I’m one of those guys who never learned how to build things with his own hands. I so envy people like you who are able to create a work of art and functional bass boat from nothing. I am so highly impressed with what you’ve done and I thank you for sharing it with those of us who enjoy fishing. I would love to have a boat like that one day!
Really kind of you man! I think I grew up with a dad that did this sort of thing and picked up on it. But I dont do this regularly so it took a lot of time and planning. I am a professor of humanities so this is something way outside my day to day life! But very therapeutic to do! Thanks again for your kind words!
You dont really "learn" skills like these. You just start smaller projects, buy tools as you go, make a lot of mistakes then slowly build up to something like this. Even something basic like a bird house or cat tower or something to get used to measuring and cutting wood then find something a little more complex then eventually when you do a project like this it kind of brings it all together.
I may have selected a combination of aluminum angle and lighter wood to reduce weight, but I don't think I could have done a better job than what you did with construction, fit and finish. Just awesome! Well done and I bet you get many years of enjoyment out of that build.
thanks so much Christopher. You are right that it would be lighter with aluminum. I did have a lot of concern with weight when building it, but im really happy with the way in turned out and the weight doesn't seem to have impacted performance much. You can see it on plane before and after the build, and it doesn't seem much different at all. its fun to fish! thanks again, and thanks for watching!
@@DrBass-rk1ez I am actually wondering if the added weight is a good thing, kind of like ballast. My biggest concern with some of these builds is how top heavy you make a small aluminum boat that was not designed to stand on a platform on.
@@ColoradoStreaming hey man, so sorry for my late reply, my work has been busy last month. I had exact same concern and to my surprise it does fine balance wise, and yes, the added weight certainly provides further stability. I have two videos on the channel that give a feel for stability when fishing. One with just me: ua-cam.com/video/cjnAYu45TnI/v-deo.html and another with a friend on back deck: ua-cam.com/video/VEe1eLrjlNM/v-deo.html These should give you a better idea of stability.
Great job, I had a 15 ft tracker crappie boat. I tore it apart and basically did the same thing, put a deck in the front and the back. I had a 20 horsepower motor Plus an 84 lb thrust trolling motor. I regret to this day that I sold it. It just needed a bigger motor. You did a phenomenal job on it you're very skilled
Sorry you sold it! Yeah I get a lot of pushback because of the weight, but I can honestly say with my 25HP it flies, and its really enjoyable to fish. Ive thought a few times of selling mine but you make me think I should keep it! Thanks for watching!
@@DrBass-rk1ez i can see it was a tough and lengthy project. I have been in construction work for 40 years. I also used to do a bit of woodworking. I also understand most people watching youtube videos don't understand the process that comes along with projects such as this. Enjoy your boat. Also know you have gained another subscriber. Take care and stay safe.
@@lindioncicerao1247 Again, very kind of you. Im humbled as this was my first go at this. I did later build a camper van which I plan to share on here. That was far more involved!
Great work, I just bought one ready for work. I got the motor ready now on to the boat. Want to use aluminum for lighter weight but boy are they expensive. Morning guy end up using 2x3 and 2x2s stead for framing.
Thanks man. yes, aluminum is expensive and bc this was my first build I was more confident with wood framing etc. I used rough cut cedar which is naturally rot resistant, light, and strong. I think I probably could have gotten away with a lot less 2X4 and used more 2x2 or 2x3 as you say, to lessen weight. But it still runs great and fishes great with 2 on it. I fish often with two others on it and its fine. Best of luck on your build. Thanks for watching!
From what I’ve learned from boating is, never build out of wood. The weight is one thing but, the rotting is another. Aluminum would be better in every way. Lighter, most of the time cheaper. Takes up way less volume. Doesn’t kill gas mileage. Won’t rust or rot. Won’t warp and flex, and better looking. I’m not sure about the choice of materials here but, still a sweet boat.
Efren, you're right, I tell people who want to do this that it's not really that cost effective to do one. If you don't want to do it as a hobby and you dont have a sentimental attachment to the boat, its probably better to just go find a used bass boat. In other words if you dont enjoy doing this kind of work, then probably shouldn't do it. You may spend a bit more on the use bass boat, but it will save you hours and hours of labor. I don't think people realize how involved these are and how the costs can add up quickly. thanks for watching! The video makes it look seamless but it involves a lot and takes a long time.
@@Cowboys365 thanks so much man, very kind of you. I live in Washington state, so as much as id love to help you it would probably cost you far too much to ship a boat to me and back, buy supplies, etc. But if you're serious about the building, its not too hard. let me know if you have specific questions or if there is any other way I can help? thanks for watching!
@@DrBass-rk1ez yessir my favorite player... wore #22 in any sport I played cuz of him. I was born in 88 so I idolized emmitt! But yes I have the skill to do so but not the patients. But I have a boat my father in law gifted so I can’t ever get rid of... so wanna make most of it.... I’ll get it done one day!!! And ur video will be my blue print... thank u very much!!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Really appreciate your videos. Just finished up a build nearly identical to yours and modeled mine off yours with a few minor tweaks here and there. Thanks for the ideas!
You got a fine lookin boat there sir. I did a 14 ft V hull years ago. Kinda kickin myself for letting it go. Now I've been binge watching all these build vids and getting the hankering to build another. One criticism; is everyone planning to take their trucks out fishing too? The framing I've seen on a lot of builds just seems over the top and adds a lot of weight in my opinion. With current lumber costs it might be cheaper to use alum angle. IIRC, I just doubled up two pieces of 3/4" CDX (slathered with Kilz then carpeted) for the front deck and just screwed it down to the benches. One hatch for some storage underneath and a fishin chair. Caught a lot of bass off it that way. It was also very stable and never sagged.
thanks man, yes, I would agree I didn't need this much lumber. But it was my first build. I will say, that it still runs great any is now very stable in water. Here is a video of it running on plane with my 25hp: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
@@DrBass-rk1ez I saw that one too. Mine also planed out with a borrowed 25 hp Sea Horse. Mine came a with 15 hp SH. It got us to the fish and I was content with that.
thanks man, this was actually my first go at this. I have a phd in humanities subject and am a writer researcher and teacher by day. I grew up in working class family, so learned a lot by watching my dad. I think I just naturally inherited it from family. I just did a van conversion where I did cabinets for the first time from scratch. Was a lot to learn. I plan to post that here soon. Thanks for your kind comments!
thanks so much man. A lot of people are really concerned about weight and so was I. In the end I am happy to say that yes its heavier and I probably put too much wood in it, but it runs great and handles really well with my 25hp. I really like the layout. If there was anything I would change it would be to use a bit less 2X4s and use 2X2's. I didn't know when I was building how sturdy the decking would be an now I know I didn't need that much. I also would not have chosen that color of carpet! you can't see it on video but the floor carpet is blue and the top decks are a dark purple. I thought when I went back to purchase the more of the blue I was purchasing blue, but got a dark purple. I didn't notice it until I installed it because a lot of the work I did particularly the carpet was done inside with low light to keep out of rain. That drives me crazy, but oh well. Here is video of it on plane: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
I know this comment is a long ways after the video posted but do you by chance have the layout drawn anywhere so someone like me could follow your floor plan? I really like this build and want to use it for my own boat. Thank you
Steve, thanks for watching. I don't have any building plans for this. However, I'd recommend watching the other videos on my channel that show the build step by step to get an idea of how it was done. You can also ask me any questions along the way. Best of luck on your build!
Myrko, i have used it a lot on the water. You can see my fishing on it with others and running it on plane in my other videos. Those should give you an idea of how it handles. I used rough cut cedar which is naturally rot resistant, strong, and lightweight. Again, have a look at my other videos to get an idea of how it sits now that its complete. Thanks for watching!
I saw some good efficient work with esthetic finish. I didn't see the rod locker or live well, did I miss something? What about a bilge pump and flotation?
no rod locker or live well, im not that sophisticated! it does have a bilge and foam under the floor. you can see this in some of the other vids on my channel, thanks for watching and sorry for my very late reply!
thanks man, in this video you can't see it but there is foam under the floor (you can see my installing in other videos). I hope I have enough in there, and that I dont have to learn the hard way! thanks for watching!
