Making honey out of Horse sh.......

[crabcrusher]

Have been looking at purchasing a boat for breaming, but dont have the dollars to justify so budget is essential. We currently have a savage Jabiru tournie but the boat tends to go seawrd in the holidays leaving myself high and dry landbased, so a second boat is on the cards.

Have toyed with the idea of getting a ski boat and modifying the transom,so as it has front casting decks, console and all the breaming perks. Although after finding what i thought was the ideal boat, has turned out to be a fibreglassers dream ..$$$$$$..

So i have now started looking back to aluminium as the prefered medium. I understand that this is done alot with the standard vpunt hulls like the hornets , edgtrackers, and explorers, but has anyone tried any other less common hulls with sucess?

Im hoping to get an aluminium runabout complete forward steer and screen and do the following (Budget-$5,000)

SCOPE OF WORKS

-Remove Screen
-Manufacture side console and install in relevant location
- Relocation of Forward controls to new side console
-Relocation of steering to console
-Remove Aluminim bow section and anchor well
-Installation of Aluminium bracing to reinforce front bow
-Installtion of Aluminuim bracing to support subfloor
-Powder Coating/Spray of Hull once supprt has been installed
-Installtion of subfloor, including live well ,rod storage and general storage
-The usual components will beadded at completion ie electric motor, sounder stereo


Has anyone else given this idea a go or whats the thoughts on taking on such a project?

Cheers Nick

[BARRAkid]

why dont you just buy a standed V hull and modify it so its a side console and everything else.


cheers BK

[Emo]

Has anyone else given this idea a go or whats the thoughts on taking on such a project?

Cheers Nick[/quote]

Nick it sounds like a huge undertaking, I personaly would just take out a loan/save up.
The time spent on the boat conversion could be put towards working overtime and the extra dosh could buy a factory finished Bream boat.
If that isn't an option then I will watch with interest on the project if you go ahead.

Or do what I did and get your favourite fishing mate to go halvies with you.

[crabcrusher]

BarraKid- I have looked into this but there isnt a huge secondhand market for these types of boats down south. In buying one, new id say the with side conole the budget would stretch beyond the 10K mark.. but it is certainly an option.

Emo-Yes a factory fitted may be a better option, but i also see it as a bit of a challenge. I reakon that once i have found the perfect donor boat the project would take approximately 5 weekends to complete, i suppose at the rates you printing blokes charge youd have a skeeter in no time

[Bear]

If you pick up a 2nd hand tri hull I reckon you'd have a pretty good boat to start with for breamin and a bit of offshore work.

http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats/ed.html?de=36709

[Bear]

There are usually some reasonable centre consoles that you could convert as well.

[crabcrusher]

Thanks Bear, going to have a look at a boat this afternoon to see if it will be econimically and fundamentally possible.
Was hoping to build something in the 4 metre mark that has the ability to get out on the bay without the need to get saturated.

[CK]

Crabcrusher, I believe Shauno undertook a refurb similar to that which u describe, although the hull was 440 Jabiru Centre console. He may have a link to the thread he posted on another site I believe ( may have been here?) He pretty much stripped and started again.

I also believe he is in the market to upgrade and looking to sell the unit. Not sure of price, but a PM to him may shed some light on this.

Buying a hull to build up because u're on a budget in my view is false ecconomy. Better to buy someone elses unit that has depreciated than to spend your own on a boat u will never be able to recoup the dollars spent on it.

Either way, best of luck with it

[Brad Y]

I reckon one of the old pride cheetas with a bit of modification could turn out to be one of the most beautiful restored boats around. They handle a good sized donk too.

[crabcrusher]

Brad thats the exact rig i initially started looking at working on. As i have minimum experience with glass and was a bit reluctant to take on the project.

[will10]

Nick
Good to see ya moving to the dark side Go against the $ 50,000 bream boat and welcome the old girls back to the stage , and save $45,000 to boot , and if ya snag up a lure deep it the sticks you just go in and get it


Chris

[Justin Boyle]

I think the sensible option would be to do what emo said and just wait a bit longer and put the extra hard yards in at work so you can afford a more expensive boat. On the other hand it would be a good way to settle down on the weekends. I know as a fellow breammaster it would be a hell of a lot more interesting to watch you build up ur own boat. The thing is I don't think you will save a lot of money and at the end of the day you will just have an old boat done up nicely that will have no resale. Would love you to prove me wrong!!!!!!

In all honesty I would just find myself a 14foot V hull and build a nice deck/livewells etc. I would keep it tiller steer and I think that way you would have a nice cheap reliable boat that can handle a small amount of open water. I've seen a few on the water that would meet this description with a nice paintjob and they do look the part. The tiller steer will give you more room which would be at a premium on a smaller boat too.

GL with it all.

[Huggy_B]

Originally Posted by crabcrusher

Brad thats the exact rig i initially started looking at working on. As i have minimum experience with glass and was a bit reluctant to take on the project.

I've also looked into it, but I reckon the time factor will be substantially more (ali or f/g) than what you imagine it will be.

Check out the Haines Hunter 445R side console conversion for a rough idea about f/g work.

http://www.seamedia.com.au/sea_library/refurb_diy.php

[will10]

It cracks me up how much money people will spent to impress other people , line tackle and the bits the fish see make a lot of sence , buying an expensive rod i can deal with , better feel to the lure and fish , a reel for the nice drag and shiny bits but a boat, i'm sooooo glad the fish don't see what my ride is , it is far from pritty but at 4.6 mt's and glass that has an old (84 mdl ) 85 hp that will do just on 70 km/h and is rated to 115 HP is more than enough for me, Yes it is fugly but it works , Yes a coat of paint and some carpet it would come up alright and not be quite as fugly , Yes 115 hp would be nice but (and sounds like fun ) but it's done the job for the last 3 seasons of tourny fishing from Adelaide through to Mallacotta and i've had a lot of fun in the old girl, maybe i should have waited another 2 years and got somthing better but i'm more than happy with what it can do , and can still aford to go fishing .
When i can find an old hull that i'm looking for ( V166 Glastron)it wil come off the water for a reco but i can't be boatless .

So to all the other poor people out there with familys or comitments find an old hull and do a bit of reserch ,don't be afraid to have a go , you may suprise yourself , you shall then always look at old boats in a different way and your bank account shall love you , if you can afford the new bigger boats please disregard the above and enjoy life


Chris

[crabcrusher]

I can certainly hear you Chris, the bigger the faster the boat will never reflect on what size bream youll land. Ive travelled in your boat and she flies, as well as offering the stability required for breaming.

I have managed to source a rig, not glass, but ally and will hopefully pick it up in the next couple of weeks.Once home i can commence on the works required to get it ready to ride. I certainly havnt busted the bank on the purchase, but i will see when i start adding some bells and whistles