Just purchased a boat...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
JD7.62 - thanks for the compliments, it was a half rotted POS before my Pop and I tackled it. I would love to give you some detailed shots of the deck, but i recently covered it for the winter and have it in storage. I'll try to draw you a picture and post it as soon as I get a chance.

Several nice things about small boats:

1 - It costs me 3 gallons of gas - $9-11 to go out for the day.

2 - I catch as many big fluke, blues, bass, yellowfin/weakfish & others as the big boats.

3 - Maintenance is a snap

4 - I have less money into the boat, trailer, & motor than my friends spend a season on gas and maintenance

5 - I can tow it with my Camry :)

6 - the wife likes it but is perfectly happy for me to go on my own

I also helped my dad re-do a fiberglass skiff and several other small boats, so I might be able to give you pointers if you have specific questions.
 
Appreciate the info man! I have a small "sporty" car but it has some good power. Im debating on rather or not to add a hitch to my car and tow it. However my car is low to the ground and Im afraid of the weight of the boat bottoming it out. I assume your boat is MUCH heavier then mine, but how much does your car "dip" in the back when the trailer is on? I have maybe an inch of clearance between my tire and wheel wells so Im not sure...


Man I got a feeling Im going to have the worst case of cabin fever this winter waiting for spring to take her out fishing!
 
My boat/motor/trailer is between 800-1000 lbs tops. The car dips maybe an inch in the back. I would think any 4 cyl could tow your aluminum boat.

I didn't even use my boat once due to spinal surgery, and my son was born this august. Sad part is I have 2 boat slips in the back yard.
 
yeah my friend has a little bigger alum. boat has a console and all and tows it with an elantra. Pretty goofy considering I have a full size chevy with 35in bfg mud terrains.
 
JD7.62;1317846; said:
Appreciate the info man! I have a small "sporty" car but it has some good power. Im debating on rather or not to add a hitch to my car and tow it. However my car is low to the ground and Im afraid of the weight of the boat bottoming it out. I assume your boat is MUCH heavier then mine, but how much does your car "dip" in the back when the trailer is on? I have maybe an inch of clearance between my tire and wheel wells so Im not sure...


Man I got a feeling Im going to have the worst case of cabin fever this winter waiting for spring to take her out fishing!
Click to expand...

What car? Typically the smaller cars are doing a lot of work to pull a trailer. The mileage with the boat would be harsh.
 
It is a 2004 Lancer Ralliart. It will have enough power to pull but it sits low to the ground and Im worried about the clutch when I actually pull it out of the water. The boat really is light. My guess 150lbs tops.
 
yea i would make a casting deck over the front two benches, giving you room for a few in the rear, if you get really pumped about this i would suggest doing rod Lockers on both sides
how much are you looking to put into it? the asthetics shouldnt cost to much
what are you looking for electronics wise
i can give you some DIY suggestions for storage and other things
my friend has something like this, im spoiled and have had fiberglass CC's
i still have a 18 ft squareback canoe that i will be rigging up in early march i plan on making a livewell for it
 
There is not enough room for rod lockers. here is a simple paint thing I did of the supports Im going to make. Im going to mount a large cooler between the first and second benches and add a removable pump to make it a baitwell or take out the pump and keep my beer cold.

I have a Hummingbird fishfinder 535. Nice little unit for the price.

I have another thread I created that Im updating as I progress with the build, but I havent worked on it in awhile. When I get some work done I will update that thread and get back at you.

My family has a 26' CC but this is my cheap boat to bang around the rocks on the river.

boat1.JPG
 
oops i was thinking there would be enough length for one down a side and a cooler/ storage box on the other
yea i have a beastly canoe i have up ona small lake in Nh, awesome rigged up with a trolling motor i can go anywhere and can even fish comfortably standing up
back to the topic though
so your gonna put a livewell inbetween the two foward frmeworks where benchers were?
and a nice little anchor spot up front at the tip
 
That is the plan. Im going to run abunch of extra foam on either side of the cooler for better floatation. On the "step" of the deck Im going to put four vertical rod holders much like you would see on the sides of a console of a bay boat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom