Got my Ouachita back with new aluminum

[Kris]

Thanks DG, it has been and still is a lot of labor.  My biggest thing has been to make her as water tight as I can after the life she has been through.  It is coming along real well but not as rapidly as I would like to see it.  I am hoping to have her in the water fishing the first week of September.

[Kris]

My fishing Buddy came over this morning and helped me get the Ouachita off the trailer and turned over.  While I was waiting for him I got the boat hooked up and moved it from where we would be turning it over.  I also installed the CE Smith lights to the top of the bow guides.  Still not wired but they are on there.  Here is a picture of one of them:

I drilled the hole and ran some wire up to connect with the wires for them and got them on.  I had to use some PVC parts to get them installed.  I also have to repaint the bow guides and I think I will move them from where they are.  I am also going to add carpet to the bow guides to keep from scratching them up.  Here's a picture of the bow guides:

Last but not least is the bottom of the boat.  Bob and I were out there several hours getting it off the trailer and scraping around the rivets to remove the clear silicone sealer put on by the previous user.  I just finished up around 2:45 scraping, sanding and putting 3M 5200 on every underwater rivet.  As I have said previously, I am trying to make this old girl as water tight as I can.  Accoring to the tube it takes up to 7 days for it to fully cure, non-tacky in 48 hours.  I made sure that the area around every rivet was clean for good adherence of the sealer.  Here is a look at the finished project:

Many of the parts are showing up for the boat and I hope to work on it as much as I can around working part-time.  Cindy fell and messed up her back so she will be side lined for a little while. 
I really do enjoy taking these old boats and putting them back to use.  Hopefully this one will not let me down.

[West6550]

Man that looks like a lot of work lol

I enjoy doing stuff like this too so I totally understand.

[Kris]

It's a lot of work but when it's done it will be right and comfortable to fish from.  Once the sealer has totally cured I will paint the bottom.  When that dries sufficiently I will go back on the trailer.  I have most of the parts I need to put it together so it should go together pretty quickly.  I am planning on having it in the water by the 1st of September.  Once it's done I can start on the Ranger.

[Kris]

Seats arrived today, Cabela's Angler High Back seats in Gray/Red.  I changed my mind again on the pedestals and will be using an adjustable height pair from Swivel Eez.  Bass Pro Shops stuff goes back on Wednesday morning.
I have the plywood, sealer, sand and paint as soon as the bottom dries and boat is back on the trailer.   I do have to pick up the PVC pipe for the electrical stuff.  I do have a lot of wire and the six switch panel for it.  I have the MK Edge 55 bow mount and the foot pedal pan.  I have the battery trays, tie downs and batteries to get me going.  I may have to replace them eventually.  MK Traxxis 70 is ready for its duty.  Looks like my Humminbird Helix 5 DI will be doing double duty for the Ouachita and the Ranger.  I need to find a transom mount transducer for my Helix 5 DI and use my Helix 5 DI/GPS or the Lowrance Elite 5 HDI i just got.  Still unsure what I want to do with electronics.
So it goes, hopefully in the water by first week of September this year.

[Kris]

I finally got a chance to work on the Ouachita today.  I ran to Lowe's this morning and picked up some stainless hardware that I know I will need this week.  I got started about 9AM working on the floor.  I have much of the plywood cut to fit including the lower seat pedestal pieces.  I had cut the lower pieces the other day and got one coat of Thompson's water seal on them.  Second coat was completed today.
I got most of the floor cut out, test fitted and screwed down.  I removed all the screws after drilling holes for the seat pedestal bolts.  I also test fitted the TM pedal pan to make sure it fit well.  I had removed all the plywood after screwing it down so that I can treat the screw holes with Thompson's.  All but one piece of flooring is cut and all but one of the pieces cut today has had its first coat of Thompson's.
It's all put away now and I have to work all day tomorrow.  Back at it on Tuesday getting this boat ready for the water.
More info, including pictures, on Tuesday.

[Smallie_Stalker]

Sounds like it's really coming along Kris. You'll be on the water before you know it.

[cojab]

More info, including pictures, on Tuesday.

Looking forward to it Kris

[Kris]

Ya'll should have seen me working here today.  I put my Daughter's car back together and finished up the floor on the Ouachita.  I had some of the floor painted and put in the boat the other day and did some final fitting on the front deck.  I was worried that a full width piece of plywood would not fit into the front of the boat.  I was right.  I had to end up putting the plywood into the stern area and slide it up to the bow locker. Because the sides are filled with flotation they stick into the open area a little bit.  In the front it is exaggerated by bow as it moves in from the width of the stern.  I had to taper it starting at about 13 inches from the locker.  You can see the holes for the seat pedestal just behind the TM pedal pan.