I am so glad I found this and your channel. I just picked up a 1972 Alumacraft F-9 (14') that I plan on upgrading like this. Your vids on this build are going to be so helpful to me.
This was an amazing time lapse.. your editing was top notch! Glad weight isn’t an issue with your boat.. aluminum would definitely had been lighter for framing. Enjoyed the video.
jamie, thanks for your question. I worried about that when I did the build too. I don't know what the boat would be like if I had dropped the deck down a bit lower, but I can say for me and a friend fishing standing up on it, one on front and one on back deck, it does just fine. Now having fish with it for a while I don't really think the height of the deck would make much difference. I think its the size of the boat (particularly the width), the bottom shape, and the displacement of water that ultimately determines how well the boat is balanced. Because the back of my boat is really flat on the water, it helps stablize the boat all the way through. If it was v shaped all the way back it could be an issue. All that to say, its no big bass boat, but I fish standing up on it all the time and ive even done so in pretty rough water and it does pretty well. I've had this question a lot, and I really need to do a video of me fishing it but when I get on the water I dont want to film, I want to fish! Thanks for watching!
This boat looks great you did a good job. The only thing I’m concerned with is the weight. I’d bet you are over the weight limit of the boat with 2 people inside. I have a boat like this, I only put a front deck and the thing is heavier than I would like.
weight is the #1 question I get and the biggest concern I had in doing the build. In hindsight I could have used less 2X4 and more 2X2. However, I am very happy with the way the boat turned out. I was nervous id added too much weight but it handles really well with myself and another and I've often had three on it (not recommended!) and it runs and fishes just fine. With myself and another it can handle pretty choppy conditions and with a 25hp it will run about 20-25 mph. I can honestly say ive been in some rough waters with it and ive never taken on water. One thing to note, I used cedar for the frame, which is really lightweight, strong, and naturally rot resistant. I am no expert on lumber. A lumber yard recommended I use it and I think it was a really good choice for the above three reasons. Also, bear in mind my boat is wide and a v-bow so it displaces more water than same size Jon boat and can handle rougher water because of v bow. What kind of wood did you use?
hey man sorry im so late here, I dont have a blueprint, but feel free to ask me any questions. im back on here now that im doing another build, this time using aluminum to frame the boat. thanks for watching
I would have center consoled it, and put a little larger rear deck with seat on top or bike seat. Then 2 people could have a casting deck with plenty of room. 40hp. Mercury on back. 3 blade high pitched for speed. It would fly, and be cool. But I love what you have done! Amazing woodworking skills! Your layout is very nice indeed. sows ear into a silk purse.
thanks man, that would be one hell of a project for sure. this boat is not rated for an outboard that size, but i will say ive fished plenty of times with me on the front deck and and friend on the back and it works great. Thanks for watching and for the kind words.
I really enjoyed this video. And after reading through the comments, I won't bother asking about the weight.. lol. But you did say it took quite a while, and you treated it like a hobby. But roughly how long? Weeks? Months? Year? Thanks for sharing!!!!
r. Scott. thanks so much man! yes, ive had the weight question a lot, and as you've probably seen its not been an issue. Would aluminum be lighter? yes, but its seems fine as is. Ive regularly fished with myself and another standing on it and bass fishing. Tomorrow since im doing lazy trout fishing ill have three total on it. In the next video you can see it with just me get on plane. Bear in mind I do have a 25hp so it does have a lot of power. It gets on plane quick with two and even three. Regarding the time, yes, it should be a hobby and something you enjoy. Id say between trips to the hardware store, ordering parts, making mistakes it took me about 2 months working maybe 10-15 hours a week on it. If you have all the supplies and know what you're doing I dont think it would take too long. If I did it again, knowing what I know now, it would take only half the time, this was my first one. It is a labor of love, I wouldn't recommend doing it unless you'll enjoy it. It's very rewarding when its done, however. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
thanks for your kind words. i dont know how much weight it added but you can see in the other vids that it does really well regardless. If i were to do again, i would have used a bit more 2x2 instead of the 2x4. i think the frame didnt have to be so robust. But overall, im really happy with it. thanks for watching and sorry for the very late reply!
Thanks Rhonda, I was really concerned about weight, but I can honestly say it's a non-issue. My boat is quite wide so it can handle the weight. There were so many people warning about it, but I'm really happy with it. It gets on plane really fast with me and another on it, and all the added weight of decking doesn't seem to have slowed it down much at all. I'm not sure what others use, but I make sure to tell everyone that I used cedar for the frame. Cedar is lightweight, strong, and naturally rot resistant. You can see me running the boat on plane with just me on it here. I promise it isn't much different with two on it: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for your kind words. You know I've had a few old guys recognize the boat and tell me they last forever. this is an old Starcraft. I think its a 1963. crazy to think its now almost 60 years old and going strong. thanks for watching!
How many 2x4s and how many sqft of plywqod would you estimate you used? I have a very similar 14ft smokercraft that I want to do this with. Also out of WA, curious of any lakes you like to bass fish if you're towards the West side. Any help with specifics behind this would be greatly appreciated!
Jeremy, great to connect here. I was able to do entire deck with three 4x8' sheets of 1/2 inch marine grade plywood. for the frame used rough cut 2x4 cedar from home depot or lowes, because its naturally rot resistant, light and strong. I think I used around 10-12 8 foot 2x4's. I ripped a few of them to make 2x2's where needed. I think my decking is a bit of an overkill, and you dont need as many 2x4's as I've used. I live in Kingston (near Seattle), but built the boat on the east coast. I literally just moved to Kingston last December and was away in July and august so I've really only fished two lakes so far for bass and not really had much time at all to figure them out. One of the lakes is on the olympic peninsula (I actually live in Kingston so it only about a 25min drive) called Leland Lake and really only caught trout, caught a few small bass really early in the season but missed the spawn. I also live really close to a small lake called buck lake in Hansville with a primitive launch, which I've had some success (a couple 2lbers) looks decent, but last season I missed the spawn so who knows. I saw a lot of what looked like decent beds out there so hoping to catch bigger ones next season. I am back now after being away this summer, and hoping to get out soon to keep exploring. Best of luck on the build and let me know how I can help?!
@@DrBass-rk1ez Awesome thanks! I should have more than enough 2x4s then and just really need the plywood. I'm down a little South of Tacoma and fished lots of smaller lakes in my Yak until I sold it when I got this 14ft. Seeing how you did the framing and everything looked like what I wanted so I'm definitely going to steal the design and probably add a few tweaks. I'll wait until the rainy season starts though so I can get as much fishing (thankfully I have a nice large enclosed work space). I will ask, if you could do it again what would you do differently? Again thanks for all the info!
@@jeremy6186 I had an enclosed space too when I needed it which is really great. I used to fish out of a canoe until a friend of mine said his friend's grandfather wanted someone to take this boat off of his property, which came with the same outboard in the videos. I immediately sold my canoe to purchase a trailer and ran over to get the boat. Really fortunate to have it given to me. Re the question of what would I do differently: again, I think you can get away with less framing. I was not sure how strong the 1/2 plywood would be and it turns out it is pretty strong and I didn't need all of that framing to support it. It might sound prideful but in the end there isnt really much id change to the layout. I honestly had no idea if it would work etc (and lots of people on here complain about weight)I, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out, aside from the carpet color (it looks purple and I thought it was blue-long story but the floor carpet is blue and the decking is a dark purple, which I had not realized until it was too late). In case you've not notice the entire build is broken down into longer videos on my channel. Lots of other more detailed videos from start to finish. Best of luck building. Let me know if you have any other questions?
