Fish-Hawk.Net

Hi all! I hope you are all going to have a safe and relaxing Christmas and New Year!!

I am gearing up for a boat mod. I have a 12.95 foot aluminum that I have been using for a while. I fish alone most of the time. Last year I went out about 40 times alone out of 58 outings, and I ended up with an idea to make my little boat into a one man fishing machine.

So I purchased a 14 footer to take the kids and friends out with, and use solo if my mod is not ready for trout in the spring.

I have my plans laid out; front and rear casting decks, live well, rod locker... a single centered seat... reinforced transom with an 18hp... still have a couple of decisions to make; remote steering and throttle or extended tiller? decisions decisions...

I am looking for aluminum. I am NOT doing the wood decking and framing thing... cant stand those mods and they add too much weight.

Where can I get aluminum? The cheaper the better. I would love to get scraps to keep the total cost of this mod down.

Any and all ideas appreciated... but they need to be legal! In other words; No! I am NOT stealing road signs!!!



Craig

PS
I am also looking to rent some shop space. I will need it for two month MAX... have my own tools and will get insurance if needed. Can't do this in out hay barns... small fortune in hay makes great fire starter!

CRP

oooo...never thought of that....a Stop Sign boat pre-painted even. hmmmmmmmmm

Check out LOUCONMETAL.COM....here in Ottawa...(37-39 Grenfell Cresc). They'll have what you need...Merry Christmas.....Fishtraks.

I was thinking on doing the same with my boat this spring.... any idea what thickness (gauge) is typical for a floor?

@ Andy_L
Lots of people do that... the only thing is the gauge is WAY too thick for what I want to do!

@ Fishtraks
Thanks a million! I will check them out.

@plncrzy
Depends on a lot of things... weight that the deck needs to support and the span and distance between supports being the biggest mitigating factors. I am using 1 1/4" angle aluminum for supports and legs and plan on using .125 (1/8 inch) for the decking. Depends on the price more than anything for me! If I can get cheap angle aluminum then I might go nuts on the bracing and supports and go with .090 (3/32 inch) decking.

Craig

You may also want to check out Cohen and Cohen located just off Merivale and Hunt Club. They have both used and new material.

http://www.cohenandcohen.com/site/steel.htm

good luck.

I have purchased metal from LOUCONMETAL many times and have been happy with my purchases however there is a minimum order IIRC it's around $150-$200 There is also the metal supermarket on Sheffield Rd. I don't think there is a minimum purchase but they are a little more$
good luck

I have done several custom boat mods and if you are going to do it....do it right.

There is no such thing as free scrap aluminum....unfortunately

Loucon will custom fabricate anything you need, I had all the aluminum fabricated for my mods for under $200...not bad when you consider what I did to the old girl.

If you need any advise just ask, I'll help all I can.

Here is a few pics to check out

Good advice about getting the pieces fabbed.

I would love to see more of your mods... The $200 was cut bent and aluminum?

Craig

Yes I gave them a cut list for the general shapes I needed, I also gave them a length for each piece a bit longer than I needed. I did all the final cutting and installing myself. Aluminum cuts best with a jig saw and with high strength aluminum rivots it's bullet proof. It's the only way to go IMO, wood rots , isn't as sturdy and the screws always get loose.

Here's a couple more pics












I redid the console as well as the extension on the front deck. The deck extension housed the battery charger and batteries.

Painting is a bit involved but not too hard. But I only painted the console pieces.

you put carpet on top of the aluminum plate? why not the plastic/vinyl covering.. I dont know what exactly it is, but I remember my 16.5' Blue Fin which had aluminum floor and a non-slip plastic/vinyl covering.

It sure seemed durable.... I miss my old Blue-Fin

No carpet on Aluminum, just paint. The casting deck sub structure is all unpainted aluminum and all decking is 3/4" marine ply covered in marine carpet....Not cheap but quality. All Aluminum that was painted was prepped properly and painted with high quality automotive aluminum paint...very $$$$ but worth it IMO

All hinges, screws brackets bolts...any other fasteners are all stainless steel.

Clean solid and no rust.

Nice work Matt!

I am gathering quotes for the aluminum that I need... and looking for some other pieces that I need to get this show on the road;

Shifter controls
Bilge pump
Aerator pump
Hinges
WORK SPACE!

As for covering, I will be using bulk yoga mat spongy stuff. I love the sound dampening properties and it insulates you from the spring/late fall cold coming up from the water!

Craig

I got some aluminum cut and bent at a heating shop in Nepean, name escapes me now. Done 2 decks, lids, live well and rod locker, carpeted over the decks. Stainless hardware , bolt and nylock nuts (just in case you need to take it apart) I've found some rivets loosening up on the decking.
Good luck

muskymatt wrote:No carpet on Aluminum, just paint. The casting deck sub structure is all unpainted aluminum and all decking is 3/4" marine ply covered in marine carpet....Not cheap but quality. All Aluminum that was painted was prepped properly and painted with high quality automotive aluminum paint...very $$$$ but worth it IMO

All hinges, screws brackets bolts...any other fasteners are all stainless steel.

Clean solid and no rust.

It must be slippery when it gets wet or frosty ... No ?