the aluminum and the galvanized steel. Any thoughts?

Also, I have a friend that is going to be helping me on this rebuild and he is wanting to weld square tubing for the frame. So framing using steel instead of wood. Which I see several of you using wood in here and I don't know if its because it is cheaper, wood is better, etc. Wood vs. steel?

Floor covering - I mentioned earlier about non-skid material for the flooring. What is a good material to use, but still reasonably affordable? Although probably not my cheapest option I am leaning towards linex. I have another friend that put it on his boat and it definitely meets my standards for durability.

Transom -I am going to probably rebuild the transom. The wood on there currenty looks kind of rough. Being that I feel the transom is very important I am looking for advice or helping me find some other posts where you guys rebuild the transom.

I am going to have to seal the edge of the boat where the new floor meets up with the aluminum siding of the boat.

I will post pictures as soon as I get them, possibly later today, if not it will be on the weekend. Thanks in advance!

 

[Decatur]

Welcome aboard! Good luck with your build!

 

[IndyWingmaster]

Here are the photos of my boat. The only things I have previously done to this boat is the light wiring, floorboards, and removed the third bench seat (still have it).

 

[aluminumboatlover]

welcome aboard! i think the setup you have on your hands is pretty much a clean slate and has very much potential. i own a 14 ft sea nymph deep v and im decking it with plywood and bracing it with 2x3's and they do exactly what i want them to do. i guess it all boils down to weight. if you are worried about how much it is going to weigh i would go with aluminum. if you are leaning more toward strength i would defiantly go with wood. happy building!!!!!!!

 

[IndyWingmaster]

Well, now that you mention weight I do have concerns. Mostly due to the fact that my boat doesn't have maximum capacity ratings on it at all. They weren't on it when I bought it. Not sure what to do about it. Anybody have any thoughts?

I just found out that one of my friends can weld aluminum so he is helping me out with that. So now I have an option of either wood or aluminum framing.

 

[aluminumboatlover]

well from the size of your boat i probably wouldn't worry about weight. having the aluminum welder friend is a plus because it gives you an either/or option. i could only do wood because my dad and i have absolutely no experience in welding of any kind so we could only use wood. luckily my dad is an excellent craftsman. i guess now it comes to money. do you have very much expendable cash for this build? if so i would jump to aluminum in a tenth of a second.

 

[nkhrfh]

I am using a blind for mine right now. Are you going to have flip up blind doors? See you shortly so you can look at what I did on my boat. If I had the skill, I would have gone aluminum. I am sick of sealing wood!

Bob

 

[IndyWingmaster]

Well as far as the budget goes I am not sure yet. I would like to see it as least expensive as possible, but still not sure. I went today and looked at nkhrfh and realized that I need to account for any electrical now before I get too crazy. I saw his on board battery charger and how he had it set up and decided that I would really like to put one in my boat. I need to also think about wiring for my lights for bowfishing.