Thread: Progress on the Xpress restoration

I finally got busy on the boat restoration a couple of weeks ago. I've been working a couple hours a day on it after the guys go home and we close. This week I've been extending the deck. I actually started on it Saturday. It's been a chore doing it alone. If I had someone helping that could run the press brake and shear, it would go much faster. I will say that climbing in and out of the boat about 1000 times has been good excercise. LOL The extra deck space will be worth the work it's taken.

I hope to finish up the metal work tomorrow night. Most of it is welded out, but as you can see there's still some welding left to do. I'll make the doors and install the two additional seat bases up front. I think I'm going to ad a step also.

I have a dry box to go into the left hole and the right hole is sized to store Plano 3600/3601 tackle boxes. I'll have to build the dry box for that. It will hold 7 of the Plano boxes.

Then all I have left to do is repaint the boat, put in the carpet, rewire everything, install the trolling motor, put in the new batteries and go fishing! I think I can, I think I can..... Good Lord willing and if the Creek don't rise, I WILL be finished and fishing before March 1.

Yes I know I stink at welding aluminum, that's why I don't do any of the aluminum welding on paying work. I've got some guys that are incredible at welding aluminum. Maybe some of it will rub off on me.

A 5 gallon bucket will work ! until it gets real hot anyway!