irishpride42
Well-known member
Figured I would go ahead and start this thread so I can keep up with what I have done :mrgreen:
I bought the boat, a 1974 Polarkraft, a year ago and it looked like this...
Before duck season started, we put in some LED's, re-wired everything, and I painted over the blue inside. I also redneck mounted a trolling motor, removed a few things, moved the gas tank to behind the rear seat, and try to get the motor running back right.
Once duck season was over it was time for an over haul, I ripped out the floor, sold the motor & controls (going to a tiller steer), cut out the flotation boxes and front bench but decided to just remove them complete rivets and all.
After the floor was removed
Front Bench gone
One box gone
The LED's
Where I am at now
Now I am going to re-wire everything to under the floor, put 2" foam under the floor (already got the foam and for a pretty good price 2 full sheets for $40), put on a new motor, add a switch panel, put down a new floor (hopefully aluminum), possibly rebuild the deck, replace the headlights, add storage in the rear bench, build a blind, hatch off the back by the motor,add 3 seats to the center and replace the 40 rivets from the seat and boxes. Stay tuned could get fun.
I do have a question and need HELP! I had planned on filling in the holes with closed end blind rivets and put 3M 5200 over them but cannot find the size I need anywhere! I would use solid rivets but then have to get an air chisel, I could also weld but that takes out of the set boat budget. My wife and I set aside a certain amount and that is all that can be spent so that makes this even more fun, interesting at times, but fun! Anyhow, the size rivets I cannot find are 1/4" diameter, with a grip range of 1/8"-1/4", and a body length of 1/2". You can find this size all day long with a steel mandrel but cannot find them that have aluminum body and an aluminum mandrel, ANYWHERE! Any suggestions?
I bought the boat, a 1974 Polarkraft, a year ago and it looked like this...
Before duck season started, we put in some LED's, re-wired everything, and I painted over the blue inside. I also redneck mounted a trolling motor, removed a few things, moved the gas tank to behind the rear seat, and try to get the motor running back right.
Once duck season was over it was time for an over haul, I ripped out the floor, sold the motor & controls (going to a tiller steer), cut out the flotation boxes and front bench but decided to just remove them complete rivets and all.
After the floor was removed
Front Bench gone
One box gone
The LED's
Where I am at now
Now I am going to re-wire everything to under the floor, put 2" foam under the floor (already got the foam and for a pretty good price 2 full sheets for $40), put on a new motor, add a switch panel, put down a new floor (hopefully aluminum), possibly rebuild the deck, replace the headlights, add storage in the rear bench, build a blind, hatch off the back by the motor,add 3 seats to the center and replace the 40 rivets from the seat and boxes. Stay tuned could get fun.
I do have a question and need HELP! I had planned on filling in the holes with closed end blind rivets and put 3M 5200 over them but cannot find the size I need anywhere! I would use solid rivets but then have to get an air chisel, I could also weld but that takes out of the set boat budget. My wife and I set aside a certain amount and that is all that can be spent so that makes this even more fun, interesting at times, but fun! Anyhow, the size rivets I cannot find are 1/4" diameter, with a grip range of 1/8"-1/4", and a body length of 1/2". You can find this size all day long with a steel mandrel but cannot find them that have aluminum body and an aluminum mandrel, ANYWHERE! Any suggestions?
Good luck with the mod!