Nice job! I just stripped my 14' V shaped aluminum boat and look foward to build something just like that. I was wondering, what essence of wood did you use for the framing?
hi man, thanks for you kind words, sorry Im just getting back to you. I used cedar. it is light, strong, and rot resistant. For the decks and floors I used 1/2 marine grade ply. thanks for watching!
the boat is still in great shape, I actually gave it away to a friend who has children because I moved 2 years ago. But it has always been garage-kept. I used cedar to frame it which is naturally rot resistant and sealed it all with marine paint. For the decking I used Marine grade ply and epoxied it, so hopefully it last a long time. I just started a new build this year using aluminum to frame it. Thanks for watching
Steffen, thanks so much. Ive never been to Germany. Im sad, because I lived in England for 4 years and traveled around Europe quite extensively. I will get there some day. I am actually a dual US-italian citizen so I have EU status. Do you all bass fish in Germany? I know they do so in Italy. . .
Very nice!! I really like it. Being as this video is 1 year old now - if you could talk to yourself a year ago - would you do anything different? What would you change now that you’ve been using your boat?
I would have used less wood for framing. I could have used more 2x2 instead of 2x4 but otherwise im really pleased with it. I dont like the color of the carpet, it looks purple. I wanted it to be blue. the floor is blue but I mismatched the rest of it and didn't realize it until it was done and out in the sun. Oh well.
Thanks man, I get the weight comment all the time. I think there is a really strong bias online regarding weight that I'm not sure, now after building a boat, that is not a bit overblown. Maybe Im simply not as concerned as others? Anyway all I can do is point people to my before and after videos on the water. Does the boat weigh more, absolutely, but it does not seem to have changed its performance at all, and when I'm fishing with myself and another having some extra weight actually stabilizes it better. Anyway, I always tell people I used cedar which is light and naturally rot resistant. I have a 25hp also, so of course with small outboard id notice a difference. Here are the videos of the boat running on plane: (before: @ (after: @. Thanks for watching!
yes, I agree, also in hindsight I could have used less 2x4 and more 2x2 or 2x3 to take a bit of weight out. But overall its working great. thanks for watching!
@@frankieg1978 if you jump to the next shot you will see I needed to cut it there to get it to fit in the slot for the old seat holders. Those were my main supports. hope this makes sense? Thanks for watching!
my friend, but this modification won't affect how much the boat will sink, right? I would like to do it at my most I'm afraid it will sink too much. thank you in advance.
i dont know how much weight it added but you can see in the other vids that it does really well regardless. If i were to do again, i would have used a bit more 2x2 instead of the 2x4. i think the frame didnt have to be so robust. But overall, im really happy with it. thanks for watching and sorry for the very late reply!
thanks so much, the floor is actually blue and that was the color I wanted but when I went to get more carpet I mismatched the colors and got something a little more purple. I didn't realize it at the time because I did carpeting indoors and it wasn't well lit. So when I got it out in the sun I realized the floor was a different color than the rest of the boat. Oh well. Thanks for watching!
yes, you're right probably an overkill on framing. I too was concerned, but really happy with the way the boat handles etc, even after all the decking etc. One thing to note is that I used rough cut cedar, which is really light wood. Cedar, I was told, is also naturally rot resistant so works good for this sort of thing. I think I probably added between 150-200s with all decking (framing and plywood). That is not including trolling motor and battery. You can see in the other videos how it runs on the water with all this weight in it. Runs fast with myself and another and handles waves well. This has a v bow, so it can handle rougher water and its a wide boat, so it will handle more weight. Hope this is helpful and thanks for watching!
@@davidarchibald9913 im not sure if its a deep v or moderate, but at about the midpoint of the boat it is pretty flat all the way to the rear. I think my boat is pretty stable. I regularly fish with one guy on the back deck and me on the front. Sure, its not a full size bass boat, but im really happy with stability up front even with vbow. I think that because the outboard is on the back and the back is flat, it helps stabilize the front. Here is a link to the boat without all the decking in it. You might be able to use the video to compare it to your own: ua-cam.com/video/XCmjyMSkkvA/v-deo.html To get a feel for stability, here is a link to a friend of mine fishing off the back with me on the front: ua-cam.com/video/VEe1eLrjlNM/v-deo.html
I'm impressed. Cool project but I'm thinking that the cost of the upgrade versus the actual value-ad to the fishing experience wouldn't be there for me. You can catch fish out of either boat!
I get it, yes its a lot of work and now lumber is really expensive. There is no saving money in doing it! I tell people on here that you should not do it unless you'd enjoy it has a hobby and already have the space and tools for it. Thanks for watching!
Again this is just so cool of a build!! I read thru the comments, the weight probably makes that boat more stable!!! And not get bobbled around!!! Anyway please explain the foam to me and the need for it? And how much you need and what type it needs to be? Thanks
thanks for your kind words and sorry for my late reply, i honestly dont know how much foam is needed and dont ever want to discover if i used enough or not! A lot of people put more foam than i did, but im hoping i have enough in the unfortunate event i take on too much water. I do have a bilge pump to be safe.
Nice work, boat looks good. Do you know by chance how much weight you added to the boat with your framework? Does it feel tippy when sitting up that high on platform?
hey man, sorry for late reply, I haven't been on here for a while, but if you look at my other videos you can see my fishing on the boat and putting it on plane. even though its heavier now, it is well balanced, and gets on plane fast with 25hp. that said, I just started another build and this time im using aluminum to frame it to me it lighter. thanks for watching!
Please whatever you do make sure you know what your getting yourself into I tried this build on my 14ft boat and I would say I’m pretty handy but you have to know all the measurements the type of wood and how to put it together it looks easy but this is hours long and days to do and a lot of trips to home depot
yes, this is not easy to do and very expensive. Only do it if you have the tools and knowledge and like doing this sort of thing as a hobby. It looks easy here but its not so easy! thanks for watching!
I always tell people its great fun and rewarding if you have the money, the tools, space and patience to do it. But if youre trying to save money or in a hurry I would not recommend it. Has to be something you enjoy! Thanks for watching!
Why not use aluminum for the frame? Wouldn't it be lighter and longer lasting? Asking because I want to do the same thing (once I get a nice deal on a similar size jon boat).
if i had to do again i would probably try aluminum, but i am very happy with the way it turns out and the way in handles in the water. You can see it in action in some of the other vids on this channel. Thanks for watching and sorry for my very late reply!
Thank you so much for uploading this. I'm trying to do something similar with my 14 ft. Do you find the wood adds a lot of extra weight? I'm debating whether to use wood or aluminum.
Thanks Gavin, I used cedar so it's not too heavy and naturally rot resistant. I think I used too much, you could use more 2x2's, and aluminum is lightest. but the boat runs great as it is. you can watch other videos on the channel to see how it handles with the weight etc. with the 25hp it will go about 25mph with myself and another on it. I regularly fish with two people, one in front and one on back and have no issues and it handles some pretty rough seas.
What model of boat is that? I just bought a 1970 14' MirroCraft V-hull and I'm planning in the fall to tear it apart and do a full build. I've been trying to find deck and compartment plans online with no success. I just keep watching videos and am hoping I will figure it out and how to lay it out. My plan is to do all my framing with aluminum. Your boat cam out absolutely beautiful. I'm a pretty big guy, which is why I want to use aluminum and save weight where I can. What did you use as a guide (for lack of a better word) for how to start the framing, what height, etc?
Shane, my boat is a 1969 Starcraft 14' v haul. Not sure on exact model but its pretty wide and the back of the boat sits pretty flat on the water. I was hesitant to start myself because im a perfectionist and wanted it to be perfect. What I did was exactly what you've done, watch videos got ideas. From there I actually sketched it out on graph paper using boat dimensions as best I could. So if I were you I'd use graph paper and draw your boat to scale on the graph paper then sketch in the decking as you want it. If you have questions about my deck size depths etc. I can do take measurements. I might also do some drawings of it and attach below at some point, but alas my regular job ties me up . . . But even if you have dimensions and an idea of how you want layout, that will only give you a rough idea. From there you just have improvise, and slowly start to build. All boats are different so there is no one size fits all. At some point you just have to start the build, and try to think through each section as you do so (make space for battery or gas tank etc.). One rule of thumb. Use the original seats as your guide for leveling the deck not the gunnel(I assume the engineers knew what they were doing)! Then when you do the floor make sure its parallel with the top deck, again, not the gunnel. Just take your time, and trust yourself. I have a phd in humanities, I do NOT do this sort of thing for a living, but I will say I grew up with family who worked with their hands so I do have a bit of that skill. I hated the fact that at some point I just had to take the plunge and start. I made a few mistakes along the way, but im happy with how it turned out. I think you'll be too. Let me know if you have any other questions?
