Project Boat

[TnT]

I had a friend to call me about a boat his brother had that he needed to get rid of due to health problems. It is an 18 foot Searay Seville Ski Boat and he made me a deal I couldn't turn down!!! The boat is in good shape structurally...except....the inside needs to be re-done...Totally re-done!!!...It has a Mercury 135 that runs great. We put a battery in it and hooked up a gas tank to it and put the ear muffs on it...Pumped the bubble up and it fired up on the first try and runs like a top!!..I have been wanting a bigger boat with more room in it and something that would handle the rough water and wind a little better...I think I have found just that. Since the inside needs to be totally restored, I think I can make a great crappie boat out of it. My plans are to be done with it by the Fall, so I am in no hurry to get it ready, unless I sell my boat, then I'll be working a little faster to have it ready to fish. I definitely have my work cut out for me.....Here are some pics of what I just bought:

[EARL KITCHENS]

Tim, if you lay that boat out specifically for crappie fishing I think you will love it. The wind will not blow that deep hull around. The ride will be great. Good luck. I can not wait to see the finished crappie catching machine.

[TnT]

It will definitely be laid out for crappie fishing ...I don't have a time line to be finished, but I'll try to post some pictures as I go along. It may be 2 or 3 weeks before I actually get started on it.

[RagflyJigMan]

Knowing how well you did on your last boat I know it will be made into a crappie catching machine. Looks like this boat has alot of potential Tim.

[TnT]

I finally made it back home with the boat today. I had absolutely no problems pulling it back from Marianna, FL and the trailer tracks great. It will probably be a few days before I can start getting it completely gutted. My girlfriend and I spent about an hour today getting ideas on how we wanted to set it up and she had a great idea about raising/building the floor in the back and making some dry storage compartments...Can always use extra storage space!!...I also found out it is a 19 footer, not an 18 ft boat with a 7 1/2 ft beam. Rough estimates looks like the back fishing area will be 6 ft X 5 ft. Looking forward to starting on this project!

[chuckauten]

You and Norma Ann have a great project ahead of you. Good luck, I know it will be a success. Should be a good summer project. Keep us posted with pictures.

Chuck

[TnT]

I started removing what was left of the floor and removed the gas tank yesterday afternoon...Makes me wonder "What the heck was I thinking when I drug this boat home??????" Hopefully I'll have a better outlook when I get it all stripped out and see how to customize it my way.

[TnT]

I am almost done gutting the boat out..Maybe another afternoon and I'll be done. I put a battery in it and found out that the only thing that is actually working is the starter for the motor and the tilt and trim...No lights, bilge pump, radio, etc...Probably just a fuse somewhere. I am just about ready to start doing all the wiring for my electronics and trolling motor and whatever else I decide to put on the boat. I sprayed some 409 on a small place on the outside of the boat and it cleaned up very nice. I can imagine that it will clean up real nice with a good wax job. Still have a LONG way to go Here are a few pics on the progress:

[Chip Wells]

Tim, I think you'll love it. My wife and I started to leave the dock a few weeks ago but the batteries in my boat were dead. We regrouped in my parents' deck boat and headed out. It only took a few minutes to realize the potential the bigger boat had so I spent a little money on holders and a trolling motor I found on CDC and hopefully will give it a try this weekend. My reasoning to my wife and parents is that now we can all fish on the same boat. Good luck with the project!

[TnT]

Looks mighty rough right now Chip, but I am sure I will be happy in the long run..Although I am very pleased with the boat I have, I cant wait to get out in a bigger boat...I can fish 3 in my boat with no problem but there have been times I needed a little more room for the 4th person...I should have it soon.