Modifications and material to use

[51shovel]

Hello all
I am new to the site and new to boats all together. I have a 14 foot vhull that is 54 inches wide. It has 3 bench seats with foam underneath and 1 seat up in the point of the bow with no foam. I am running a 50 pound thrust minn Kota transom mount motor. I will be using the boat fishing in the lakes of east tn. I am wanting to make the boat more fishing friendly. I'd like to add a deck up front for casting but more for storage as I hate stuff underfoot. Along with adding a floor so I'll quit tripping over the ribs. I have looked through some of the builds on here and noticed a couple things.

What material should I use
Are these modifications ok for a boat this size
Should I carpet the floor and casting deck or do something like truck bed liner. (Just bought the boat and it has green carpet in the bottom now but it catches my lures a lot.) is that do to wrong kind of carpet or just a thing to deal with with carpet.

I will try to upload some pics for you all

 

[Brine]

Welcome to the site.

In case you missed it, make sure to look here https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=3156

There are many 14ft V-Hull mods to look at. After you've gone through them, you'll probably have an answer to each question that fits your needs. For me to answer your questions, I'd have to ask more questions. Usually one answer won't be best for everyone. After you've gone through several of the builds, ask away!!

Some of the hilights....

What material should I use

Depends on your budget, and what is important to you

Are these modifications ok for a boat this size

If "ok" means safe - the answer is yes if it's done correctly.

Should I carpet the floor and casting deck or do something like truck bed liner. (Just bought the boat and it has green carpet in the bottom now but it catches my lures a lot.) is that do to wrong kind of carpet or just a thing to deal with with carpet.

Depends on your budget, and what is important to you. Carpet on a boat should be open loop. Closed loop carpet causes the hooks to snag much worse. I used bedliner because it was best for me.

Good luck

 

[smackdaddy53]

A few quick tips that apply to all aluminum hull modifications:

Treated wood will corrode aluminum because of the trace amounts of metal in the wood treatment.

Try to use aluminum rivets when you can to avoid dissimilar metal corrosion from using steel screws.

Weight can sneak up and ruin a build. Keep in mind weight distribution and extra weight. Aluminum is lighter and stronger than plywood.

If you use plywood, coat it with something like spar varnish and get the layered edges very thoroughly to avoid rot.

Think things through so you don't "paint yourself into a corner."

Research as much as possible and look at others builds and take something from them and apply it to your build.

Prep work will make paint last!