A friend of mine tried something similar and it just made the boat a bit heavy and not as maneuverable. Also sat a bit deep in the water for comfort I wonder what he did different to keep weight down
It does add weight, but I used cedar which is really light and rot resistant. Here is a video of it running with the decking in it: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
very sorry, but I gave the boat away to a friend last year so I dont have it any more. I can ask him to measure it if you could be a bit more specific about what dimension you're referring to?
zack, I got some cheap outdoor carpet from an overstock store locally and its held up really well. I got my hinges from grainer supply. they were the only place I could find a decent price for aluminum piano hinges. I had to cut them to size and drill holes but I really like them. They've held up great and no rust.
Roger, im not sure if its in the clip or not but there is foam under the floor. You can find it in the videos where the build is broken down into longer videos. Thanks for watching!
awesome man, thanks for your kind words. Im really happy with how this turned out and how it handles in the water. You will really enjoy your's when its done. Thanks for watching!
How stable is the boat. I have a 12ft aluminum boat and was thinking about putting a flat bottom on top of my 3 bench seats. You think that would work. Or would it be unstable
sorry for my very late reply, its stable enough for two guys to fish standing up. check out some of the other vids on the channel to see the boat in action. Thanks for watching and sorry for my very late reply!
@@DrBass-rk1ez no problem man at all... Now is there anyway you can make a video doing kind of a walkthrough and show us all the accessories and details that would be awesome
@@goyosallsfishingrivera8186 hi again, check out these two videos and see if they are helpful: ua-cam.com/video/roJew9R_ei8/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/PzbRyB0anO0/v-deo.html
@@arturoromochavez906 here is a link to a video of the boat running full speed with a 25hp outboard: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.htmlsi=sBx__x2H3NGV-0G_
Patrick, thanks so much! I try to remind people that this looks easy on here because you don't see the time dedicated to conceptualization, making mistakes, and all the running to the store when I realize I forgot something. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, but it was not as easy as this makes it look! Thanks for watching!
yes, I could have used aluminum but Im really happy with how it turned out and how it handles. You can see it running on plane here: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
Very nice build there bud. Definitely overkill on the framing. A you can save yourself about 60lbs by ditching the wood framing altogether and replacing it with riveted aluminum. I did a build on a 12’ aluminum boat, not as fancy as yours but my son and I could easily pick the boat up by hand, it was pretty lightweight. Should be on my channel somewhere if you wanna get some ideas for the next build.
thanks man, yes, I know ive done a bit too much, but Im happy with the way it turned out. I used cedar which is quite light, so it helps a bit. Thanks for watching!
Hello Doc. great job , you have built an awesome rig buddy, I'm working on a little project boat myself and I was wondering where you got those black lid latch's from , i could use the info or webpage you found them on !!!
Hey man these are the links to the latches I used. If I had to do again I would not use the ones that have the latch on them. Id just use the cheap ones that are called 'pulls'. If you are using carpeting the hatches are tight enough to stay closed with just the pulls and dont need the ones with latches if that makes sense. Here are the links to both: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CH3N76R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 www.amazon.com/Marine-Sliding-Cabinet-Drawer-Handle/dp/B08K8DLKPL/ref=sr_1_29?keywords=marine+hatch+handle+black&qid=1637959227&s=hi&sr=1-29
hi David, in the other videos you can see I installed a bilge pump, if that is what you mean? so if it takes on water is has a pump. it also has a plug in the boat so when its out of the water you can pull the plug to get out any remaining water. All boats like this will have a plug. I hope that answers your question.
it is more weight for sure but i was impressed with how well it turned out. You can see me on it with others in the other videos and it running on plane. Thanks for watching!
I’m one of those guys who never learned how to build things with his own hands. I so envy people like you who are able to create a work of art and functional bass boat from nothing. I am so highly impressed with what you’ve done and I thank you for sharing it with those of us who enjoy fishing. I would love to have a boat like that one day!
Really kind of you man! I think I grew up with a dad that did this sort of thing and picked up on it. But I dont do this regularly so it took a lot of time and planning. I am a professor of humanities so this is something way outside my day to day life! But very therapeutic to do! Thanks again for your kind words!
The best way to learn anything when it comes to this is trial and error. You can learn anything on UA-cam. Lol
You dont really "learn" skills like these. You just start smaller projects, buy tools as you go, make a lot of mistakes then slowly build up to something like this. Even something basic like a bird house or cat tower or something to get used to measuring and cutting wood then find something a little more complex then eventually when you do a project like this it kind of brings it all together.
@@DrBass-rk1ez im sure it was a great video just every sceen flashed and it hurt my fragile eyes....
I may have selected a combination of aluminum angle and lighter wood to reduce weight, but I don't think I could have done a better job than what you did with construction, fit and finish. Just awesome! Well done and I bet you get many years of enjoyment out of that build.
thanks so much Christopher. You are right that it would be lighter with aluminum. I did have a lot of concern with weight when building it, but im really happy with the way in turned out and the weight doesn't seem to have impacted performance much. You can see it on plane before and after the build, and it doesn't seem much different at all. its fun to fish! thanks again, and thanks for watching!
Weight was my concern too. The build is awesome 👍👍
@@DrBass-rk1ez I am actually wondering if the added weight is a good thing, kind of like ballast. My biggest concern with some of these builds is how top heavy you make a small aluminum boat that was not designed to stand on a platform on.
@@ColoradoStreaming hey man, so sorry for my late reply, my work has been busy last month. I had exact same concern and to my surprise it does fine balance wise, and yes, the added weight certainly provides further stability. I have two videos on the channel that give a feel for stability when fishing. One with just me: ua-cam.com/video/cjnAYu45TnI/v-deo.html and another with a friend on back deck: ua-cam.com/video/VEe1eLrjlNM/v-deo.html These should give you a better idea of stability.
Great job, I had a 15 ft tracker crappie boat. I tore it apart and basically did the same thing, put a deck in the front and the back. I had a 20 horsepower motor Plus an 84 lb thrust trolling motor. I regret to this day that I sold it. It just needed a bigger motor. You did a phenomenal job on it you're very skilled
Sorry you sold it! Yeah I get a lot of pushback because of the weight, but I can honestly say with my 25HP it flies, and its really enjoyable to fish. Ive thought a few times of selling mine but you make me think I should keep it! Thanks for watching!
It amazes me how so many people do this do differently than others.
Stand back and look at it with great pride. Great workmanship. Great video. Thanks for the video.
thank you so much for your kind words, the edits make it look easy but I assure you it was not that seamless. Thanks for watching!
@@DrBass-rk1ez i can see it was a tough and lengthy project. I have been in construction work for 40 years. I also used to do a bit of woodworking. I also understand most people watching youtube videos don't understand the process that comes along with projects such as this. Enjoy your boat. Also know you have gained another subscriber. Take care and stay safe.
@@lindioncicerao1247 Again, very kind of you. Im humbled as this was my first go at this. I did later build a camper van which I plan to share on here. That was far more involved!
Great work, I just bought one ready for work. I got the motor ready now on to the boat. Want to use aluminum for lighter weight but boy are they expensive. Morning guy end up using 2x3 and 2x2s stead for framing.
Thanks man. yes, aluminum is expensive and bc this was my first build I was more confident with wood framing etc. I used rough cut cedar which is naturally rot resistant, light, and strong. I think I probably could have gotten away with a lot less 2X4 and used more 2x2 or 2x3 as you say, to lessen weight. But it still runs great and fishes great with 2 on it. I fish often with two others on it and its fine. Best of luck on your build. Thanks for watching!
