Budget boat buildup

[Dunks]

Front view

[fishin_till_late]

boy its looking good i love the casting deck in it it should work well and good storage. Congrats on the great job on the boat and i hope you enjoy it for years to come
jono

p.s hope the finger gets better soon. Doesnt sound like it would be fun tying fishing nots with that!

[Jeremy]

19 mm ply will be very heavy. Usually 12 mm is used in most boats.

I would have gone with a built in esky for your helm seat. This would conserve space and help keep the weight forward.

Anyway, looks like you are doing a good job. I like your casting deck and storage compartments. You can never have too much dry storage on an open boat!

Jeremy

[Dunks]

Jeremy, you may be right about the ply. This is the first boat I have ever done so if it doesn't work out then I'll know better next time.

Cut all the holes for the compartments tonight and then hinged them all and put the deck back in the boat. Looks good cost a fortune in stainless hinges though. For eight hinges and screws it cost $80. I so don't want to add up my tally spent so far.

The only problem I have now is that I have installed all these hinges and latches but I was going to carpet it all, it is going to be a pain in the bum to do it all now.

I am still deciding whether or not to put in an esky in the helm seat, I'll leave it as is for now until I take her out for a run and see if I need it or not. Plenty of room around the boat to put a small esky but it does seem a waste not to use that space.

[Jeremy]

I would definitely go the carpet. Looks great, deadens sound, and is not expensive. Just a pain as you may need to trim the edges of the ply to make it fit again.

As you said, take it for a run and see how it goes. That is the best way to see what works for you and you can take you time deciding on what needs to be done next.

Jeremy

[revs57]

Love your work Dunks...a true visionary!!!

You give us all hope, will watch with interest

regards

Rhys

[chemmy]

it looks great so far and it can only get better from hear

[Dunks]

Here's how he casting deck hatches have turned out

[Fishin_Dan]

Dunks:- Have you been taking photos of each step along the way? You should look at setting up a "ShareProject"...

My project is here http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/p...,p,126,00.html, and you can then sign up and start your own one! It's a pretty good site!


Mate, keep this coming though! It's looking great! Would love to see the whole process of this!!!

[Dunks]

OK so far I have spent $765.00 on this boat but thats including some stuff that I had already bought for my old boat, and the centre console which I was going to build but got for a bargain $185.

Costly items I still have to buy are carpet and rubbers for the edge of the boat total cost about $250 plus any incidentals. So I will go over my budget (no surprise there) but for what I have spent and for what I am going to have, a boat that is set out exactly the way I want it, I am very happy. It may get a lick of paint later on down the track after a few test runs.

PS All the ply was kindly "donated" by my work so I have cheated a fair bit as this would have been expensive.

[Dunks]

Casting deck is finally finished and in the boat. Motor is on, centre console is in. Not long now hopefully.

[revs57]

Dunks...Maaaattte...Looking gooo-oood You'd have to be happy with the result. I remember fitting out our last boat, a Bermuda 445 tinnie, raised the floor, built in the transom, removable Bait board with rod holders, Berley bucket, removed the sponson seats and centre consoled it, put a built a boat box/seat big enough to put a nullie in the top with all our gear and slide a nullie underneath for a kill box, put bow rails and spray dodgers, a bimini...and I did most of it myself, with help from welding guru Dave at Rip Tide. We came up with a cracker of a result and man what a sense of reward too. Seeing that carpeted casting platform with in built lockers...great stuff!!! I'm sure you will be visited often by Mr Barry Mundi or Mr Mangrove Jack...and perhaps their cousin Mr Yella Belly? and don't forget the Sandies and muddies!

Keep the pics coming...its great to see a genius at work!!!

Rhys