[bigtex]

Here are some pictures of a flat bottom boat that was given to me.  I want to add two decks, one in the front and one in the back.  Any suggestions on how and where to start?  All the help will be appreciated.

 

[Ouachita]

What guage is it? I watched a thin guage jon boat with new decks buckle when launched with two guys in the middle of it. I'd say they far exceeded the maximum weight rating counting the decks. They are designed for keeping low inside, pretty tippy when standing high. You might want to put some boards across it first, standing, walking around over shallow water before investing a lot of work. While standing you need it to bump into a stump to see it it will roll over. Keep in mind the benches are cross bracing to hold it open while afloat. If you remove them the decks will have to do the bracing, so they need to be attached all the way down the inside of the hull.

Jim

 

[Jared]

How long is it? How wide is it?

Id suggest only a front deck otherwise the boats center of gravity may be offset too much and you will have a very unstable boat. If you want to test it out, stick the boat in the water and you and your buddy stand on the seats. If it feels very wobbly then Id definitely only put a front deck in.

I have a 14' x 48" aluminum john boat I put a deck on. I will take some pictures today and post them here.

 

[bigtex]

I have decided to go with a low line deck, meaning that the deck will only come up halfway inside the boat.  I am going to mount two seats, one in the back and another in the front.  I am thinking about installing a livewell.  Also I will be putting foam under the decks to provide better stability.  I hope this works. 


Let me know what yall think about this idea?


I would love to see those pictures LakeCity

 

[Ouachita]

That seems good. Think about where the livewell should go so it will balance the load and keep the boat level. Filling it with water ought to help stabilize roll. Figuring water weighs about 8# per gallon, put some weights (rocks?) where you think it will go then launch it to check that position. Adjust weight by adding rocks or dumping some to where you like the ride, weight the rocks, then build a livewell holding that much weight in water. There are custom jonboat livewells around here that can only be filled half full, wasting space.

Jim

 

[bigtex]

I was thinking maybe a portable livewell. Nothing that would be mounted in the boat.

Would a portable livewell be something that I should consider??

 

[fish4funinfl]

A portable may not be a bad idea. My buddy Kenny has a boat which is probably about what Jared has from the sound of it. And he uses a big cooler with an areator in it. It sits in the middle of the boat. He also has a 15hp Mercury on the back and trolling motor on the front.

 

[bigtex]

Well my idea to modify my boat is shot now. No really, it has been shot. Over 5o bullet holes and it is halfway sunk in a pond. Don't know who or why and will probably never know why or who.   :cussin: |x|

 

[Jared]

NO WAY??? someone used your boat for target practice??? THAT SUCKS!!

Almost makes me wonder if its the same person who broke your fishing rods.

Was the boat on your land? if so Id call the cops

 

[bigtex]

I did call the police but theres not much that they "can" or "want" to do.  That is what they told me.  They took pictures of the boat but couldn't find any shells or lead????  Come on now, 50 bullets and no evidence!!! 

On a some what better note,  the boat was given to me so I am not out of any money!!  LOL

 

[bigtex]

LakeCityYankee

Almost makes me wonder if its the same person who broke your fishing rods.

The person that broke my rods admitted it to me. He said it was an accident and was too scared to tell me what he did.

Everything is cool now, but he still owes me two rods. LOL

 

[nwgabassmaster]

Get them to take the measurement of the bullet wholes. You will have to determine which side would have been the facing the shooter, but it sould give you a guess on what the caliber of the weapon was.

If it was a rifle, and they could get off a long shot, you could be looking anywhere from 200-500 yds. back for shells. If it was a pistol, it would only be 50-100 yds., unless they are trying to be Superman and really reach out and touch someone.

Hate to hear that about your boat. Next time, get Progressive Insurance on it, and see if they would get you a new boat. Just an idea.

 

[bigtex]

Hey John, did you not see the pictures of the boat before the attack. LOL It is not worth the money that you would spend on insurance.


The way that I had the boat sitting, the person(s) that did the shooting must have fired the rounds from another boat that was in the water. I really don't feel like going under water to find out what they were shooting. The police believe that it was a .22. I will have to go with that. Nothing is going to come of this, I can see that already.

 

[fish4funinfl]

Well heck, sorry to hear of this Tex.