Got my Ouachita back with new aluminum

[Kris]

I got a lot done today.  Been working on her since about 11 AM.  I needed to do a couple of things around here for Cindy since she can't with her back problems.
I started out getting ready to wire up the old girl.  I am using 3/4 inch, Schedule 40, PVC pipe on both sides.  Port side, left, will be the 8 guage wire for the MK Edge 50 with a 60 amp circuit breaker mounted back by the batteries.  The starboard side, right, will be for all the electronics, bilge pump, lights and courtesy lights eventually.  There will be separate wiring on the starboard side for the transom mount MK Traxxis 70.  Here are some pics:
Port side


Starboard side


The PVC pipe will be painted red and will have several clamps to hold it down.  Also, doing it
this way keeps me from putting that rubber there to keep stuff from rolling off to the bottom.
I also built two boxes for batteries, storage and seats to operate the transom mount.  Both are 15 inches wide, eleven and a half inches high.  The port side is 24 inches long and the starboard side is 36 inches long.  These are not finished but here are a coule of pics:
Port side

Starboard side

Next is a picture of between the two boxes I built today.  This was kind of a let down because I can't fit a 6 gallon tank in there, it's only 12 inches wide between them.  Guess I am going to a 3 gallon for my 6 hp Johnson.

Last but not least is a picture of the switch panel.  I mounted it to the starboard box front and will plumb it in tomorrow.  I have most of the stuff for wiring it and will pick up what I don't have next week.  Here it is:

Hopefully tomorrow I will finish running the PVC pipe and wires in their respective items.  I also hope to start sealing and painting the two boxes before they are screwed down to the floor.  Lids for them will be done in the near future. 
More work and more pics to come tomorrow.

[Pferox]

Looks great, I like the way you fit the PVC around the steps.  Last time I did something like that it was a cut and fit fiasco.   

[Kris]

Thanks Lipripper.  I am wore out after getting all this done.  They are saying next week will be nice.  I certainly hope so.  Come on cool, Fall weather so I can take the Ouachia fishing.

[Kris]

Looks great, I like the way you fit the PVC around the steps.  Last time I did something like that it was a cut and fit fiasco.   

I think what you see looks great for the seventh try>  lol

[Kris]

Well, work called and asked if I could come in today.  Since this will be a short week I worked 11+ hours Sunday and Monday.  I got off at two and went to work after I ate.
I really didn't get as much done as I would like but I did get most of the starboard side electrical wires run.  Bow light, front df/ff/GPS and bilge pump.  Tomorrow I will get the rear df/ff and stern light wires run.  Also the 8 gauge wire for the bow and stern mount trolling motors. 
Here are some pictures I took while cleaning up.
In this one you can see the starboard side box.  It and the port side box are about 11.5 inches tall, just above the stern.

The PVC tubing on the right side comes down the front deck and runs to a T fitting that goes into the box.  The bilge pump and maybe the stern light will run through the rear of the T.  I might just run the stern light wire through the box.  I need to do holes inside the box for the power wire to the switch panel anyway.  The switch panel and the PVC entry hole are at the far end of your view below.

You can see the T a little better in the pic below, just to the left side of the box.

I also put the thru hull fitting in for the bilge pump.  The bilge pump is a 500 gallon an hour pump.  I used an angled thru hull so that it wouldn't interfere with the port side box. Floor will get sanded and pump will be mounted tomorrow.
The port side PVC tubing holds the 8 gauge wire for the bow mount trolling motor.  I found that it does not like to make 90 degree bends so I will pick up 45 degree fittings and some tie downs tomorrow along with other supplies.  Enjoy.

[Kris]

I worked on the boat from 930AM to 500PM with only break for lunch today.  I got most of the boat wired except the TM and the bilge pump.  This is an automatic/manual bilge pump so I did install the lower half today and will install and wire the pump tomorrow.  I am also planning on doing the TM install tomorrow along with finishing the wiring on that side.  The cables are installed but not connected but that won't take long.  I am using Azek above and below the front deck to install the TM.  For me to do my usual and have the prop able to move with the TM stowed will not work on this boat.  Not because of the boat but the propeller.  MK uses a larger prop than the Motorguide I had on the Grumman.  Pictures tomorrow, I am wiped out.

[Kris]

I worked on the boat today from 8:00AM to about 2:00PM.  I had to go to work at 4:00PM and wanted to rest a little before.
I started out this morning carrying out the batteries and putting them in the trays.  Once they were in the trays I started setting up the wiring.  The port side batteries are in parallel for the 12v bow mount motor.  Here is a pic.

