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Posts: 128
| If you could change anything about your boat especially the front deck area, what would it be and why? (might help to mention what kind of boat it is too)
Lets assume not only adding some sort of whiz bang accessory, but also changing the layout of the boat itself.
Longer/lower/higher decks, storage lids opening one way vs another, etc.
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | I have a 1991 Lowe Ind FISH-N-PRO 1720.
I'd have the pedestal mount behind the bow live well instead of in front of it. More floor storage in the bow. And a larger stern deck with a pedestal mount. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i have a skeeter mx 1825 would like to see rubber gaskets around all lids keep thing more dry |
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Posts: 410
Location: Wakefield, MI | I'd stretch my boat 4 feet, make it wider, get rid of the bench seats and have casting decks, and put a bigger outboard on. But since that's not likely.... I would like add a small floor, especially up front because having your feet in the sharp V up there is uncomfortable. Other than that I'm pretty good, want to keep it light for getting into the small lakes. I have an old 14' Mirrocraft. |
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Posts: 133
Location: South Bend, Indiana | I have a 2001 ranger 205 vs... i would do something with the bench seat, either more comfortable and stylish or adapt some pedestal seats... |
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Posts: 136
Location: Dane Country | I have a 1987 Tuffy Muskie Rampage. Just redid it. I think i should have built some storage compartments in the front deck. Oh well there is always next time. |
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Posts: 128
| Scooter70 - 8/15/2012 8:54 PM
I have a 1987 Tuffy Muskie Rampage. Just redid it. I think i should have built some storage compartments in the front deck. Oh well there is always next time.
That thing looks amazing BTW!
My boat is an older boat that I was finishing up, but have decided to re-do some of it, even before finishing it. That'll be the winter project. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | Instead of having a single pedestal base up front, I'd have two, both offset to the opposite sides so I could sit down and figure 8 without banging the rod into the side of the boat. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
On my boat, I don't have any dry storage compartments up front. If I could change anything, I would make the storage compartments dry storage.
Steve
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| I have a 02 Lund Mr Pike 17. Basically, I want the front half of my boat to have a bassboat layout, the back is roomier than I need most of the time and the rear casting deck is too small. I think I just re-created their Predator model.
I'd:
raise the front casting deck 6-ish inches so the gunwales aren't so high
Move the driver/passenger pedestals and console back about 18" or more
Extend front deck back that same 18", move front pedestal back about a foot.
Move front deck hatch so it opens somewhere else so don't have to move TM foot pedal every time I want in.
Make a open hollow/space between the drivers console and the gunwale that allows me to put 7-8' rod tips in so they lay flat on the front deck.
fold-up rear casting deck similar to the one available on new lunds. |
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| Alumacraft Navigator, but this applies for most boats I've seen or have been in.
1) Recessed foot pedal. Not an issue for those that prefer the Terrova/Power Drive trolling motors, but it makes cable drive motors much more enjoyable to use.
2) Pedestal on the front deck moved back. This coincides with the first change I would make. The front of the boat feels really crowded, especially with a cable drive motor. It would be nice if the pedestal base was moved back a foot or so. Not an option on the Navigator specifically as the livewell prevents one from moving the pedestal back.
3) It would be nice if the rear deck was larger front to back. I also like Almost-B-Good's idea of having two pedestal locations. The pedestal on the back deck is almost useless as you have to take a few steps to be able to make a figure 8. It would be nice if there were two bases that were close to each side. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i'm creating the perfect boat ... it's been fun, a bit expensive, but worth every penny and all the effort. a '94 Ranger 690C hull with brand-new everything beyond that. all new wiring/plumbing, new 175 Pro-XS, new Hummingbird big-screens, interchangeable 36 volt cable/auto tm's. over the winter glass will be done and next year a new Pro-Kicker and trailer restoration.
it's fun to go to the lake when you run what you have always wanted to run for a boat! |
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Posts: 1086
| If I could change anything with my boat...up front? Well...the layout of my boat..I'm happy with. Only thing I'd change right now, if I had the money, is a new trolling motor. Or a new-to-me trolling motor. One that doesn't tend to get a mind of it's own and just start spinning in circles when I'm trying to maintain a specific route with boat control...only to have the thing go hey-wire and start spinning itself in circles..tangling the wires around it so tight. It's an old...'97-ish Minn Kota, foot control model...plenty big and strong enough..great trolling motor when it's behaving. Some days it's great...and doesn't act up. But...rest assured...on those days or at those times you do NOT want it to act up, ie, Fall fishing, muskie running with a sucker and you're getting things out of the way and trying to get the boat positioned over the top of that muskie to drive home the hookset...THAT is when this thing will go hey-wire! It's already happened too many times! Or..when you have others in the boat that you're fishing with and trying to put them on the fish and you're just maintain the boat control...and then it goes hey-wire. But when I'm out by myself....yeaup...that's when it's prefect.
Frustrating as all get out. So...yeah...that's what I'd change... 
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Posts: 128
| Almost-B-Good - 8/16/2012 6:52 AM
Instead of having a single pedestal base up front, I'd have two, both offset to the opposite sides so I could sit down and figure 8 without banging the rod into the side of the boat.
I'm not sure I understand what you are describing here.
