So, this thread will be spread out over the next year, but I bought a new project boat. Starting brain storming ideas now.
My current bass tracker super bandit I bought several years from a TBH’er and made it into a bass/duck boat. It’s more of a A to B kind of boat. Doesn’t get that shallow but has a 90hp Evinrude. It was a lot of work I feel like, and it gave me ideas on how to do things differently on the next one. So I’m going to finish rewiring it, and redo the hydro turf and put it up for sale. The sale of that will help fund this next build.
Seemed like my bigger pain points on the super bandit had to do with the livewells, old foam, and rivets. So in my mind, I wanted something to strip down to the bare hull and rebuild up. I never used my livewells, never really missed them either. I still want to use this boat to duck hunt in, so I’d rather have open floor space. I’ve also gotten into fly fishing and want to chase fish in the flats. Looked at having a custom boat built, and it was too pricey. I’d rather invest that money else where. I really like the Sabine skiffs but they are like $30K. I could spend that on a cheap investment property on the coast or something instead. So I figured I would look for an old alumacraft boat that was a failed project.
Ended up scoring a 16ft bass tracker II for $360 with a tilt trailer. Best part about it is it’s about 90% gutted! Most the hard work is done I feel like. So it’s just about a solid blank slate and it’s a mod-v with a flat bottom. Should be able to cut waves and get shallow.
Here are some crappy pictures - I had to drop it off at a buddy’s before I broke the news to my wife.[emoji51]
So here are my ideas and I’m open to hearing more!
-Pull the two live wells in the boat.
-Remove the two seats(they aren’t really seats but have a bunch foam in them).
-Remove riveted side rail
-Add top deck (similar to a Sabine)
-Water test rivets and fix as needed
-Put frog spit on the bottom
-Probably do a coat flex seal on the inside and put in foam board for floatation
-Install aluminum floor
-Looking at doing a jet drive tiller possibly?
-I’ll probably weld some square tubing on the front to add different attachments(think truck hitch) winch and for LED light bars for bow fishing
-Removable push pole platform but make it to where I can add a duck blind utilizing mounting
-Gas tank and batteries to front
-Jackplate depending on how motor fits
- 2 hatches with 2 removable waterproof lining to access other things in the boat
- Self bailing plug
That’s my game plan for getting it functional.
Things I haven’t decided:
-Pods - maybe even a hinging pod similar to Lenco tabs
- Color - wife thinks my camo boat looks hideous in the driveway so I’m thinking a solid color but still duck hunting friendly. Any of you guys have any ideas?
- How I want to rig up for fish finder/Gps
- Can’t decide if I want to get a sound bar or not
- Can’t decide on if I want to do seadek or not
- power pole or manual?
Curious to hear any helpful input! I’ve got to offload some items before I get started on this build, but I’m hoping to have the bulk of it done before June but it’ll probably be a year long add.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My current bass tracker super bandit I bought several years from a TBH’er and made it into a bass/duck boat. It’s more of a A to B kind of boat. Doesn’t get that shallow but has a 90hp Evinrude. It was a lot of work I feel like, and it gave me ideas on how to do things differently on the next one. So I’m going to finish rewiring it, and redo the hydro turf and put it up for sale. The sale of that will help fund this next build.
Seemed like my bigger pain points on the super bandit had to do with the livewells, old foam, and rivets. So in my mind, I wanted something to strip down to the bare hull and rebuild up. I never used my livewells, never really missed them either. I still want to use this boat to duck hunt in, so I’d rather have open floor space. I’ve also gotten into fly fishing and want to chase fish in the flats. Looked at having a custom boat built, and it was too pricey. I’d rather invest that money else where. I really like the Sabine skiffs but they are like $30K. I could spend that on a cheap investment property on the coast or something instead. So I figured I would look for an old alumacraft boat that was a failed project.
Ended up scoring a 16ft bass tracker II for $360 with a tilt trailer. Best part about it is it’s about 90% gutted! Most the hard work is done I feel like. So it’s just about a solid blank slate and it’s a mod-v with a flat bottom. Should be able to cut waves and get shallow.
Here are some crappy pictures - I had to drop it off at a buddy’s before I broke the news to my wife.[emoji51]
So here are my ideas and I’m open to hearing more!
-Pull the two live wells in the boat.
-Remove the two seats(they aren’t really seats but have a bunch foam in them).
-Remove riveted side rail
-Add top deck (similar to a Sabine)
-Water test rivets and fix as needed
-Put frog spit on the bottom
-Probably do a coat flex seal on the inside and put in foam board for floatation
-Install aluminum floor
-Looking at doing a jet drive tiller possibly?
-I’ll probably weld some square tubing on the front to add different attachments(think truck hitch) winch and for LED light bars for bow fishing
-Removable push pole platform but make it to where I can add a duck blind utilizing mounting
-Gas tank and batteries to front
-Jackplate depending on how motor fits
- 2 hatches with 2 removable waterproof lining to access other things in the boat
- Self bailing plug
That’s my game plan for getting it functional.
Things I haven’t decided:
-Pods - maybe even a hinging pod similar to Lenco tabs
- Color - wife thinks my camo boat looks hideous in the driveway so I’m thinking a solid color but still duck hunting friendly. Any of you guys have any ideas?
- How I want to rig up for fish finder/Gps
- Can’t decide if I want to get a sound bar or not
- Can’t decide on if I want to do seadek or not
- power pole or manual?
Curious to hear any helpful input! I’ve got to offload some items before I get started on this build, but I’m hoping to have the bulk of it done before June but it’ll probably be a year long add.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Comment