One thing that you can't see is the trays are plastic with 8 screws holding them down and the retaining strap run under and tightened on each battery.  I don't trust the retaining part being plastic so I added some stainless steel loops that the strap runs through.  I feel a lot safer and used these same type on my Grumman to hold down the battery boxes.  Here is a pic of them.

The starboard side has the batteries in series for 24v to run the transom motor, MK Traxxis 70.  I already hooked it up to make sure it worked.  All the way at the back you can see the 50 amp circuit breaker recommended by MK.  That same compartment houses the batteries that are installed the same as the other side.  Just in front of that is a small storage area for whatever.  The white Starboard, plastic sheet goods. is there to protect the switch panel area.  This keeps anything from falling in there and shorting something out.  Here is that pic.

I also made the top for the starboard side box and here is a picture of that.

You might have noticed that I put one coat on the battery boxes to make them pretty.  They will get a second coat and the floor will get a second coat with sand in it for traction when wet.  You might have also noticed the wires sticking out from the rear of the box with the Anderson Power Poles 75A connector.  This makes it easy for me to remove the TM with little hassle.
Here is a better picture of the two seats/battery boxes and a pic of the storage and switch panel area.


Only thing left to do in this area is to wire the power to the switch panel.  Wires are already made and run to the batteries but not connected.
I also cut a piece of 5/4 Azek for under the trolling motor.  I normally put a 1/8 or 1/16 sheet aluminum under it but this one needs to sit a little higher.  I try to make it where the prop will not hit the deck if someone, namely my Grandson, hits the pedal when the TM is stowed.  The wires are run for the Lowrance Elite 5 HDI and the bow light and I have to install and connect them.  Also need to install the bow eye for the winch up there also.
So far I think this is coming along fast and furious.  I am planning on putting her in the water on Sunday for the Maiden Voyage.  More work, more pics.

[West6550]

Looking great!!!

[Kris]

Looking great!!!

Thanks, almost there.

[Kris]

Finally getting down to the bottom of the list on this one.  Started about 8:00AM this morning and worked until roughly 4:30 PM.
Started out getting the trolling motor mounted.  I used a piece of Azek, plastic wood, under the TM to get it a little higher.  I usually try to put 1/8" or 1/4" aluminum under them.  My hopes were to get the TM prop off the deck so if my Grandson were to hit the button when stowed it won't hurt the prop.  Guess I will just have to unplug it.  I had originally installed the Bass Pro version of the trolling motor socket but had so much trouble trying to get it plugged in that I replaced it with a Marinco one that I had here.  Now it works the way I want it to.  Here's a couple of pics.


Next I went to work on completing the wiring at the switch panel.  Yesterday the connector on the end of the switch panel power wire broke off.  So I soldered a new wire directly to the power strip to the fuses.  I still have to put a fuse holder on the + line from the battery to the switch panel.  Probably a 25 or 30 fuse. 
With that completed I decided where to put the Lowrance Elite 5 HDI I bought for this boat.  I figured up front on the deck with the TM would put it too far away.  I thought about mounting on the floor in front of the TM pedal pan but thought it might get broken or hurt me or it,  So this is what I decided to do.  It is now mounted on the side wall below the gunwale and probably the closest I can get it to me.  I had purchased a Ram Mount for it and that made it an easy install.  I will try it here and move it further forward if I have to.  I still have to fill all the holes in those panels.


Next I installed the bow light and started to install the bow eye in the front deck but both of my drill batteries were exhausted.  So was I by the way.  I ended up using my saber saw to finish cutting out that hole, wired it up and checked it out.  It WORKS!  I chedked everything else on the switch panel and everything works.
The foot control is in the TM pedal pan but not screwed down yet.  I want to try it out and see how it works and how comfortable it is sitting and standing.  Who knows?  I may have to move the whole pan forward a little after I use it a little while.
Only a couple of things left to do on her before she gets dropped in the water.  I thought I would do it on Sunday but I think I will wait until Monday.  I can double check all my stuff and there should be less people around on a week day.  Mostly just us retired types.
I need to order another circuit breaker for the bow trolling motor because I ended up breaking the one I had.  So another 60 amp breaker is in my future.   I need to get a handful of screws to finish up some things and I have to seal one crack I found in the bow.  I have to readjust the trailer after I replace the old winch stand and find out why the trailer lights are acting wacky.  Also need to figure out where to install a df/ff in the back to use when operating the transom mount.  Don't need anything fancy.  I would like it in a place where the co angler can look at it if he wants to.
More work, more pics.

[Kris]

Tomorrow will be the final day of work on the Ouachita before making its Maiden Voyage on Monday.  I am Super-Pleased on the way this has worked out so far,  Gonna hold off on the rear depth finder until I find a nice used piece.  Money is at a premium and I have to do the Ranger in late Fall or early Spring. 
Hoping my planning will get me through this.  I need to make two number plates tomorrow for the local lake and some other things,  It will allow me to go over my work and make sure I did it all.  Wish me luck.

