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Posts: 3926
| Hey now.
I swapped my totaled Explorer for a 89 Astro with a 150 BlackMax on it. The motor is good but I have to repair/replace seats, de-green some carpet and likely rewire the whole boat. The boat's layout can certainly be improved for musky fishing.
I'm wondering if you folks could suggest particular boats that have floorplans you admire.
I'll see if I can put a boat pic here....
(Astro FRQ Shot 7.3.08(2).JPG)
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 Astro FRQ Shot 7.3.08(2).JPG (172KB - 140 downloads)
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I like center consoles and tillers for the sake of room and moving around the boat with ease.
Are you wanting to gut this boat and start over or just work with the boat as-is? What kind of water do you mostly fish? |
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Posts: 3926
| I want to minimize cost so I need to mostly work with what I have. I usually fish smaller lakes, maybe 200-500 acres, in my humble but proud 14' Blue Finn.
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Well for smaller water like you mention and you don't take alot of water over the bow, I'd pull the passenger, or maybe both windshields off. Just gives the boat a lower profile and gets them out of the way figure 8'ing or landing a fish. You won't have to work around them, just step or lean over the console. You could probably also build a deck extension insert for the back seats and that'd gain you deck space and storage, which is awesome! |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Ditch the upholstery in the front deck. That is unless you intend to use it as a fish and ski.
Recarpet the boat instead of trying to get the green out. Trust me, it won't come out. At that time check to see if you have any soft spots in the floor. Fix them at this time, it's pretty easy to do. Carpet is pretty cheap (couple hundred dollars tops). Be sure to keep the old carpet as a pattern when you cut the new stuff.
Turn the "rod rack" in the floor into a bait box. Get some gutter downspouts and glue them together to make your grid.
If you don't intend on using the rear seats, extend the deck over the holes when you recarpet it. Use that space as some type of storage.
I got my new seats from my old Cajun from BPS. they were the cheapest around.
Ditch the TM and get a new one.
Keep the windshields! You fish late in the season and they're VERY nice to have in the fall. |
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Posts: 3926
| Thanks for the great ideas! |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | A single sheet cut to fit of 1/2 weatherproof plywood, carpeted already lipping the carpet under and covering the edges, screwed right over the top of the rear deck including the open side areas. Cover part of the openings with a piece about 10" high covering the front notched to accept the cupholder area, already carpeted. No need to remove tho old carpet, but you could.
Front deck, carefully remove the carpet and use it as a pattern to make a 1/2" deck piece, but don't cut out the rear portion; leave it straight across and make that deck a little bigger. Use a piece of angle aluminum to brace across the open area between the consoles, or a carpeted treated two by four piece. Carpet the new deck, then screw it down using stainless fasteners. The temptation to use sheetrock screws will be BIG...don't, trust me they will rust and break. Deck screws will work if pre-drilled.
Leave the windshields, you will like 'em when it gets nasty out.
Take out the upholstery, fill screw holes with new stainless screws and finish washers, cheap.
Should make a killer muskie rig, man.
The cockpit can be pressure washed at a car wash, after soaking with a carpet cleaning solution. I'll help get you a deal on two Shockmaster pedestals, those will simply screw into the floor area behind the windshields and will be solid. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | Here is what I did with my first bass boat. The hinged part back to the locks was not on the boat. I added that deck with storage underneath it. It held all the tackle I own plus anchors, buoys, ect. I could also lock both compartments independently.
On my current boat the lighter color carpet is the deck extension. It is also locking. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold as much tackle, but I have other storage compartments in this boat.
Edited by Schuler 9/15/2008 2:51 PM
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Location: Athens, Ohio | http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=32...
See if this helps any. Call me if I can assist in any way, m |
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Posts: 43
Location: Roch NY | looks like a fun project. her bones appear to be in good shape so a little TLC and you'll have a great rig. I work out of a fish and ski also. Its a good set up IMHO. Definitely keep the winshields, you will appreciate them during early and late seasons- you have enough room up front that they shouldn't get in the way.
on that note though, do build yourself a front deck extension for the walk-through area up front-removable, or fixed if it wont interfere with the rod locker. if you set the supports out along the edges it seems like it'll work fine. beats fallin in the 'hole' and you'll have so much more fishable space up there. Then if you;re really ambitious get a center windshield or fashion one out of lexan and while you're doing that (mine folds out of the way with a piano hinge), then set it up with a removable piece between that center windshield and the deck extension such that no wind goes between them, you'll be that much happier in the late season rides.
Last tip- I didn't want to put rod holders permanantly on mine as I didn't want it to interfere with the back deck fishability when not needed (or family outings-mine does indeed serve double duty), so I set up board that I can drop on the back that has the rod holders on it. you can utilize the ski pole as the anchor point (in my case there is an insert for the hole with a seat post that goes through mine to secure it). can post pics if you're interested.
good luck. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Sorry about the recommendation to ditch the windshields. Apparently I was way off base, but I was thinking for smaller water, I'd rather suck it up a few minutes across the lake than to have to dance around them with a fish. Which is back to why I like tillers and center consoles...and own a center console. I've got a windshield, and access all the way around the boat. |
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Posts: 3926
| great ideas, keep 'em coming, thanks everybody |
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