Soon To Be My New Ride

[troutgnat]

Gentlemen,

Here's a little post to explain my absence from the forum for a while. Shamefully I must admit I wrote off a year of fishing to take on this project. As hard as it was yes, I fished one time in over a year. But here's what I've been up to since New Years Eve 2011. I'm over a year in, 500 man hours+ into the project and $7K in the hole.....LOL. 85% of this project was all me from fiberglass repair to new gel-coat. I bought this boat back in Spring of 09 and ran her hard for almost 3yrs. She wasn't in the best shape when I got it. But it came to the point where she needed to much TLC. It was either give it to her or trade her in for a new ride. I opted for plan A. I love the boat and didn't care to take on another monthly payment. So I decided to fix her up and own her. If anyone belongs to the BBC(bass boat central) forum I have an ongoing thread of the entire project. I've taken over 400 pics of this restore thru every stage. I've got her at the shop right now getting some help with re-wiring.....I don't do electricity. When I get her back in goes the new carpet and seats. Her first trip will be to LOZ for spring crappie.

[Guest]

Is that a 375V ???

The new boat looks so good that I didnt recognize it.

Whats the topside looking like these days?

[troutgnat]

374V. Topside is all performance white color gel-coat from Bass Cat boats. Other than that pretty bare at the moment. All my plumbing just went in, new dashes are in and wired and all compartments and front/rear decks now lit with LED's. I should have her back hopefully Monday. I still have keel guard to put on, rubrail to install and of course the new windshield, carpet and seats. Oh, did not have the opportunity to paint the outboard when they had it off the boat so I'll have to mask/tape her off and paint the old Evinrude X150 as well.

[dtrs5kprs]

Love the old 300's. Will look it up on BBC. Gives me a reason to go there when I don't have something broken .

[Quillback]

Very nice rebuild.

[Phil Lilley]

I saw the screen name and thought - haven't seen it in a long time!

Good to see you're back and soon to be on the water.

[Bird Watcher]

I love stuff like that. Keep the pictures updated here too so we can se it all put back together.

[troutgnat]

Thanks for the compliments. Here's what mainly instituted the rebuild. I could literally drop the trolling motor in, hit high and watch the whole bow of the boat flex and you would hear cracking. Here is the first cut on the rig. After this cut I said "hmmmmmmm; well, I can't turn back now". Then I proceeded to chisel out the 40lbs of wet foam from the bow.....lol. BTW, their was no structurally sound plywood left under that cap.