From what I’ve learned from boating is, never build out of wood. The weight is one thing but, the rotting is another. Aluminum would be better in every way. Lighter, most of the time cheaper. Takes up way less volume. Doesn’t kill gas mileage. Won’t rust or rot. Won’t warp and flex, and better looking. I’m not sure about the choice of materials here but, still a sweet boat.
With the price of lumber in California lately it would be cheaper to buy a bass boat, lol.
Efren, you're right, I tell people who want to do this that it's not really that cost effective to do one. If you don't want to do it as a hobby and you dont have a sentimental attachment to the boat, its probably better to just go find a used bass boat. In other words if you dont enjoy doing this kind of work, then probably shouldn't do it. You may spend a bit more on the use bass boat, but it will save you hours and hours of labor. I don't think people realize how involved these are and how the costs can add up quickly. thanks for watching! The video makes it look seamless but it involves a lot and takes a long time.
I live in California. I’ll pay u to do this for me! I wouldn’t have any hair left if I did this project! Awesome work
@@Cowboys365 thanks so much man, very kind of you. I live in Washington state, so as much as id love to help you it would probably cost you far too much to ship a boat to me and back, buy supplies, etc. But if you're serious about the building, its not too hard. let me know if you have specific questions or if there is any other way I can help? thanks for watching!
also, growing up I used to love the cowboys! I dont watch football as much any more but Emmitt was my all time favorite player. I loved him!
@@DrBass-rk1ez yessir my favorite player... wore #22 in any sport I played cuz of him. I was born in 88 so I idolized emmitt! But yes I have the skill to do so but not the patients. But I have a boat my father in law gifted so I can’t ever get rid of... so wanna make most of it.... I’ll get it done one day!!! And ur video will be my blue print... thank u very much!!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Awesome transformation. Great job making a badass bass boat. Tight lines.
thanks, Chris! and thanks for watching!
Really appreciate your videos. Just finished up a build nearly identical to yours and modeled mine off yours with a few minor tweaks here and there. Thanks for the ideas!
awesome, glad they could be helpful. thanks for you kind comments. Enjoy your boat. I sure have enjoyed it.
You got a fine lookin boat there sir. I did a 14 ft V hull years ago. Kinda kickin myself for letting it go. Now I've been binge watching all these build vids and getting the hankering to build another.
One criticism; is everyone planning to take their trucks out fishing too? The framing I've seen on a lot of builds just seems over the top and adds a lot of weight in my opinion. With current lumber costs it might be cheaper to use alum angle. IIRC, I just doubled up two pieces of 3/4" CDX (slathered with Kilz then carpeted) for the front deck and just screwed it down to the benches. One hatch for some storage underneath and a fishin chair. Caught a lot of bass off it that way. It was also very stable and never sagged.
thanks man, yes, I would agree I didn't need this much lumber. But it was my first build. I will say, that it still runs great any is now very stable in water. Here is a video of it running on plane with my 25hp: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
@@DrBass-rk1ez I saw that one too. Mine also planed out with a borrowed 25 hp Sea Horse. Mine came a with 15 hp SH. It got us to the fish and I was content with that.
An outstanding craftsmanship, nothing short of that....👍👍👍..
thanks, and really kind of you, thanks for watching!
😃 Wow!!! You are an amazing tradesman... Your work is impeccable. I'm guessing that you are a cabinet maker by profession. Great boat remodel. 👍👍👍
thanks man, this was actually my first go at this. I have a phd in humanities subject and am a writer researcher and teacher by day. I grew up in working class family, so learned a lot by watching my dad. I think I just naturally inherited it from family. I just did a van conversion where I did cabinets for the first time from scratch. Was a lot to learn. I plan to post that here soon. Thanks for your kind comments!
Wow! Great job and perfect way to edit it. What’s the boat weigh now? Anything you would do different “next time”?
thanks so much man. A lot of people are really concerned about weight and so was I. In the end I am happy to say that yes its heavier and I probably put too much wood in it, but it runs great and handles really well with my 25hp. I really like the layout. If there was anything I would change it would be to use a bit less 2X4s and use 2X2's. I didn't know when I was building how sturdy the decking would be an now I know I didn't need that much. I also would not have chosen that color of carpet! you can't see it on video but the floor carpet is blue and the top decks are a dark purple. I thought when I went back to purchase the more of the blue I was purchasing blue, but got a dark purple. I didn't notice it until I installed it because a lot of the work I did particularly the carpet was done inside with low light to keep out of rain. That drives me crazy, but oh well. Here is video of it on plane: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
@@DrBass-rk1ez awesome! looks like she rips!
That came out really great. Great job good looking boat
thanks so much, and thanks for watching!
Light to HEAVY!!!
ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
Man!, you work fast. What's your secret, Speed? Excellent work.
haha, thanks man, and thanks for watching!
I know this comment is a long ways after the video posted but do you by chance have the layout drawn anywhere so someone like me could follow your floor plan? I really like this build and want to use it for my own boat. Thank you
Steve, thanks for watching. I don't have any building plans for this. However, I'd recommend watching the other videos on my channel that show the build step by step to get an idea of how it was done. You can also ask me any questions along the way. Best of luck on your build!
Did you water test it on a lake? Is it super heavy? I was thinking to do something similar with my fiberglass boat. Will it be to heavy?
Myrko, i have used it a lot on the water. You can see my fishing on it with others and running it on plane in my other videos. Those should give you an idea of how it handles. I used rough cut cedar which is naturally rot resistant, strong, and lightweight. Again, have a look at my other videos to get an idea of how it sits now that its complete. Thanks for watching!
I saw some good efficient work with esthetic finish. I didn't see the rod locker or live well, did I miss something? What about a bilge pump and flotation?
no rod locker or live well, im not that sophisticated! it does have a bilge and foam under the floor. you can see this in some of the other vids on my channel, thanks for watching and sorry for my very late reply!
Pretty nice but I hope you figured out it would be to your advantage to fill the empty spaces with a floatation foam,,, dont ask how I know this
thanks man, in this video you can't see it but there is foam under the floor (you can see my installing in other videos). I hope I have enough in there, and that I dont have to learn the hard way! thanks for watching!
I am so glad I found this and your channel. I just picked up a 1972 Alumacraft F-9 (14') that I plan on upgrading like this. Your vids on this build are going to be so helpful to me.
awesome man! let me know how it goes. best of luck as you build!
@@DrBass-rk1ez Intro showing off the start of the project
ua-cam.com/video/8KrTVoS29lY/v-deo.html
You're such a Pro. I wish I could do that too.
Wow amazing great job, that talent you don’t see anymore!
thanks so much man, really kind of you and thanks for watching!
Absolute craftmanship!
thanks for your kind words!
Dam that was pretty awesome. I got a boat about like that. Gives me some ideas.
Best of luck my friend, I'm sure it will turn out great!
This was an amazing time lapse.. your editing was top notch! Glad weight isn’t an issue with your boat.. aluminum would definitely had been lighter for framing. Enjoyed the video.
Did you find the boat to be “tippy” or unstable raising the platform and centre of gravity like that? Beautiful work you did here.
jamie, thanks for your question. I worried about that when I did the build too. I don't know what the boat would be like if I had dropped the deck down a bit lower, but I can say for me and a friend fishing standing up on it, one on front and one on back deck, it does just fine. Now having fish with it for a while I don't really think the height of the deck would make much difference. I think its the size of the boat (particularly the width), the bottom shape, and the displacement of water that ultimately determines how well the boat is balanced. Because the back of my boat is really flat on the water, it helps stablize the boat all the way through. If it was v shaped all the way back it could be an issue. All that to say, its no big bass boat, but I fish standing up on it all the time and ive even done so in pretty rough water and it does pretty well. I've had this question a lot, and I really need to do a video of me fishing it but when I get on the water I dont want to film, I want to fish! Thanks for watching!