[Lipripper]

Looks good Kris and good luck on your Maiden Voyage tomorrow.

[Oldfart9999]

Your wiring looks first rate! For the power line for evreything but the TM add up all the amps used by each item add them up and use that to determine what fuse to put in-line.
Rodney

[Kris]

Thanks Rodney.  I try hard and this is not my first rodeo with old boats.  Yeah, I need to add all the loads up and add about a 5-10% fudge factor and put in the fuse.  Tomorrow it goes in the water for its Maiden Voyage.

[Donald Garner]

Kris,
You did a 1st rate job on the rebuild.  Tks for sharing all the comments and pictures with us.  Best wishes on the Maiden Voyage.

[Kris]

I was catching up on the little things today like screws in the TM pedal pan and cleaning up the loose wiring up at the trolling motor.  When I brought the boat home from my Brother in Law's I noticed the trailer lights flickering.  I wanted to check them out and get them right before a couple of trips I am going to do.
I went to check the lights and none of them work now.  No flicker, OUT.  First, I checked all the grounds.  I even sanded them and put them back together to make sure.  Still no lights.  Checked the connector up at the truck and even spread the pins a little, still no lights.  Pulled the harness out of the tongue so I could check the wires, no problem there.  Checked the harness all the way back to the lights which are mounted high, all looks good.  I was laying under the trailer and then it hit me.
For anyone working on an old trailer or like me you like headaches, be careful of this.  This is a 1973 tilt trailer.  Evidently it has lost the electrical connection for ground from the tongue to the rear section of the trailer.  I put a 10 gauge jumper from in front of the tilt release to the rear section and all the lights on the trailer now work as they should.
One of the things that I installed on this trailer were the CE Smith lights on the PVC bow guides.  These are not CE Smith bow guides so I had to get some PVC pipe parts from Lowe's to get them mounted.  I think these will be great for those O Dark Thirty launches to know where the trailer is.  Here is what you see from behind the trailer.

And here is what you see from the vehicle.

She is going in the water for her Maiden Voyage tomorrow.  Just a quick check to see how much/ if any water she takes on now.  Wish me luck.

[Lipripper]

Good

[Kris]

Thanks Donald Garner and Lipripper.  I am very happy with the way this turned out so far.  Now to use it a little and find out if anything needs to be adjusted or moved.  She can't be much of a leaker now that I have done so much on that.  If it leaks a bit, what the hell, it's a 1973, abused, riveted boat. 
Looking forward to tomorrow and maybe a Club tournament on Friday afternoon.  Everything is up to her now.

[flowerjohn]

Kris, I have followed your thread since you began it a few months back and I want to congratulate you not only on a tremendous rebuild of an old boat but also on the way you presented it here, having given a real step by step look at your fine rebuild. Thanks for all the effort you reported and it was a pleasure to follow.  Best of luck to you tomorrow. J.

[Kris]

Thank you flowerjohn, it has been fun.  This boat was given to me and has been abused but I think she is now in much better shape.  I wanted to make it comfortable to fish in for myself and one other person and I think I accomplished that.  Tomorrow will tell how well I did in getting the bottom sealed up from the abuse it has had.  A little more work, some sanding and some painting it will not look anything like it did when I got it.  Hell, it doesn't look anything like when I got it now.  Once completed I will post a picture of the boat when I got it and the finished product underneath.  Thanks for the compliment and the good luck wish.

[Kris]

Well everybody the test is complete.  I spent about 3 hours on the water at Piney Run Park this morning and there was almost NO water in the boat.  PERFECT!

[Smallie_Stalker]

Well everybody the test is complete.  I spent about 3 hours on the water at Piney Run Park this morning and there was almost NO water in the boat.  PERFECT!

Congratulations Kris. All of your hard work paid off and now you get to enjoy the rig. Now go have yourself a 

[Bud Kennedy]

That is great news Kris.  You had a lot of folks rooting for your build and I know they really appreciated your regular updates on Ultimate Bass.   

[Kris]

Thanks Guys!  I guess now I go to the Bass Club meeting and say my boat is available for the reservoir tournaments.  If you're not looking for pretty she's ready.  Still got to to do something for cleats to tie off to the dock.  today I used my line with a snap to the bow eye and a line around the rear pedestal.  My major problem is I can't use my normal cleats because I can't get to the bottom side because of the flotation in the sides.  I am thinking of using the ones that you wrap the line through to keep it tight because I can use them with stainless steel sheet metal screws.  Little things, some sanding, some painting and she will be READY.

[Lipripper]

All right Kris  now go catch some fish.