Recent content by BassBlaster

The Tracker Panfish has a perfect layout for the fishing I do and everytime I start dreaming about new boats, that's the one I look at. That said, a new boat isn't happening for awhile and like I said, they almost never come up in the used market for some reason. Im thinking its just not a very...

Rebucking the rivets is the proper fix. If you don't have an air compressor and bucking tools, you can do it with a couple of hammers and the help of a buddy. If you don't fix the rivets, it dosnt matter what you put on them, they will eventually leak again. Once those are fixed, I like a nice...

Ive looked and looked for a used Panfish in my price range. Finally found one last winter and it was gone within an hour of the listing. They don't pop up very often. There is one currently for sale somewhat close to me but if I could afford his price, Id just buy a new one. Im not all that...

Yes the panfish is a stick steer boat. That was my original plan and I like the idea of stick steer. Just don't know how economical it would be to add versus adding a console. Flex is what Im concerned about. Im not concerned about the holes. I have to have some welding done anyhow.

So, Im still just in the planning stages with this 1648 that I picked up and Im looking for some ideas. My plan is to make this as much like a Tracker Panfish as possible. Im a crappie fisherman and that boat just suits me perfectly. I think I can turn this boat into that for less than half the...

I agree that it isn't an issue since its sitting on a rib and not on the hull. I wouldnt be concerned at all, in fact if that was my project, I too would cut it just as you have so that the rivet isn't taking all the weight. The only thing I would change is the size of the rivets. Its hard to...

Its not designed as a stop leak. Its purpose is to make the bottom of the boat very slick so that there is less drag in the water. That said, you get the added bonus of it sealing the bottom of the boat. My guess is that whatever you used to seal those rivets allowed the steelflex to flex and...

Just rebuck the existing rivets, coat the bottom of the boat with steelflex and it will never leak again.

Never thought about satin black on the trailer. That might look good. My last project was a camo jon with a white trailer. This boat will go back to the stock OD green with either a tan or grey carpet. Been trying to figure out what color the trailer will be. I have a buddy who is a body man...

Today I picked up a trailer on CL. I traded the 14' Meyer boat for it. Trailer is a 1989. Its very solid with only some minor surface rust in a couple of spots. I need to fix one of the fenders that is bent up and the winch tower is slightly askew. Its a tick too big for this boat but since I...

Better yet, don't use wood at all. Use aluminum. It requires no finish, will never need to be replaced and the best part of all, its cheaper. In fact, if you do a little homework you can find it for the same price I paid, FREE. And I have enough left for my next boat!

If you look at the pic of the live well, you can see a hole in the gunnel. At that point it is cracked all the way around. I suppose it could be welded but it also needs to be straightened as its bent pretty good in that area. Also the other side is bent pretty bad in the same place but not...

All the damage is from the mid point of the boat and up. The lower side of the boat is perfect so I would think it would track pretty straight but I dunno. Anyone know for sure if Lowe sells new gunnels? I plan to give them a call on Tues. Im sure they are not cheap and shipping might be pricey...

Hey all. I havnt been around this site for a couple years, Used to be pretty active here. Today I got a call from a buddy that's moving to SC. Said he had a couple of tin boats, a trolling motor and a battery to get rid of. If I wanted, I could have them for the grand total of FREE and he would...

I was also throwing around the idea of using dimensional hardwood since Im a woodworker and have plenty of it around. The deal is, your not going to stop it from warping, twisting, cracking, etc without a lot of care. First, you need to be sure it is at EMC, not dry. Then after it is finished...