This boat looks great you did a good job. The only thing I’m concerned with is the weight. I’d bet you are over the weight limit of the boat with 2 people inside. I have a boat like this, I only put a front deck and the thing is heavier than I would like.
weight is the #1 question I get and the biggest concern I had in doing the build. In hindsight I could have used less 2X4 and more 2X2. However, I am very happy with the way the boat turned out. I was nervous id added too much weight but it handles really well with myself and another and I've often had three on it (not recommended!) and it runs and fishes just fine. With myself and another it can handle pretty choppy conditions and with a 25hp it will run about 20-25 mph. I can honestly say ive been in some rough waters with it and ive never taken on water.
One thing to note, I used cedar for the frame, which is really lightweight, strong, and naturally rot resistant. I am no expert on lumber. A lumber yard recommended I use it and I think it was a really good choice for the above three reasons. Also, bear in mind my boat is wide and a v-bow so it displaces more water than same size Jon boat and can handle rougher water because of v bow. What kind of wood did you use?
Hey! I was wondering if you had a blueprint of this build? I have a similar boat and would love to recreate this!
hey man sorry im so late here, I dont have a blueprint, but feel free to ask me any questions. im back on here now that im doing another build, this time using aluminum to frame the boat. thanks for watching
I would have center consoled it, and put a little larger rear deck with seat on top or bike seat. Then 2 people could have a casting deck with plenty of room. 40hp. Mercury on back. 3 blade high pitched for speed. It would fly, and be cool. But I love what you have done! Amazing woodworking skills! Your layout is very nice indeed. sows ear into a silk purse.
thanks man, that would be one hell of a project for sure. this boat is not rated for an outboard that size, but i will say ive fished plenty of times with me on the front deck and and friend on the back and it works great. Thanks for watching and for the kind words.
I really enjoyed this video. And after reading through the comments, I won't bother asking about the weight.. lol. But you did say it took quite a while, and you treated it like a hobby. But roughly how long? Weeks? Months? Year? Thanks for sharing!!!!
r. Scott. thanks so much man! yes, ive had the weight question a lot, and as you've probably seen its not been an issue. Would aluminum be lighter? yes, but its seems fine as is. Ive regularly fished with myself and another standing on it and bass fishing. Tomorrow since im doing lazy trout fishing ill have three total on it. In the next video you can see it with just me get on plane. Bear in mind I do have a 25hp so it does have a lot of power. It gets on plane quick with two and even three.
Regarding the time, yes, it should be a hobby and something you enjoy. Id say between trips to the hardware store, ordering parts, making mistakes it took me about 2 months working maybe 10-15 hours a week on it. If you have all the supplies and know what you're doing I dont think it would take too long. If I did it again, knowing what I know now, it would take only half the time, this was my first one. It is a labor of love, I wouldn't recommend doing it unless you'll enjoy it. It's very rewarding when its done, however. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!
Looks heavy! Very nice craftsmanship!
thanks for your kind words. i dont know how much weight it added but you can see in the other vids that it does really well regardless. If i were to do again, i would have used a bit more 2x2 instead of the 2x4. i think the frame didnt have to be so robust. But overall, im really happy with it. thanks for watching and sorry for the very late reply!
Awesome woodworking, enjoy watching. Glad you answered the weight question. I was thinking you would be needing a 150hp, just to get on plane.
Thanks Rhonda, I was really concerned about weight, but I can honestly say it's a non-issue. My boat is quite wide so it can handle the weight. There were so many people warning about it, but I'm really happy with it. It gets on plane really fast with me and another on it, and all the added weight of decking doesn't seem to have slowed it down much at all. I'm not sure what others use, but I make sure to tell everyone that I used cedar for the frame. Cedar is lightweight, strong, and naturally rot resistant. You can see me running the boat on plane with just me on it here. I promise it isn't much different with two on it: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html Thanks for watching!
Fish On!!!!!!!! Great job great build. Post some fish catching videos with your repurposed boat please 👍
Thanks so much man! Here is a quick video I did to show the stability of the boat while fishing: ua-cam.com/video/cjnAYu45TnI/v-deo.html
Nicly job gives me inspiration for a boat very similar to yours. Was my grandfather's.
Thanks so much for your kind words. You know I've had a few old guys recognize the boat and tell me they last forever. this is an old Starcraft. I think its a 1963. crazy to think its now almost 60 years old and going strong. thanks for watching!
How many 2x4s and how many sqft of plywqod would you estimate you used? I have a very similar 14ft smokercraft that I want to do this with. Also out of WA, curious of any lakes you like to bass fish if you're towards the West side. Any help with specifics behind this would be greatly appreciated!
Jeremy, great to connect here. I was able to do entire deck with three 4x8' sheets of 1/2 inch marine grade plywood. for the frame used rough cut 2x4 cedar from home depot or lowes, because its naturally rot resistant, light and strong. I think I used around 10-12 8 foot 2x4's. I ripped a few of them to make 2x2's where needed. I think my decking is a bit of an overkill, and you dont need as many 2x4's as I've used.
I live in Kingston (near Seattle), but built the boat on the east coast. I literally just moved to Kingston last December and was away in July and august so I've really only fished two lakes so far for bass and not really had much time at all to figure them out. One of the lakes is on the olympic peninsula (I actually live in Kingston so it only about a 25min drive) called Leland Lake and really only caught trout, caught a few small bass really early in the season but missed the spawn. I also live really close to a small lake called buck lake in Hansville with a primitive launch, which I've had some success (a couple 2lbers) looks decent, but last season I missed the spawn so who knows. I saw a lot of what looked like decent beds out there so hoping to catch bigger ones next season. I am back now after being away this summer, and hoping to get out soon to keep exploring. Best of luck on the build and let me know how I can help?!
@@DrBass-rk1ez Awesome thanks! I should have more than enough 2x4s then and just really need the plywood.
I'm down a little South of Tacoma and fished lots of smaller lakes in my Yak until I sold it when I got this 14ft. Seeing how you did the framing and everything looked like what I wanted so I'm definitely going to steal the design and probably add a few tweaks. I'll wait until the rainy season starts though so I can get as much fishing (thankfully I have a nice large enclosed work space). I will ask, if you could do it again what would you do differently?
Again thanks for all the info!
@@jeremy6186 I had an enclosed space too when I needed it which is really great. I used to fish out of a canoe until a friend of mine said his friend's grandfather wanted someone to take this boat off of his property, which came with the same outboard in the videos. I immediately sold my canoe to purchase a trailer and ran over to get the boat. Really fortunate to have it given to me. Re the question of what would I do differently: again, I think you can get away with less framing. I was not sure how strong the 1/2 plywood would be and it turns out it is pretty strong and I didn't need all of that framing to support it. It might sound prideful but in the end there isnt really much id change to the layout. I honestly had no idea if it would work etc (and lots of people on here complain about weight)I, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out, aside from the carpet color (it looks purple and I thought it was blue-long story but the floor carpet is blue and the decking is a dark purple, which I had not realized until it was too late). In case you've not notice the entire build is broken down into longer videos on my channel. Lots of other more detailed videos from start to finish. Best of luck building. Let me know if you have any other questions?
Nice job! I just stripped my 14' V shaped aluminum boat and look foward to build something just like that. I was wondering, what essence of wood did you use for the framing?
hi man, thanks for you kind words, sorry Im just getting back to you. I used cedar. it is light, strong, and rot resistant. For the decks and floors I used 1/2 marine grade ply. thanks for watching!
Looks good, wondering how it's held up after 3 years!
the boat is still in great shape, I actually gave it away to a friend who has children because I moved 2 years ago. But it has always been garage-kept. I used cedar to frame it which is naturally rot resistant and sealed it all with marine paint. For the decking I used Marine grade ply and epoxied it, so hopefully it last a long time. I just started a new build this year using aluminum to frame it. Thanks for watching
The framing/decks add quite a bit of weight. What did you do to make the boat more buoyant?
I think you're asking if I added foam? If so, there is foam under the main deck. Thanks for watching.
I salute @Dr. Bass what an amazing DIY job boat overhaul and rebuild job 🫡
Thanks so much for you kind words! Thanks for watching!
Very, very good!!! Greatings from Germany... 👍
Steffen, thanks so much. Ive never been to Germany. Im sad, because I lived in England for 4 years and traveled around Europe quite extensively. I will get there some day. I am actually a dual US-italian citizen so I have EU status. Do you all bass fish in Germany? I know they do so in Italy. . .
