Ugly Duckling

[GDalk]

Hey Guys,
My name is Gerald, new to this site but not new to bass fishing and boating. Earlier in the year I got bit by the fishing bug and needed to find a new fishing machine. I've been away from fishing and boating for a while except for a couple kayaks, didn't work for me... So found a Lowe 1448, 1993 modified v. This thing was done! Being that I am a Glutton for punishment...I bought it...
So I'm going to figure out how to post the pics from start to finish. This boast was ugly, done and needed more work than I wanted to put into it. No way it would float. Previous owner fiber glassed the bottom instead of fixing the leaking rivets. Would sink in your bath tub.

 

[GDalk]

So found the boat on Friday, found the 9.9 outboard on Saturday. Never used Evenrude four stroke!!! I'm thinking life is great. Decided to check out the bottom of the boat. Holy Crap!!! Not good, rivets missing, anti barnacle paint, center keel guard corroded beyond repair... Not feeling good at this point. Well I did state that like a challenge. So I flipped the boat over and went to town on the hull. Ripped off all of the fiberglass patching and drilled out all of the Marginal rivets. Replaced with marine rivets. Ground down every rivet and sealed with Glovit, best marine sealer known to man. Saned boat and primed and painted hull, second line of defense. I really like keeping the water outside of the boat, kind of anal about that...

 

[GDalk]

So after all of the hull work started the painting. 20 plus cans of Krylon Camp Green. Ran out had to order more

 

[GDalk]

So... Got the hull in good shape and a good coat of paint and sealer working in my favor. Put it in the water and floated around for a few hours( lots of twiddling my thumbs). No leaks. Boat is stable. Water stayed in the lake not the boat, I'm happy!!!. With the boat upright painted more until I ran out of paint again and started working on the casting deck. Since this is an older model I chose to make a two level deck to keep the weight down. Used 1/8th aluminium angle for the frame work.

 

[GDalk]

Started the decking. I frame my bots with light weight metal. As long as it is solid and installed correctly it will last forever.
As for the horizontal decking/flouring, I use untreated 3/4 inch plywood. I see this as a sacrifice. Treated wood weighs too much, painting and varnishing takes way too much time. If it wears out just redo it.

 

[GDalk]

SO again. More work. Cut out the wood and started carpeting. Piano hinges are a pain but looks good...

 

[KMixson]

Nice Job! Looks good.

 

[GDalk]

Still have some painting and finish work to do. Added a new trolling motor and seats. Really close to the finished product

 

[GDalk]

After the first round of sea trials the little boat was great. Ran around 17 mph with 2 adults. Not used to a four stroke outboard, top end is the same as a two stroke. Just seemed a bit sluggish off of the line. Over all i'm satisfied with how it performs. Actually found the Evenrude the day after I bought the boat. 96 model with virtually no hours from a local dealer. Biggest thing no leaks!!!!!!!!!!!! Still waiting for the decals from Lowe, really hard to find original graphics. From start to finish about 5 weeks with lots of elbow grease. Fitted out with a Raymarine Dragon fly 4 on the transom and a Hummingbird 170 on the trolling motor. 36 inch Minn Kota 45 pound thrust 12 volt foot controlled trolling motor. Looks like a brand new boat. I'm going fishing!!!
Thanks for looking.

 

[perchjerker]

wow great job

 

[overboard]

Same here, Nice job!

 

[gpavlick]

Awesome build, look's new...Greg

 

[earl60446]

Looks great, good job.
Tim

 

[richg99]

Looks GREAT! You have to be the Rattle Can Champ!

Ha Ha Fine job. richg99

 

[GDalk]

Thanks for the replies,
Took the boat out last Wednesday for an entire day on the water. Fishes great... Super stable, stood every where on the boat. Runs smooth on plane I really enjoyed this build. This is my 5th john boat build, hope I can get through the year without selling it and starting on another.

 

[shamoo]

Awesome job GDalk, =D> =D>