Lowe 1648m first build

Cdewolfe · Mar 12, 2017

First time posting in this site but have spent a ton of time reading through others builds and learned a ton. I just sold a 14 ft mirrocraft v hull and picked up a 1648m lowe big jon. I got the boat and trailer, 15 hp merc, trolling motor, seats and life jackets for $1300 leaving me with around 700 to modify the boat with. My plan is to remove the center bench, extend the front deck back 3 ribs, put in a floor and if I have enough money left over make a gun/rod box along one side from the front deck so the way to the rear bench. I am going to use aluminum for everything and go over the floor and deck with some sort of bedliner type product. Carpet would get destroyed quickly during duck hunting I feel like.

derekdiruz · Mar 12, 2017

I have my boat mainly for duck hunting. However I put carpet in it. The decks are carpet and the floor is rubber horse stall mat from tractor Supply. It is brand new so I can't attest to the durability, but I feel this will work well.

Plus carpet on aluminum should be easy nuff to replace if needed.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Cdewolfe · Mar 12, 2017

We normally get out of the boat to set up and pick up so track a lot of mud and sand in the boat. With the bedliner I'm thinking it will be easier to clean up. I'm going with closed cell foam between the Ribs and was planning on using 1/16 to save money and weight but would like to mount pedestal seats to the floor for fishing. If I do extra bracing under the mount will it be strong enough or am I going to have to go to 1/8. Picture is what I am kind of aiming for except I think I will keep the rear bench whole to keep some rigidity to the hull.

Cdewolfe · Mar 17, 2017

Got a little work done on the boat. Pulled the center bench out and rewired the trailer. Picking up the metal tonight for the floor. I was looking at the Trailer and the rear half of the leaf spring is different from anything I have ever seen. The bolt that holds the spring in is about 2 inches below the actual spring. Is this normal? I am also going to switch the rollers to bunks that will tilt. It's supposed to warm up to 40 degrees this weekend so it will be nice working on it without freezing.

Cdewolfe · Mar 17, 2017

Anyone know why my pictures are turning Sideways?

Bowhunter1661 · Mar 17, 2017

If you use your iPhone or other smart phone to take the pics, don't take them with the phone vertical. Take them horrizontal. That's what I found worked. I take all my pics with my IPhone 6+.

Fire1386 · Mar 18, 2017

I have found in the past that the size of the pic is to large. If the pic was over a certain size it spun the pic sideways. I just tinkered with making pic a little smaller each time until it posted correctly. Not sure if situation is the same any longer, that was a while ago.

Cdewolfe · Mar 21, 2017

Got insulation cut for between the ribs and the floor cut and laid out. After a leak check I'll put it back in and rivet it down. Next is extending the front casting deck.

Cdewolfe · Mar 22, 2017

Took it out onto the fox river last night and checked for leaks and made sure the motor was good. Started off with 3 ft whitecaps but once I got to a calmer section I opened it up and was surprised how well the little 15 merc could push. My navionics app said 23.7mph. Boat is rated for a 35 so I wanna see how fast it could get with one. Maybe next year I'll upgrade the motor.

chrispbrown27 · Mar 22, 2017

Fox river? You aren't up in northern Illinois are you?

Cdewolfe · Mar 22, 2017

Nope green bay wi

mtntop · Mar 23, 2017

Didn't Ernest Hemingway write about a Fox River up that way and never described which state it was in?

Cdewolfe · Apr 1, 2017

Havn't worked on the boat much lately. Walleyes are running right now so been mostly fishing. Picking up the rest of my metal in the morning.

Cdewolfe · Apr 6, 2017

Metal didn't come in when it was supposed to so that put me behind a bit. Bought a humminbird helix 5 si gps and mounted it with a ram mount. Also got a minn kota copilot 50. I need to get a bracket to mount it yet though. Also found out that the bay of green bay is federal waters so I need flares, sound producing device and fire extinguisher so I put together a small dry box with all that stuff.

fool4fish1226 · Apr 10, 2017

Looking good

Cdewolfe · Apr 11, 2017

Quick built a trolling motor bracket this morning before work so I can use it tomorrow fishing. Sorry for the dark picture and I forgot to turn my phone so I'm sure it will show up Sideways

Cdewolfe · Apr 12, 2017

Got up early today and put my center seat in so the passenger doesn't have to sit on a lawn chair. I'll post some pictures later of it. Wife got me a radio for the boat for my birthday so I'll have to figure out where I will mount it. Thinking the side of the gun box once installed.