Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
For some of the smaller boats, (the normal V-bottom fishing boat like a Lund S-14 and similar), adding a little weight via decking can actually be a good thing!! The extra weight in the bow will settle the bow down if you fish alone and have a 20hp or larger motor on the back.
One major suggestion: Do not remove middle seats on these boats. The middle seats add strength to the sides of the boat, so by removing them, you weaken the entire hull. I have seen a few done who build rod lockers, which helps to support them, but without any side reinforcement, there is a risk of buckling the boat if a wave is hit hard enough...
Many times with these V-bottom hulls you can cut a board that will go over the front seat (right at the bow if it exists) and the first bench seat back, which creates the deck for fishing on. 3/4" plywood would be all you need here unless you are a bit on the hefty side, then a couple of pieces of angle iron placed in a criss-cross pattern will help with flexing. you could build a lower flat spot to mount a TM battery, then run a little wiring up to a plug in, build a top deck up front and put a bow-mount on it....that is really a nice addition.
The biggest benefit is the weight up front for the outboard and you in the rear. The bow does not rise as much, and will not porpoise on you at higher speeds.
Steve |
