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Posts: 3918
| Previous owner of my 14'er threw out the front bench, removed the middle bench and trimmed it down with cutters, then reattached the smaller middle bench as the new front. But he attached it about a foot further away from the bow than the old front bench. He also replaced as much styrofoam as possible under the new front bench. Then he riveted some alum sheeting to both benches so they could handle short seat pedastels(sp) and then fold-down seats. Then a treated plywood floor set as low as possible from the rear bench to the bow. No floor between the rear and transome, that's where the 3 gal gas tank goes. I added a battey box in the front like you, and I ran power to a small fused switch box I mounted next to me at the rear seat. Lights on front and back, fishfinder next to the switch box. The trolling motor has its own power line that includes a 40amp resetable fuse. 15hp merc and a 55# Maxxum w/ an extended handle on the transome. Tool holders attached to the rear bench to hold the mini-bolts and other release tools. On the floor and I put strips of that stuff they put on steps to keep people from slipping for my feet, and I lean my one leg against the rear bench to deal with waves and when doing an 8. Some of that round foam insulation for plumbing pipes on the gunnels so I don't bang the boat doing a figure 8. I have a mini-12 volt battery strapped on the other side of the rear bench for a weatherproof ciggybutt lighter - that's where I plug in the Q-Beam. Some Grateful Dead stickers, a small SpongerBob sticker to remember that dude, and a single "MuskieFirst Pro-Team" sticker that looks pretty #*^@ silly on the side of that little boat. Let's see....that's about it.
I started with a 12 footer, too. But, as time passed I soon had a regular-sized musky tackle box, 5 or so rods and a Frabill PowerCatch net. Add another person and the boat is packed. Too packed; the 12' boat was just too small for all that gear plus people. So I started over with the new old boat described above, but a wider 14' with a relatively deep V.
Your work is great, much better than what I can do. Oh, last, I tried to fish standing toward the bow but couldn't handle waves very well up there. Much easier (and safer) to stand in the rear of the boat for me.
Good luck with your project! Hope I was helpful.
ps- Can you provide more details about "bracing to prevent warping"? How did you go about that?
Edited by Ranger 10/26/2009 11:31 AM
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