I Are One Now- SMALL UPDATE

[Smallie_Stalker]

Typical boater, get a new boat and start pouring money in it  .

You know what they say- B.O.A.T break out another thousand.

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[D.W. Verts]

And a thousand or so ($1600???) is what I've spent so far. I don't plan on much more, that's not what this project is about.

I did mess with it some today. The jack stand is installed (makes it so much easier to move around). And I jacked up the starboard side and gave the wheel a spin. Smooth, and more importantly, it was QUIET. Still, I pulled the tire & wheel, and removed the hub. Pulled out the bearings and gave them the once over. They look fine. The seal also looks fine, so I'm going to leave it be. This will probably be my downfall.

Anyway, I had bought two new tires and wheels. The old ones are new as far as tread wear goes, but there is some light weather checking, and I most definitely know how THAT goes. I'll use the best one (port side) as a spare. These tires are larger because I wanted radials and the choices are slim. I figured that I would maybe have to do some clearance work, but after a test installation the fit was fine. Perfect.

Except.

I own cotter pins. All sizes. Dad gum. So tomorrow or this weekend I'll find them, or probably more likely buy some more. It's what we call here in the Sticks of Morgan County, MO "inventory".

So I left the boat for another day. We're back open for the weekend at our restaurant and work comes first, always.

I may do some painting tomorrow. It's supposed to rain, and I've got one coat of primer on one side of one piece of deck so far. There's another deck piece and the floor that needs paint. A coat or two and some drying time before installation next week (yep, next week, no matter what) would be good. I have an IBass GOLD tournament to think about.

Anyway, it's just a Jon boat. But it's MY Jon boat and I'm gonna give it all I've got. And then I've got folks thinking I'm nuts. I'm used to that. I've owned and ran bass boats from my first 16' 8" Champion, up to a 21 footers. Whatever. The boat gets you there, yes. But I never had one catch a bass.

Dale

[D.W. Verts]

I put the boat on the water today as a Jon boat, and not a "Tiny Bass Boat" as I ran out of time with inclement weather approaching and I wanted to get a day in (1/2 day) for IBass.

This is the first Jon boat I've ever bought that had ZERO leaks. In fact, after having it off the trailer to clean a bunch of crusties off of the bottom of it, I'd say it's the nicest Jon boat I've had by far. Zero dents and just a very few scratches, even on the bottom. I'm tickled.

No, it's not a 20' glass go-fast boat. But you don't need that to catch bass Period.



Peace.

Dale

[Oldfart9999]

  , nice one!!! I notice a pair of original trolling motors, oars, they don't use much battery power.
Rodney

[Donald Garner]

Nice catch there and tks for sharing the picture with us.   Oars what are they used for 

[D.W. Verts]

The oars were a contingency deal. I haven't used that trolling motor in two years and wanted to be sure of it. I even had a spare in the truck. And THIRTY-FIVE mph wind. I don't like to get caught not prepared. I went to FISH, dammit.

The oars never got used, and will stay behind from now on. I actually bought them last fall for my OTHER Jon boat, to be used for trapping in a local creek. Never got to use them. Sigh.

Dale

[Donald Garner]

Although I have ( 2 ) trolling motors on my jon boat I still have a long paddle just in case 

[D.W. Verts]

I tell you one thing for sure- this li'l boat is a pure-D PLEASURE to pull down the road. Wow.

Backing the thing is a little different. I've used nothing but my mirrors forever. You can't find this dinghy in a mirror. Man, looking over my shoulder HURTS. Oh well.

Dale

[Princeton_Man]

I tell you one thing for sure- this li'l boat is a pure-D PLEASURE to pull down the road. Wow.

Backing the thing is a little different. I've used nothing but my mirrors forever. You can't find this dinghy in a mirror. Man, looking over my shoulder HURTS. Oh well.

Dale

A buddy of mine installed a fiberglass rods on both back corners of his trailer, so that he could see where it was.

[Bud Kennedy]

I can see my rear corners just fine.  Well.....At least out of my only working eye.  It seems to help but I don't back very well anyway.

[Donald Garner]

I have PVC Guide Posts with lights on my G3 1548 Alwed Jon Boat Trailer.  They help me backing etc.  I use the mirrors when backing.

G3 1548 Alwed Jon Boat with Guide Posts




I bought these at Academy Sports.  They came in a kit.

[D.W. Verts]

Man, that's a purty Ranger.

Man, that's a purty G3.

Dale

[FishaHallic]

I can see my rear corners just fine.  Well.....At least out of my only working eye.  It seems to help but I don't back very well anyway.

Sweet looking ride Bud.

[D.W. Verts]

So I finally did some work to my Jon boat, and I'm glad to say it's well on its way to being a tiny bass boat, with a new deck. This is just a mock up- I took it out today for a couple of hours to identify any issues, and there were very few. My first try seems very solid, although I saw things that I would have done differently, of course.

The thing fished pretty darn good. It's so much better being even slightly elevated above the water, instead of standing two or three inches BELOW it.

I'm going to move the trolling motor pedal forward some, and will put a recessed tray in. This dang elevated pedal sucks. Remember back in the day?

When I'm satisfied I'll be tearing it all back apart (about 23 screws) and then I'll paint everything again, run a bunch of wire for everything, install lights, install the 7" Garmin, build a more permanent trolling motor mount base, and install the SeaDek. That may be the hardest part not to mention that the white deck was COOL today.

All in all I was pleasantly surprised. There were no real issues that I hadn't already known was going to happen.

Dale

[Donald Garner]

Tks for the update on your boat.  Can't wait to see the pictures.

[coldfront]

welcome to my world

[D.W. Verts]

Well Donald, I thought I posted one...



Dale

[Oldfart9999]

Making progress Dale, making progress. Looking like a fishing machine.
Rodney

[topdsm0138]

Looks good.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Well Donald, I thought I posted one...



Dale

That boat looks great to fish my spot I call the Marshlands, minus the outboard though.

[Princeton_Man]

Dale, are any of those deck sections hinged for storage?

[D.W. Verts]

Yessir, the whole middle, 36" long by 18" wide. It' one of the things I would do different. I may STILL do it different. I thing that two smaller lids on each side (like rod lockers) would give me the same (better) access, and allow me a stronger center section, with extra room for a pedestal/butt seat. I never use a butt seat, but it IS a tiny BASS BOAT. We'll see. Luckily, 5/8" plywood is cheap.

Dale

[Donald Garner]

Dale, Tks for posting the picture of your boat.  I like it.  Simple and fishable 

[Wizard]

Looking good, Dale.  Looks like a 14 foot. boat. My first fiberglass boat was a 14 ft. Star tri-hull.  I only weighed 185 and it was very tight moving around. Forrest let me have a Ranger but I used the Star as a crappie boat on LOZ for years. I'd fish with you in that boat.

Wizard

[D.W. Verts]

Okay Wizard, so this fall, after the crazies are gone, I put a fishing seat in the back, put in at Shawnee Bend, and come across to pick you up. The challenge- two rods each. Five lures total. And we stay within a mile of the Lodge. What do you think?

I think we barely leave your cove, except maybe fish the reef.

Dale