Would you have two bases, AND two seats installed all the time? |
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Posts: 136
Location: Dane Country | Smallmouth/Musky thank you for the kind words. I hope to get it complete by spring 2013. |
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Posts: 5874
| MACK - 8/16/2012 1:35 PM
If I could change anything with my boat...up front? Well...the layout of my boat..I'm happy with. Only thing I'd change right now, if I had the money, is a new trolling motor. Or a new-to-me trolling motor. One that doesn't tend to get a mind of it's own and just start spinning in circles when I'm trying to maintain a specific route with boat control...only to have the thing go hey-wire and start spinning itself in circles..tangling the wires around it so tight. It's an old...'97-ish Minn Kota, foot control model...plenty big and strong enough..great trolling motor when it's behaving. Some days it's great...and doesn't act up. But...rest assured...on those days or at those times you do NOT want it to act up, ie, Fall fishing, muskie running with a sucker and you're getting things out of the way and trying to get the boat positioned over the top of that muskie to drive home the hookset...THAT is when this thing will go hey-wire! It's already happened too many times! Or..when you have others in the boat that you're fishing with and trying to put them on the fish and you're just maintain the boat control...and then it goes hey-wire. But when I'm out by myself....yeaup...that's when it's prefect.
Frustrating as all get out. So...yeah...that's what I'd change...
Take that PDAP to a certified repair ceneter and have them calibrate the compass board. It will fix your spinning issue. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | smallmouth/musky,
No, just one seat that I could move from the left side to the right side when I need to fish off the other side of the boat. Having the seat in the center may be pretty but it sure would be more functional closer to the side of the boat. There are some times you can't fish off the same side of the boat due to wind, current, and whether or not you want to head into it or slip with it. Probably if you took out the single base and had two about a foot apart the same distance from the front it would work slick. Years ago when I was healthy and more animalistic I never had any use for a seat up front. Now that I've had my health beat to a pulp I find it necessary to sit down after about a half hour casting. I don't want to stop fishing though, so I continue to cast sitting for about 10 minutes till I can stand again. It can be done from the center but it sure would be a whole lot easier if you could sit closer to the side.
Edited by Almost-B-Good 8/17/2012 10:04 AM
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Posts: 97
Location: Milwaukee, WI | I have a Crestliner fishhawk 1750DC. Only think I would like is an easily accessible rod locker that can hold 9' rods. |
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | Almost-B-Good - 8/17/2012 10:02 AM
smallmouth/musky,
No, just one seat that I could move from the left side to the right side when I need to fish off the other side of the boat. Having the seat in the center may be pretty but it sure would be more functional closer to the side of the boat.
Then the boat would sit cockeyed. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | Cockeyed! You got it, just like when you have three guys casting from the same side of the boat. |
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Posts: 24
| I've got a Tuffy Esox Mag, best move my dad and I did was to remove the stupid cup holders. I'd always step on them and bust them off. The whole boat has a flat floor anyway.
I'd remove the gauges if I could, the speedo is just a guess anyway, and the gas gauge doesn't work well, so I'd like more floor space at my spot in the back. |
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| Almost-B-Good - 8/17/2012 10:02 AM
smallmouth/musky,
No, just one seat that I could move from the left side to the right side when I need to fish off the other side of the boat. Having the seat in the center may be pretty but it sure would be more functional closer to the side of the boat. There are some times you can't fish off the same side of the boat due to wind, current, and whether or not you want to head into it or slip with it. Probably if you took out the single base and had two about a foot apart the same distance from the front it would work slick. Years ago when I was healthy and more animalistic I never had any use for a seat up front. Now that I've had my health beat to a pulp I find it necessary to sit down after about a half hour casting. I don't want to stop fishing though, so I continue to cast sitting for about 10 minutes till I can stand again. It can be done from the center but it sure would be a whole lot easier if you could sit closer to the side.
Springfield Marine SPRINGFIELD 1640401 - Springfield Spring-Lock Offset Seat Post - 13" 1640401 |
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Posts: 128
| catchandrelease - 8/16/2012 11:30 AM
Alumacraft Navigator, but this applies for most boats I've seen or have been in.
1) Recessed foot pedal. Not an issue for those that prefer the Terrova/Power Drive trolling motors, but it makes cable drive motors much more enjoyable to use.
2) Pedestal on the front deck moved back. This coincides with the first change I would make. The front of the boat feels really crowded, especially with a cable drive motor. It would be nice if the pedestal base was moved back a foot or so. Not an option on the Navigator specifically as the livewell prevents one from moving the pedestal back.
3) It would be nice if the rear deck was larger front to back. I also like Almost-B-Good's idea of having two pedestal locations. The pedestal on the back deck is almost useless as you have to take a few steps to be able to make a figure 8. It would be nice if there were two bases that were close to each side.
Agree the recessed pedal is nice. My front deck is recessed, and the new front deck will be as well.
My question is, is it even possible to have a recessed pedal with a center rod box?
Could you add two smaller lids on the livewell, and install the seat base in the middle/top of the livewell?
The rear deck is going to be an issue for me. I'm working on coming up with something that stores easily, and drops in easily. A deck extension isn't something easy to incorporate w/a tiller boat. And with my front deck will only be needed for 3 people. There will be plenty of room for 2 guys up front.
Louis - 8/17/2012 11:16 AM
I have a Crestliner fishhawk 1750DC. Only think I would like is an easily accessible rod locker that can hold 9' rods.
Would you be willing to extend your front deck until it would fit a few 9' rods or do you think you would give up too much floor space?
elTim164 - 8/17/2012 1:34 PM
I've got a Tuffy Esox Mag, best move my dad and I did was to remove the stupid cup holders. I'd always step on them and bust them off. The whole boat has a flat floor anyway.
Do you use the cup holders? Stainless cup holders would put a stop to breaking them.
Edited by smallmouth/musky 8/18/2012 1:45 PM
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Posts: 128
| Another idea I had....What do ya'll think?
When I extend the front deck, I've thought about adding another pedestal base and pedestal towards the end of the deck so the 2nd guy on deck has a place to lean. |
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If you could change anything