Very nice!! I really like it. Being as this video is 1 year old now - if you could talk to yourself a year ago - would you do anything different? What would you change now that you’ve been using your boat?
I would have used less wood for framing. I could have used more 2x2 instead of 2x4 but otherwise im really pleased with it. I dont like the color of the carpet, it looks purple. I wanted it to be blue. the floor is blue but I mismatched the rest of it and didn't realize it until it was done and out in the sun. Oh well.
I must say I really enjoyed this video. A+ craftsmanship. Thanks for the content.
Thanks so much man, that is really kind of you to say! Thanks for watching!
That is just a beautiful job. Good luck fishing. Hope ya fill it up.
Thanks so much man! thanks for watching and best of luck to you!
Excellent work and great video. How much did the Royal weight go up after adding all the lumber?
Thanks man, I get the weight comment all the time. I think there is a really strong bias online regarding weight that I'm not sure, now after building a boat, that is not a bit overblown. Maybe Im simply not as concerned as others? Anyway all I can do is point people to my before and after videos on the water. Does the boat weigh more, absolutely, but it does not seem to have changed its performance at all, and when I'm fishing with myself and another having some extra weight actually stabilizes it better. Anyway, I always tell people I used cedar which is light and naturally rot resistant. I have a 25hp also, so of course with small outboard id notice a difference. Here are the videos of the boat running on plane: (before: @ (after: @. Thanks for watching!
Wow..amazing, good job good boat my friend
thanks so much for your kind comment! thanks for watching!
Cedar was definitely a good choice, aluminum square tubing also works great for framing, and would probably save you a few lbs at least
yes, I agree, also in hindsight I could have used less 2x4 and more 2x2 or 2x3 to take a bit of weight out. But overall its working great. thanks for watching!
@@DrBass-rk1ez What was the cut @ 11 seconds for?
@@frankieg1978 if you jump to the next shot you will see I needed to cut it there to get it to fit in the slot for the old seat holders. Those were my main supports. hope this makes sense? Thanks for watching!
@@frankieg1978 here is a better video of that portion of the build.
That was inspirational. Thank You.
thanks so much man, and thanks for watching
my friend, but this modification won't affect how much the boat will sink, right? I would like to do it at my most I'm afraid it will sink too much. thank you in advance.
i dont know how much weight it added but you can see in the other vids that it does really well regardless. If i were to do again, i would have used a bit more 2x2 instead of the 2x4. i think the frame didnt have to be so robust. But overall, im really happy with it. thanks for watching and sorry for the very late reply!
Great work and great video thanks for sharing. Interesting deep blue/midnight blue/purplish carpet. I like it
thanks so much, the floor is actually blue and that was the color I wanted but when I went to get more carpet I mismatched the colors and got something a little more purple. I didn't realize it at the time because I did carpeting indoors and it wasn't well lit. So when I got it out in the sun I realized the floor was a different color than the rest of the boat. Oh well. Thanks for watching!
Awesome ! Be amazed what you can accomplish with a little hard work and vision! Cudos brother!
thanks for your kinds words man, and thanks for watching!
Pretty cool boat, great video.
thanks so much man, and thanks for watching!
You framed the heck out of this pretty well, how much weight was added from framing if you had to guess?
yes, you're right probably an overkill on framing. I too was concerned, but really happy with the way the boat handles etc, even after all the decking etc. One thing to note is that I used rough cut cedar, which is really light wood. Cedar, I was told, is also naturally rot resistant so works good for this sort of thing. I think I probably added between 150-200s with all decking (framing and plywood). That is not including trolling motor and battery. You can see in the other videos how it runs on the water with all this weight in it. Runs fast with myself and another and handles waves well. This has a v bow, so it can handle rougher water and its a wide boat, so it will handle more weight. Hope this is helpful and thanks for watching!
Is this hull more of a deep v rather than a moderate v hull? That is what I am dealing with and worried about stability.
@@davidarchibald9913 im not sure if its a deep v or moderate, but at about the midpoint of the boat it is pretty flat all the way to the rear. I think my boat is pretty stable. I regularly fish with one guy on the back deck and me on the front. Sure, its not a full size bass boat, but im really happy with stability up front even with vbow. I think that because the outboard is on the back and the back is flat, it helps stabilize the front. Here is a link to the boat without all the decking in it. You might be able to use the video to compare it to your own: ua-cam.com/video/XCmjyMSkkvA/v-deo.html To get a feel for stability, here is a link to a friend of mine fishing off the back with me on the front: ua-cam.com/video/VEe1eLrjlNM/v-deo.html
That's an amazing build. Very impressive
Thanks so much for your kind words, and thanks for watching!
Wow using the cardboard as a template for the cuts was genius
thanks for your kind comment, and thanks for watching!
I'm impressed. Cool project but I'm thinking that the cost of the upgrade versus the actual value-ad to the fishing experience wouldn't be there for me. You can catch fish out of either boat!
I get it, yes its a lot of work and now lumber is really expensive. There is no saving money in doing it! I tell people on here that you should not do it unless you'd enjoy it has a hobby and already have the space and tools for it. Thanks for watching!
Again this is just so cool of a build!! I read thru the comments, the weight probably makes that boat more stable!!! And not get bobbled around!!!
Anyway please explain the foam to me and the need for it? And how much you need and what type it needs to be? Thanks
thanks for your kind words and sorry for my late reply, i honestly dont know how much foam is needed and dont ever want to discover if i used enough or not! A lot of people put more foam than i did, but im hoping i have enough in the unfortunate event i take on too much water. I do have a bilge pump to be safe.
I am super impressed. Keep up the great work... Tight lines my friend
thanks so much man! really kind of you!
Nice work, boat looks good. Do you know by chance how much weight you added to the boat with your framework? Does it feel tippy when sitting up that high on platform?
hey man, sorry for late reply, I haven't been on here for a while, but if you look at my other videos you can see my fishing on the boat and putting it on plane. even though its heavier now, it is well balanced, and gets on plane fast with 25hp. that said, I just started another build and this time im using aluminum to frame it to me it lighter. thanks for watching!
I love these videos! I just built this same boat while watching this!
thanks man, hope it was helpful, thanks for watching!
Please whatever you do make sure you know what your getting yourself into I tried this build on my 14ft boat and I would say I’m pretty handy but you have to know all the measurements the type of wood and how to put it together it looks easy but this is hours long and days to do and a lot of trips to home depot
yes, this is not easy to do and very expensive. Only do it if you have the tools and knowledge and like doing this sort of thing as a hobby. It looks easy here but its not so easy! thanks for watching!
This is awesome I have the time an cash but not the knowledge!!! I really wanna do this!!!
I always tell people its great fun and rewarding if you have the money, the tools, space and patience to do it. But if youre trying to save money or in a hurry I would not recommend it. Has to be something you enjoy! Thanks for watching!
Why not use aluminum for the frame? Wouldn't it be lighter and longer lasting? Asking because I want to do the same thing (once I get a nice deal on a similar size jon boat).
if i had to do again i would probably try aluminum, but i am very happy with the way it turns out and the way in handles in the water. You can see it in action in some of the other vids on this channel. Thanks for watching and sorry for my very late reply!
Looks nice…where’s the floatation foam replacement that you took out when you took out the original seats ?
its under the flooring. You can see my installing it in the longer videos where the build is broken down. thanks for watching!
very well done video i am a youtuber also and i could never do a video this good
thanks man, really kind of you!
Nice build 👍did it float looks heavy
ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
Awesome build my man! Thanks for the share!
thanks for your kind words, man! and thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for uploading this. I'm trying to do something similar with my 14 ft. Do you find the wood adds a lot of extra weight? I'm debating whether to use wood or aluminum.
Thanks Gavin, I used cedar so it's not too heavy and naturally rot resistant. I think I used too much, you could use more 2x2's, and aluminum is lightest. but the boat runs great as it is. you can watch other videos on the channel to see how it handles with the weight etc. with the 25hp it will go about 25mph with myself and another on it. I regularly fish with two people, one in front and one on back and have no issues and it handles some pretty rough seas.
