Q-14 (semi V) AeroCraft Project

[Scott Mac]

Banged out the side locker frames and figured out the rear deck. Still a ton to do, but I love it.

 

[markc]

Great thread, enjoy watching your progress! Looking really good =D>

 

[fishingmich]

Hey Scott, the boat is starting to look sweet. I can't wait to fish the Saginaw. I've read a lot about it but have never ventured out there. I wasn't sure if my 14' Starcraft could handle it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Scott Mac]

Hi fishingmich,
The Saginaw Bay is a hit and miss fishery with a small boat. I have fished it with 14' boats and have done very good when the weather will allow it. I fish the Saginaw and Tittabawsee river when the bay is too rough. The Walleye in the river is good early spring for a few weeks after the opener. The bay is open all year for Walleye and it can be very good just after the ice out because they are in shallow meaning you do not have to go way out to catch them. Also the river is good in the late fall up to the ice forming. If you can handle the cold it is very good just before ice up. Good fishing and shoot me an e-mail if you are heading this way and if I can help put you on fish, I will.

 

[Scott Mac]

Spent the better part of 4 days getting the wood sealed. I put 3 coats of Spar on it so I sohould be good.

 

[fishingmich]

Hey how wide is your boat across the bottom? I wanna put some side storage in like you did but I don't want it to be too narrow. How wide are your storage boxes and how much room do you have in between?

 

[Scott Mac]

I will measure it today and send the info. I plant to go later this morning.

 

[Scott Mac]

Hi fishingmich,
I measured my boat and it has a 54" beam. My floor (plywood) between the inner side walls measures 34.5" leaving 9.75" on each side from the widest point. This width was determined by my front bench width. I left the outside portion of that bench attached to the sides so I could span support from there to the remiddle bench and on back to the rear bench. I feel it stiffens the sides back up after cutting into the front two benches. It's just me. Anyway I can get around the front seat on both sides or simply swivel the front and walk to the back and visa versa. I am setting this boat up for one or two persons. That will cover about 95% of its use.

 

[Scott Mac]

Hey, fishingmish,
I forgot to add a photo.

 

[fishingmich]

That's almost exactly what I'm planning for my boat. My side storage won't be as long as yours is, but I only removed 1 bench and I'm going to deck over the front 2 benches and make storage underneath for life jackets, anchors and what not. I'm trying to decide if I want full length storage like yours or half of that. Someone else on here did half storage and I kind of like that too. It gives a little room along the sides to get coolers and other stuff out of the way. Anyone that has ever owned a tin boat knows there's never enough storage, so I'll probably go full length like yours. I want enough storage so that I have room to keep everything I want right on the boat. I don't want to be scrambling around at the last minute looking for stuff. My walleye jigs, my pike cranks and spoons, my panfish stuff and all of my soft plastics! Well, maybe not all of my soft plastics. I need a bigger boat for that! :LOL2: :LOL2: [-o<

 

[Scott Mac]

Got a few more hours in today. Made a mock-up of a hatch and I need a spacer under my lid support frame work in order for the lid to sit flush with the floor. Cut out some hatches and framed them in. I love working on these types of projects in the winter. Not enough ice yet and the ramps are froze up. Guess I'll bang away on my tin.

 

[fender66]

Looking good!

 

[Scott Mac]

Installed the bilge and ran a wire way from the back to the front. I will have a 12V and 24V system. The 24 is for the new Minn Kota I ordered yesterday and the power will be in the nose. The 12V will run 2 depth finders, bilge, nav lights and maybe interior lights. I pulled wire to the front for the nav. lights and a depth finder. Have to wait until next week to finish the electrical (waiting for an order).

 

[Scott Mac]

Trimmed up the hatches for carpet clearance and cut the rod locker lids. Need to touch up the lids and coat the added wood with "spar" so carpet can get glued.

 

[Scott Mac]

The new 24 volt trolling motor arrived and it appears to fit just fine. It came with a free Hummingbird depth finder. I am going to attach the transducer to the motor so I can leave it up front. I am running the motor with a single 24 volt deep cycle battery.

 

[fishingmich]

Hey Scott, do me a favor. Take a couple of pics of how you run your transducer cable up the trolling motor shaft. I did mine a couple of years ago and I ended up ripping he cable in half. Gracias!

 

[Scott Mac]

As soon as I do it I will send you the photos. I know it will be tricky but it can be done. I think it will involve several cable ties and maybe some high quality tape. I am not crazy about tape but cable ties do not prevent rotation around the shaft. I'll let you know. Good fishin'!

 

[manley09]

wow very nice so far. keep it up!

 

[Scott Mac]

I've been a little concerned that my 1957 10 hp Johnson would struggle getting my project up on a plane because of the added weight so I set out in search for a more powerful motor. Not that there is anything wrong with my 10 horse but running on a plane is where its at. After countless hours of searching, calling and e-mailing I found a dimond in the rough (there is a ton of rough out there). I picked up an original unmolested 1963 18 hp Johnson and I can now get back to work finishing the task at hand.

 

[798hand]

i want to know more about that 24 volt batt.
have you used one before