There is another piece of plywood in the floor framing under where the pedestal mounts.  It is screwed into the framing and then the floor plywood is over top.  I drilled the seat pedestal mounting holes through both pieces of plywood.  There are additional screws holding down the floor plywood around the piece underneath the floor.  Here is another view from the stern:

You can see the mounting holes for the rear pedestal in the above pic.  I cut the two pieces of plywood you see missing yesterday and covered both sides with Thompson's Water Seal.  Both pieces got a second coating of it this morning on the top side.  The rear piece for the front deck was dry late this morning so I painted it red.  The forward piece for the rear deck I held off and painted about 1 PM. 

This last picture is another view of the whole floor.  You can see the missing pieces better from here.

I did bolt in the front of the front deck today.  I think I was smart and just used regular, non-locking nuts because I have to take the front deck out again to put the pedestal in the rear deck.  I will have to at least tip up the rear deck to tighten the bolts for it.  The front one will be a piece of cake because I can reach under the deck because it is raised.
More work to do, more pictures to come.

[Kris]

I decided today that the floor has now been coated twice with Thompson's and one with the red color coat, so time to put it in the water.  But before I do that I want to put the batteries in it, bilge pump and both trolling motors.  After its Maiden Voyage I will decide where the floor sand paint needs to go.  I am probably not going to paint the inside before the MV either.  So it may look a little funky but I am dying to get this thing in the water.  Hell, I might even take a rod or two with me. 

[Smallie_Stalker]

That is looking REALLY nice Kris!!!    I take it since you are painting the decks you  are not carpeting?

[Kris]

That is looking REALLY nice Kris!!!    I take it since you are painting the decks you  are not carpeting?

I have been doing this on my last two reservoir rigs.  This one will get the second coat of red with play sand in it for traction and maybe another coat on top.  I use exterior grade plywood with two coats of Thompson's Water Seal on upper surfaces and one on the lower.
Using the Azek, plastic wood, for supports makes them lighter than real wood.  I would bet that the The front piece of plywood with the TM pan is as heavy as that whole front deck support.  My neighbor who works with this stuff is amazed how strong it is.  My biggest plus, it does not rot away.
So the answer in short, no, I am not using carpet.

[Kris]

Next step is installing the pedestals and finishing off the floor.  Once that is completed it's time to start wiring this bad girl.  Once wired, install the trolling motors and other accessories.  Finally, put this thing in the water.  I still have not decided if I will use PVC or electrical tubing.  I have a 23' harness for the bow mount and the leftovers will provide power to the transom mount.  Lowrance Elite 5 HDI on the bow and a Humminbird Helix 5 DI on the transom.  I believe this will be the roomiest, most comfortable reservoir rig I have ever done.  Looking forward to getting her in the water soon.

[Kris]

As I said I wanted to get the floor done so I could install the battery trays and wiring so I can put this in the water.  Well, I finished it today. 
I have been working on it for a couple of days because I had one big problem.  I had installed the rear pedestal first because I had to.  This left me with not enough room to lower the front deck plywood onto the rear deck floor so I had enough room to slide it into place.  That was the only way that I could get the plywood in on top of the front deck supports.
Not sure how hot it is but I have been sweating since I started just after getting home from work and eating lunch.  Guess I have been drinking too much beer, I'm soaked.
Well, here is the first picture:

Here's a picture of the rear deck and pedestal.  The gray thing in front of the seat is a strap to hold the rear of the boat down.

Next, a view from the rear of the finished floor.

Here's a picture from the bow of the finished product.

I am not going to be able to work on it for a couple of days because my Step-Daughter screwed up her car and I have the Honor to repair it for nothing.  If it weren't for my three year old Grandson she would be walking.  More in a couple of days.

[Smallie_Stalker]

That is coming out just awesome Kris. It's not even my boat and I'm excited for how it is going to eventually come out when it is done. 

[Kris]

Thanks S_S,  I am real happy with the way it is going together.  I do know one place I screwed up but it will be fixed after close of season or before season opens next year,  Tomorrow I start laying out the seats that will cover the batteries/gas tank and the PVC tubes for the electrical wiring.  I may even get the bow mount installed and wired.

[cojab]

Looking good Kris!

[Oldfart9999]

Coming along, progress is a good thing!
Rodney

[LgMouthGambler]

Hey thats coming along nicely!

[Kris]

Thanks Rodney and LMG.  I am really happy with the way it coming along.  Gotta work til 3:30 today and will get some things done after.  I will start PVC and wiring tomorrow morning after a quick, early trip to Lowe's.

[West6550]

Looking good for sure! Also it's hard to have too many beers lol

[Kris]

Decided it is too hot outside and I don't have any cold beer.  Work stalled until tomorrow morning when I can go to the liquor store and Lowe's for supplies.  Film after a cold beer at noon and lunch.  Film actually after I take a nap around 8pm.  lol

[Donald Garner]

Kris, you're doing a GREAT Job on the rebuild.  You're going to be floating in it real soon.  Congrats it looks great.

[Kris]

Thanks DG, not sure if I can call ya Don or Donald.  Got some more work done today and just getting ready to post it before I go in and take a shower.  Weather here is horrible for an overweight, beer drinking Senior Citizen to work this hard.  lol

[Lipripper]

Looks great Kris  Don't get to hot and over do it.