@@DrBass-rk1ez Cedar is a great idea, thank you. Happy fishing!
What model of boat is that? I just bought a 1970 14' MirroCraft V-hull and I'm planning in the fall to tear it apart and do a full build. I've been trying to find deck and compartment plans online with no success. I just keep watching videos and am hoping I will figure it out and how to lay it out. My plan is to do all my framing with aluminum. Your boat cam out absolutely beautiful. I'm a pretty big guy, which is why I want to use aluminum and save weight where I can. What did you use as a guide (for lack of a better word) for how to start the framing, what height, etc?
Shane, my boat is a 1969 Starcraft 14' v haul. Not sure on exact model but its pretty wide and the back of the boat sits pretty flat on the water. I was hesitant to start myself because im a perfectionist and wanted it to be perfect. What I did was exactly what you've done, watch videos got ideas. From there I actually sketched it out on graph paper using boat dimensions as best I could. So if I were you I'd use graph paper and draw your boat to scale on the graph paper then sketch in the decking as you want it. If you have questions about my deck size depths etc. I can do take measurements. I might also do some drawings of it and attach below at some point, but alas my regular job ties me up . . . But even if you have dimensions and an idea of how you want layout, that will only give you a rough idea. From there you just have improvise, and slowly start to build. All boats are different so there is no one size fits all. At some point you just have to start the build, and try to think through each section as you do so (make space for battery or gas tank etc.). One rule of thumb. Use the original seats as your guide for leveling the deck not the gunnel(I assume the engineers knew what they were doing)! Then when you do the floor make sure its parallel with the top deck, again, not the gunnel. Just take your time, and trust yourself. I have a phd in humanities, I do NOT do this sort of thing for a living, but I will say I grew up with family who worked with their hands so I do have a bit of that skill. I hated the fact that at some point I just had to take the plunge and start. I made a few mistakes along the way, but im happy with how it turned out. I think you'll be too. Let me know if you have any other questions?
A friend of mine tried something similar and it just made the boat a bit heavy and not as maneuverable. Also sat a bit deep in the water for comfort I wonder what he did different to keep weight down
It does add weight, but I used cedar which is really light and rot resistant. Here is a video of it running with the decking in it: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
Awesome job. What is inner dimensions of the standing rectangular section?
very sorry, but I gave the boat away to a friend last year so I dont have it any more. I can ask him to measure it if you could be a bit more specific about what dimension you're referring to?
@@DrBass-rk1ez based on the video the boat appeared to have a rectangular area to fish from. I’m inquiring about the measurements of it.
Great job.
thanks man and thanks for watching!
How much carpet did you have to use and where did you get your hinges at?
zack, I got some cheap outdoor carpet from an overstock store locally and its held up really well. I got my hinges from grainer supply. they were the only place I could find a decent price for aluminum piano hinges. I had to cut them to size and drill holes but I really like them. They've held up great and no rust.
*grainger industrial supply
Do you by chance remember what size they where?
@@zackfoster8327 (This is what my order says) Continuous Hinge Natural 36" H x 3/4" W Item #: 4PNR1
again this is from Grainger: www.grainger.com/product/MARLBORO-Continuous-Hinge-Aluminum-4PNR1
I didn't see any foam floatation added. Where did you put the foam? Great job.
Roger, im not sure if its in the clip or not but there is foam under the floor. You can find it in the videos where the build is broken down into longer videos. Thanks for watching!
Well done
Nice job 👏 one word tho "aluminum " 😊
Beauty! Nice job!!!
thanks so much man! and thanks for watching!
nice job! like the color carpet
thanks so much, and thanks for watching!
Awesome. You are gifted.
thanks so much for your kind words and thanks for watching!
Will it float? Looks really heavy
ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
Awesome build man. I plan on doing a very similar build with my 14’ aluminum boat.
awesome man, thanks for your kind words. Im really happy with how this turned out and how it handles in the water. You will really enjoy your's when its done. Thanks for watching!
How stable is the boat. I have a 12ft aluminum boat and was thinking about putting a flat bottom on top of my 3 bench seats. You think that would work. Or would it be unstable
sorry for my very late reply, its stable enough for two guys to fish standing up. check out some of the other vids on the channel to see the boat in action. Thanks for watching and sorry for my very late reply!
Very impressive! That's a lot of work, enjoy.🎣
thanks so much for your kind words. Its been a lot of fun to fish on it for sure. thanks for watching!
That's awesome!
thanks man and thanks for watching!
very nicely done !!
thanks man! and thanks for watching!
Great video doctor.
thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Wow all I have to say is you did an absolute amazing job seriously
thanks so much, and thanks for watching!
@@DrBass-rk1ez no problem man at all... Now is there anyway you can make a video doing kind of a walkthrough and show us all the accessories and details that would be awesome
@@goyosallsfishingrivera8186 hi again, check out these two videos and see if they are helpful: ua-cam.com/video/roJew9R_ei8/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/PzbRyB0anO0/v-deo.html
Bad ass build. Skillful you are.
thanks so much and thanks for watching!
PREGUNTO VEO QUE LE METES MAS PESO ALA LANCHA CON LOS POLINES O MADERA, TENDRÁS QUE METER UN MOTOR DE MAS HP,ONO?
@@arturoromochavez906 here is a link to a video of the boat running full speed with a 25hp outboard: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.htmlsi=sBx__x2H3NGV-0G_
Great idea with the cardboard....I do that too. Very nice work....you make it look so easy😎
Patrick, thanks so much! I try to remind people that this looks easy on here because you don't see the time dedicated to conceptualization, making mistakes, and all the running to the store when I realize I forgot something. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, but it was not as easy as this makes it look! Thanks for watching!
This is a great setup I just think you added a ton of extra weight... that's the only flaw I see
yes, I could have used aluminum but Im really happy with how it turned out and how it handles. You can see it running on plane here: ua-cam.com/video/5YdJ9oOzhR8/v-deo.html
Very nice 👍🏼
thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Very nice build there bud. Definitely overkill on the framing. A you can save yourself about 60lbs by ditching the wood framing altogether and replacing it with riveted aluminum. I did a build on a 12’ aluminum boat, not as fancy as yours but my son and I could easily pick the boat up by hand, it was pretty lightweight. Should be on my channel somewhere if you wanna get some ideas for the next build.
thanks man, yes, I know ive done a bit too much, but Im happy with the way it turned out. I used cedar which is quite light, so it helps a bit. Thanks for watching!
Hello Doc. great job , you have built an awesome rig buddy, I'm working on a little project boat myself and I was wondering where you got those black lid latch's from , i could use the info or webpage you found them on !!!
Hey man these are the links to the latches I used. If I had to do again I would not use the ones that have the latch on them. Id just use the cheap ones that are called 'pulls'. If you are using carpeting the hatches are tight enough to stay closed with just the pulls and dont need the ones with latches if that makes sense. Here are the links to both:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CH3N76R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
www.amazon.com/Marine-Sliding-Cabinet-Drawer-Handle/dp/B08K8DLKPL/ref=sr_1_29?keywords=marine+hatch+handle+black&qid=1637959227&s=hi&sr=1-29
Bro was playing jenga to build the deck support lol
Good job
thanks so much!
How would you drain out the water out the bottom? I’m planning on building a bass boat and I was wondering this
hi David, in the other videos you can see I installed a bilge pump, if that is what you mean? so if it takes on water is has a pump. it also has a plug in the boat so when its out of the water you can pull the plug to get out any remaining water. All boats like this will have a plug. I hope that answers your question.
@@DrBass-rk1ez yes it does, thank you very much
Cool build but damn that has to be a lot of extra weight you’re adding in there.
it is more weight for sure but i was impressed with how well it turned out. You can see me on it with others in the other videos and it running on plane. Thanks for watching!
Damn that is exactly what I was thinking for mine! it looks great good work thanks for sharing
thanks man, I hope it goes well, im really happy with the way this turned out. Thanks for watching!