Thread: 1996 Blazer VL100 Restoration to Crappie Chaser

Awesome work. That shop is certainly clean ans well kept

Made some changes..................converting the boat to a center console.

The console is here, already made a trip to my windshield guy for the custom windshield. A nagging thought has had me by the short & curly's, Would the boat balance on the pad with such a narrow beam with me, 210#'s sitting all the way to one side of the boat? I really don't think that it would. Will it balance with all weight centerline? Absolutely. I'm installing a 115 setback 8 inches, Personally a center console was the only thing that made sense.
I have to close up the side console opening then I can install a 3 inch rigging tube in the floor before finishing the glass would in the bilge area.

I bought this boat because it has a shorter deck than the one I have now. I kneel down on the floor to reach a jig pole under overhanging trees in the swamp here, crappie fishing. this is a 1995 model, my 1996 has a longer deck. I make seats from scratch and plan a seat with backrest in front of the console but fish 99.5% of the time by myself. The plan is to fabricate a flip up backrest and sit on the Livewell myself. With only a 68in beam no room for anything much.

Here are pictures from plugging the old console hole up earlier today. I used an old underdeck skin from the bow of a Champion. The hole was patterned first. Then the pattern is used to layout panel needed on the old glass. After cutting it out I took the grinder and prepped everything, screwed it in place for fit, removed then buttered in with West systems thickened epoxy and screws. After curing I can continue with the repair.



Here is a Flip-up seat I made for my Fly Fishing Skiff (before the Crappie Bug bit me). I painted all the Aluminum work I fabricated on this boat the deep metallic red to kinda match the Power-Pole. This seat was removable too, it just dropped into the Rocket Launcher Rod Holders I welded on the front of the Poling Platform.

Sweet! I love that deep red. It really pops against the white.

Great looking boat

Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

Very detailed work and explanation! I need coffee!

I second the coffee...Very good explaination rojoguio. I take it the PVC is for wires???

Originally Posted by Jamesdean

I second the coffee...Very good explaination rojoguio. I take it the PVC is for wires???

That is correct, keeping the wires separated in necessary for Induction purposes or I should say to prevent induced currents.

Originally Posted by rojoguio

That is correct, keeping the wires separated in necessary for Induction purposes or I should say to prevent induced currents.

I thought so. Thank you for the clarification.