My first jon boat builld Fisher Marine 16 ft xtra wide

[highvoltageva]

I have been reading on here for a while and finally decided to get me a jon boat to rebuild. The PO removed all bench seats and installed square aluminum framing to deck it out as a bass style boat. I personally don't like it decked that much. I will be removing all but a few pieced of the framing. I am going to leave 3 cells open in the bow and deck over them and install hatches for storage. Just want the platform to be bigenough to stand on if need be, but plan on putting 2 pedestal seat in the centerline. 1 near from 1 near back. here are a few pics after getting it home before starting to clean it up and see what i really have. any tips or advice is appreciated as this is my first boat since fishing with my dad as a kid.

click the link below for pictures after purchase

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49724790@N08

 

[hotshotinn]

Interesting.You have 53 views and no responces.Makes yous feel warm and fuzzy inside does it not?

Nice boat and build you got going on there. =D>

 

[highvoltageva]

it is what it is. I started today with cutting away some of the aluminum framing and will begin putting the decking on soon. thanks for looking.

 

[wasilvers]

So the prior owner started the rebuild but didn't finish? Nice foundation to build on.

 

[Attwanl]

got a good boat to start with ...16 extra wide.....

 

[Loggerhead Mike]

How wide is extra wide?

Good looking rig

 

[JMichael]

Your boat probably didn't have any bench seats to start with. The majority of Fisher Marine boats I've seen had open floors with pedestal seats. Here is what mine looked like at the start of my mod.

It does look like you're missing some of the short braces that tie the floor to the side at each rib and all of your floor and side foam. I've already removed the side panels and foam in this pic.

 

[highvoltageva]

So the prior owner started the rebuild but didn't finish? Nice foundation to build on.

Yes, he welded the framing in but lost interest in the project. I picked it up for $125.00. It has a few dents in it from a tree falling on it but the beefyness of the boat kept it from suffering major damage, just a few dents to the top rail.

Yes, Some of the braces are missing, but i have gone in and replaced those old rusted screws on the remaining braces with stainless steel hex head screws that look right nice.

How wide is extra wide?

Good looking rig

The boat is 48 inches wide across the bottom and almost 70 inches wide across the top and the transom.


I am going to be asking for some honest opinion here. I plan on putting 3/4 treated plywood as decking on the front and to box in the front and then use it as flooring for the remainder of the boat. But my biggest decision is weather or not to put a single pedestal in rear or to build a storage box and mount a flat swivel plate on top. I will have plenty of room to do whatever because i will be removing all the framing in the back( I measured it today and i will have just over 9ft of open boat) as i want my seats to set down low in the boat and not up on top of the deck as the PO had planned. My dad is in his 60's so I want it to be extra stable for him and I. Also I will be powering this machine with a 15hp 2cycle Johnson tiller motor? what do you guys think. Thanks for posting.

 

[highvoltageva]

forgot to mention. I also picked up 2 brand new Wise Highback Deluxe seats today for $100.00 for the pair. Bought them off a guy that works with me. He bought them about 1 yr ago had them on his boat 4 months and kept them under SEAT covers when not in use but took them off as he did not like the color. And they have been sitting in his garage since and are in emaculet condition. :mrgreen:

 

[lefty]

I have heard treated wood puts pinholes in the aluminum. That regular plywood with sealer is better. 3/4 is hefty. If you are just doing the front deck and floor. 1/2 inch will probably do. Also for the money look up ACM panels. Its a lightweight alternative to plywood. Ive found other simular products but this seems to be the best.
Also forbyour rear seat... id just mount a kingpin pedestal base and seat mount. No pedestal. That way you can take the seat out for whatever reason. Just my two cents.
Im sure more folks will comment.

 

[JMichael]

I have heard treated wood puts pinholes in the aluminum. That regular plywood with sealer is better. 3/4 is hefty. If you are just doing the front deck and floor. 1/2 inch will probably do.
Also forbyour rear seat... id just mount a kingpin pedestal base and seat mount. No pedestal. That way you can take the seat out for whatever reason. Just my two cents.
Im sure more folks will comment.

+1. I install vinyl siding and many times my customers will want me to wrap treated 4x4 post with aluminum so they look good. I warn them of the issues with treated lumber and aluminum but they want it any ways. I've gone back after a few years and seen where it's eaten completely through the aluminum in some places already.

(I removed the comment about the ACM panels because I don't know anything about them.)

 

[highvoltageva]

Thanks for the advice with the treated lumber. What kind of paint do you guys use for the interior and exterior of you boats and also primer or no primer. Thanks

 

[highvoltageva]

I will be adding new pics this afternoon

 

[Hammy]

Looks like you have a good boat and frame to start with and plenty of aluminum too.

Hammy

 

[JMichael]

When painting bare metal, use a self etching primer.

 

[highvoltageva]

I have some pictures to upload. I have finished cleaning the inside and sanding it to a roughly smoothed surface. My plan is the spray the floor and up the walls about 3 or 4 inches with Rustoleum Rubber undercoating to deaden the sound on the bottom of the boat.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49724790@N08/sets/72157631977299782/

Thanks for looking.

 

[JMichael]

45 minutes of time and no scrubbing involved. I mopped on a diluted solution of alumabrite and pressure washed it off. Went from this----

To this. The inside looks almost as good as the outside.

Search the build threads for what others have used or done to get their results and it will likely save you a lot of work/headaches/dollars. Or you could just ask what others have done and get good suggestions to help you out.

 

[kfa4303]

WOWZA! That looks great. I knew alumabrite was good, but I didn't know it was that good Where did you buy it?

 

[JMichael]

WOWZA! That looks great. I knew alumabrite was good, but I didn't know it was that good Where did you buy it?

I had a buddy to get mine for me. He has a crop dusting service and salesmen are always dropping by to sell him industrial cleaners/chemicals and other supplies. I'm not sure where you might find it locally.

 

[highvoltageva]

That does look awesome. If i wasn't going to repaint boat olive green color then i would do that. it have a few to many imperfections to have a bare aluminum finish. I just got back from HD with some self etching primer and the rubber spray in undercoating to coat the floor on the inside and the primer to coat the inside and outside to prep for paint. thanks for looking.