Recent content by Kris

I had posted before about buying a Ouachita 16 foot, flat bottom boat. I am presently redoing the trailer and had a question. It looks like this trailer was originally yellow. This makes sense to me because the boat was originally yellow. Did Ouachita match their trailers to their boats...

I have been posting about trying to restore/modify this 1973 Ouachita 1648. This weekend I got help to get it off the trailer so I can do the bottom of the boat and clean/repair/repaint the trailer. Previous owner had put 2X10 and plywood to support the center bottom of the boat and 2X4s...

I always run my electrical wires thru a tube built into the hull by manufacturer or through conduit. I usually use PVC pipe and then paint to match the boat but now going to use electrical conduit. The plus is that it is made to be in the sunlight. PVC gets brittle without paint or some other...

Nice work there. I am also doing a Ouachita, a 1648 that is in need of some aluminum welding on the stern. I have been thinking of having the stern sheet replaced because previous owner used treated plywood on it. I also need to weld in some decks. I wish I had a mig welder of my own but...

I think bolting it is a good idea. I plan on installing my Yamaha 20 4 stroke clamped, bolted and clamp lock if possible. Anything to make it harder to steal will send them on to something easier. Yes, I also have a lock on the trailer that goes over the ball socket and not the clamp.

IF you are going to paint it, sand it. The number one reason I have seen for paint jobs peeling is failure to prepare the metal. My last boat got sanded to bare aluminum and then on coat of oil base primer. A light sanding and it is now Ford Farm Implement Grey. The gunwales which I did not...

Nice work there John. I noticed the unit crest for my Vietnam unit in there, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Allons. BTW, I have redone a couple of boats and always use the same type paint, oil based enamel. I also use an additive from Petit Paints called Petitrol. Additional oils that...

Bedliner painted boat bottoms.....WOW! What an idea. Never heard of that before but I think my Ouachita will have it done in black. Is there any pre-treatment of the aluminum that should be done before hand? I know I have to sand off whatever these people used before I do it. Any special...

It turns out that this Starboard is 3/8" thick. Certainly not heavy duty enough for my frame anyway. I believe I will stick with the aluminum sheeting for the floor. I am still going to use this Starboard for things like under the front deck with carpet covered marine plywood on top to...

I am presently working on restoring a Ouachita flat bottom jon for my use. Sitting next to it is my Grumman that has plastic wood supports under the painted plywood floors. The Grumman when not being used is covered with a Harbor Master cover (Walmart for $50.00) and two supports, also from...

Wow! Thanks for that input Mac.

Years ago I was given a Starcraft runabout that I converted into a bass boat. Removed that big aluminum nose like you did. I put a completely flat floor in the boat, two bell pedestals, cooler livewell between them and hung a 40 horse tiller Mariner on the back. Also added a small deck at the...

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In my plan to keep everything that goes into the boat as plastic wood or aluminum I found a deal. It is called King Starboard and it is plastic sheet goods. It comes in a couple of thicknesses and I am not sure how thick this stuff is. I have a possible swap going on that will get me quite a...

I got that rotten wood out today. Used an automotive seal puller, prybar and a big flat tip screwdriver. Easier than I thought. Going to replace it with plastic wood I think.