wily

Not worried about the weight...boat is only 1436 but it's an alweld. It is well built...rating is 570. and this is a small deck...additional 40 lbs at most. Muffler shop is going to help design and weld some mounting brackets to ladder Saturday...then planning to rivet to the stringer braces...and the existing front deck. I've got a line on some scrap tread plate...hoping to pick it up next tuesday while I'm off work. Another stupid question...but how should I attach the tread plate to the ladder? Thanks

Boy...that is some brown water...nice fish tho...good job

Thanks wrench for ladder idea I found part of a ladder stand that fits pretty good...needs a tiny bit off one leg...so it drops down a bit so the deck will be flush Just need to figure out how to stabilize against the rib... Any ideas? I wonder if I could just use a 90 degree angle bracket...bent to correct angle...then rivet to rib and bottom of the ladder? Could use similar against the deck Or maybe run a vertical support up from where rib angles up to the side...it's only 9 inches or so high Hey larry...have you got any pictures of your framing? Thanks

Thanks...that sounds like a good idea. Fold down the front..and attach it direct....then build the cross member similar to below i think the aluminum is avalable at Lowe's or home depot. I think one 8 foot piece would be enough to frame it... Down side is...it wouldn't be removable...and it's a bunch of holes drilled into the boat

Thanks...I've talked to a shop in Joplin too...plan to run it by there if can't figure out how to do it...im sure 400 bucks would get it done right...but don't know if That makes sense

Been looking for old ladder on Craigslist...but no luck This boat doesn't have a console or middle bench...so need to make some sort of a cross member. When you say folded down...do you mean like 2 inches so you can rivet to the existing deck? Thinking I might scale it back a bit...boat isn't primary boat...just something for son to use fishing...and to haul decoys Might make the deck out of wood...and carpet it. I saw this on a boat for sale...this isn't super duper craftsmanship but I like the simple design...would be cool if you could just lift it out when not wanted...almost like a tool box. Wonder how they attached that plywood to the rib? Could run brace across the rib similar to above...and then lay deck on top

I'm wanting to extend front deck a couple ribs...anybody have experience? What did you use for framing across the ribs? I've look at Tin boats...and tiny boat nation a little. I'm surprised someone hasn't marketed an off the shelf option. I'm not very mechanical...but think I could run rivet some sort of bracket off the vertical of existing deck...the figure out some way to make the bracket for the ribs...then just put a top on it...probably leave the vertical on extension open so I can use underneath as storage. Sounds easy...but I don't think it is...anybody ever did it? Or have any tips...or things to avoid...besides wood...would prefer it was aluminum...with a tread plate or similar deck... If it matters...I think brace would be 48inch wide and 9inch high...probably run a couple stringers between the two brackets

I'd think from the bank in the daytime would be hard...I think they move around a lot. It seemed like yesterday...we'd catch one or two...think we knew where they were...fish for a bit with nothing...move 50 yards catch 2 or 3 more...then nada...back to original spot and catch a couple more...move again 50 yards other way and catch fish. We fished two 100 yard spots and caught 20 or so I know you like to float...take the kayak next time...youll have better luck I think and you'll be able to chase the fish when you find them

Youre the man wrench...thanks for the help. I am letting the liquid tape dry as we speak...but we have power. The boys eyes lit up when the motor started whirling...thank you

I am not very mechanical, but I am working on little boat today so the boy can use it this week while on spring break... It needs wire ran from the battery box to the foot control. I plan to just run wire thru gap on side and zip tie it I guess... I don't know how to do it. Should I just wire nut wires together...or should I install the plug on both sides of wire? I plan to put one of those circuit breakers in the battery box. How big of wire should I use? Its a 55lb 12volt trolling motor. I'd also like to move it forward on nose of boat but figure that can wait. I attached some pics...please help

We went this afternoon...fished spring river side...one gravel bank...and one mud bank...both about the same...pretty slow. Pretty crowded...but didn't see any bloodshed... White cranks worked best...caught em from 2 foot deep to 10 foot...I didn't really pay attention to temp...I think I remember seeing 54

Thanks for all the info...you've got it figured out I'm working out my design Oklahoma has a 7 rod limit...so my plan is to put 2 stand alone bases in center...and one t bar holder (2 rod holders each side) on each side about 2 o'clock...the potatos represent where the bases would go... What kind of tbars do you like? I could spin the bars sideways with minnows...or vertically with cranks Thanks

No worries on eucha...just a cool lake...we go down there every now and then. I'm not trying to be a pain...and I thank you for your time...it seems like you've got something figured out and I'm just trying to pick your brain. not sure if this spider rig deal would work for white bass. Grand is closest to me but crappie fishing is hit and miss...lot of white bass in main lake in summer time though and we catch a bunch in monkey island area I saw in previous comment where you said you use different setup for trolling cranks...just curious what you use? We troll for whites out the back of boat with the big motor sometimes to find the white bass...We troll shad raps or other small cranks to find them...then cast to them with jigs. I see where people spider rig jigs along with minnows...so my thought is it could also work for the white bass My boat is g3 175...I think specs are very similar to yours. I've got 2 boys...we fish a lot for just about anything that swims in the 4 states. Thanks

Thanks...just curious but do you ever fish eucha over in oklahoma? Seems like it would be good for this type fishing

One more question...our boats are very similar...what trolling motor are you running? Is it 24v? Mine is 46lb motor guide...with 31 series battery...have thought about upgrading...but more money and no place for additional battery...gas tank is huge in mine. I wish it was half its size. Thanks

Been looking at those holders...they're cool looking. So if starting slow...say 4. With the idea of graduating to 8. Where would you place the original 4? How far apart? Also, I assume yours are the 24 inchers. Thanks

The rod holders look cool...is that something you designed yourself? Or is it something that is available for purchase? I've never tried spider rigging...my boat looks to be very similar...might be something cool to try...thanks

It's been years since I had been to lake ozark...can't believe how much they've by-passed the old road...has to hurt the old businesses on the strip tons of bass boats headed south on 5 as we came up...must have been a big tournament today

Nevermind...just bit the bullet on a place in columbia...oh the things we do for our kids

Headed to columbia Saturday for a kids deal on Sunday...would like to split the trip in lake ozark area...and spend night...maybe mini golf or go cart saturday night...then go on up sunday morning...anybody know of any resorts in area having off season pricing? I called a couple today and no luck..thanks

i think wife would kill me if I brought another boat home but if you decide to sell the mud motor separate...id be interested

The paint is still pooling on the head...do I need to let it sit before putting into the heat?

Ok...thank you

Thanks for the tips...i melted a couple heads with the torch to start...suprised me how fast that happened. The heads turned out pretty good. I tried to paint 10 or 15 of em...and only had a couple that weren't messed up...most had a big dollop of paint. I dipped em at least 3 times...some were deformed by the heat...so I don't have that quite right either I think I'll turn down the heat in toaster oven and try a couple more....maybe grab the brides hair dryer and try that too. I almost bought a heat gun but didn't. Wish I could get the hook back on the ones that are messed up...think it would be ok to melt the lead/paint off the hook in the hotpot? Thanks for the help

I hope to get a fluid bed some day...mine are hanging upside down...and the paint dripped like an icycle...do you think too much paint? Or too much heat in oven? Thanks