From this - to that

[Kris]

I couldn't remember if I posted some of these here or not.  So, here is where it all started.  A Ouachita 16 foot aluminum jon boat that didn't look all that bad, until you started looking at all the stuff in it.

It sat in this place for 5 -7 years without a cover on it.  Seats were trash and most of the carpet was dryrot.  It had been covered in a Marsh Grass vinyl wrap that was now hard in places, peeling and looking like hell.

The insides were covered in the aluminum you see here.  I likened it to the aluminum you used to see in backyard pools.  You ran the aluminum around, hooked the ends together, dropped in the pool liner, put the retaining plastic on top of the liner and filled with water.  You remember them.  It would give when I walked on it and the only thing that saved it was the insulation/flotation underneath.

This is what I found underneath when I removed the floor, pink, open cell foam.  It was amazing how much each piece of this weighed.  My neighbor and I could not lift the rear of the boat off the trailer.  After I removed the foam I could lift it myself.

After I removed the swimming pool aluminum off the inside of the stern I started poking around and found this.  Both ends of the wood that holds the outboard motor were rotten beyond belief.  This is also when I found the pressure treated plywood under this.  I could see some of the holes in the stern piece of aluminum from outside.  When you ran a flashlight across the inside it looked like a starry night in Louisiana from behind.  I remember those nights from Ft. Polk and East Texas back in the late 60s.

I thought the inside of this boat would work out for me until I got my fat butt up on the raised decks.  Supports were sheet metal, I believe, pop rivetted to the boat.  Granted, for a smaller fellow this might have been ok.  Then I decided I wanted to have something I could put my youngest Grandson in and not worry about him, or me, falling overboard.

This picture is of the side of the boat from where the 6 - 6 volt golf cart batteries were stored.  I believe it is from where the batteries gassed when charging.  I have treated it several times with baking soda and hoping it holds up.

This is the best I could do on the outside of the hull.  Lots of sanding and stripping to get that vinyl wrap off the boat. The pale yellow seems to be the original baked on paint. 
The trailer was not bad but I redid it also.  Major thing I think the boat sat very high.  I think this was because of the 12 inch tires and the heavy springs underneath.  This boat used to be powered by a golf cart outboard which used six golf cart 6v batteries for it and more batteries for the bow mount.
Trailer now has good quality 8 inch tires what will support over 700 lbs a piece.
Just wanted you guys to see where it started and how it went from this to that.

[West6550]

Great job and an awesome thread to follow. Thanks again for sharing Kris.

[Donald Garner]

Kris great job on the reconstruction of the boat and trailer.  Tks for sharing the pictures and comments with us.

[Mike Cork]

That was quite the challenge. I enjoyed watching you work it over the last several months. Great job

[Oldfart9999]

A lot of work and aggravation to rehab a tin but the final product is something to be proud of!!
Rodney

[Kris]

Thanks everybody, it has been a push to git-r-done.  So far she has been the perfect boat,  NO water in the hull and been fished out of by myself plus a club member.  I put the rod holders in the other day and took eight rods fishing with me locally.  I wanted to see if they would limit my movement and they really didn't.  But, if I redo them with heavier stuff I may just make them more vertical.  Mostly sanding and painting now.  Can ya see me smiling?

[gatorglenn]

Kris,
Can you post a link of your rebuild. Still learning to navigate this site.
Thanks, Glenn

[Kris]

This will be a first for me so try it and I hope it works. kris

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=130307.0

Copy and paste to your browser and it actually works.

[steve76]

This will be a first for me so try it and I hope it works. kris

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=130307.0

Copy and paste to your browser and it actually works.

Made your link live. Great job on the rebuild!

[Kris]

Thanks Steve.  Figured out what I did but didn't know how to get the link to be active.

[gatorglenn]

Great job Kris, thanks