Hey guys,
I love this site, so many cool boats and creative ideas. I thought it would be fun to share some of the stuff I have done to my boat over the last 3 years I have had it. I wanted to buy a flat bottom as big as a battleship so it would be the last boat I ever owned. I don't have alot of money, I do something when I have saved up for it, or when I can talk the wife into it. I don't do anything until I know I can do it right.
MY STORY
I bought my Lund 2072 off ebay for $2800 from a guy who bought 2 from Lund at an employee auction. He kept the center console model and I got the side console with the duck blind mounts. I don't duck hunt, but see alot of potential in keeping the mounts as accessory mounts (like rod holders). I couldn't find a trailer before I was supposed to pick up my boat so I talked the guy into giving me a killer deal on the trailer he had for it. ($1000) When I picked it up he showed me the MSRP for the trailer and it was more than I paid for the whole shootin' match, so I was feeling pretty good. The boat was in OK condition, the electrical wiring was god awful and it didn't have a motor. I am a huge perfectionist when it comes to my equipment and I love to have projects so this boat was right up my alley.
Of course the wife was instantly pissed off, because the boat is HUGE and we only had a Honda CRV to pull it, which wasn't going to work for very long. [-X On the drive home I was talking trucks which she really loved. :evil: She also really loved the way the boat looked :---) all olive drab without carpet and no motor. Who cares what she thinks! NOT ME!! [-X This thing was the most beautiful boat I have ever seen.
I got an old Mercury 1150 that I ran up until this summer when I got a good deal on a 2000 Merc 115.
END STORY (but not really)
I am always looking for suggestions for new projects all ideas are welcome. :idea: :?: :idea: Anyway, enough with the story... here is a list of everything I did. (With limited metalworking tools) Jig saw, belt sander and hand drill and tapset. I wanted to keep the theme that this is a duck boat, in case I ever do sell...so very little is shiny.
Reinforced bow deck with 3/16 aluminum plate. (it was spongy)
Added reinforcement on back fishing deck for a second seat
Rewired all guages and lighting so they weren't so sloppy
Rearranged dash guages to my liking and made aluminum plate to make it pretty.
Covered up holes on top of steering console with another aluminum plate.
Had all aluminum plates sprayed with truck bed liner.
Made plastic transom mount for speedo peton and transducer to reduce holes in the transom
Had a buddy with a metal shop build an 8' rod locker/storage
Bow mounted a hidden electric anchor winch
Built a anchor davit out of stainless steel with SS rear rope guide pully. (etch primed then painted it satin black)
Put 2 - 8" access hatches in splashwell so I can get to bilge pumps and for winterizing
Made guide ons for boat trailer
Carpeted floor
Livewell aerator timer
Toys
Added 24V 80# thrust Minnkota (55# Motorguide wasn't enough)
Added fish locator and GPS (will add 2nd front locator)
Drink holders mount to duck blind brackets so are moveable.
Future plans? [-o<
Baitwell
Locking system for rod locker (will be Fish finder GPS storage so security is ultra important)
Bluewater LEDs in livewell
Bluewater light strips length of the boat for night vision
Ordered Fasco paint today to do a keel guard
24V onboard charger (Have it, to be installed)
I love this site, so many cool boats and creative ideas. I thought it would be fun to share some of the stuff I have done to my boat over the last 3 years I have had it. I wanted to buy a flat bottom as big as a battleship so it would be the last boat I ever owned. I don't have alot of money, I do something when I have saved up for it, or when I can talk the wife into it. I don't do anything until I know I can do it right.
MY STORY
I bought my Lund 2072 off ebay for $2800 from a guy who bought 2 from Lund at an employee auction. He kept the center console model and I got the side console with the duck blind mounts. I don't duck hunt, but see alot of potential in keeping the mounts as accessory mounts (like rod holders). I couldn't find a trailer before I was supposed to pick up my boat so I talked the guy into giving me a killer deal on the trailer he had for it. ($1000) When I picked it up he showed me the MSRP for the trailer and it was more than I paid for the whole shootin' match, so I was feeling pretty good. The boat was in OK condition, the electrical wiring was god awful and it didn't have a motor. I am a huge perfectionist when it comes to my equipment and I love to have projects so this boat was right up my alley.
Of course the wife was instantly pissed off, because the boat is HUGE and we only had a Honda CRV to pull it, which wasn't going to work for very long. [-X On the drive home I was talking trucks which she really loved. :evil: She also really loved the way the boat looked :---) all olive drab without carpet and no motor. Who cares what she thinks! NOT ME!! [-X This thing was the most beautiful boat I have ever seen.
I got an old Mercury 1150 that I ran up until this summer when I got a good deal on a 2000 Merc 115.
END STORY (but not really)
I am always looking for suggestions for new projects all ideas are welcome. :idea: :?: :idea: Anyway, enough with the story... here is a list of everything I did. (With limited metalworking tools) Jig saw, belt sander and hand drill and tapset. I wanted to keep the theme that this is a duck boat, in case I ever do sell...so very little is shiny.
Reinforced bow deck with 3/16 aluminum plate. (it was spongy)
Added reinforcement on back fishing deck for a second seat
Rewired all guages and lighting so they weren't so sloppy
Rearranged dash guages to my liking and made aluminum plate to make it pretty.
Covered up holes on top of steering console with another aluminum plate.
Had all aluminum plates sprayed with truck bed liner.
Made plastic transom mount for speedo peton and transducer to reduce holes in the transom
Had a buddy with a metal shop build an 8' rod locker/storage
Bow mounted a hidden electric anchor winch
Built a anchor davit out of stainless steel with SS rear rope guide pully. (etch primed then painted it satin black)
Put 2 - 8" access hatches in splashwell so I can get to bilge pumps and for winterizing
Made guide ons for boat trailer
Carpeted floor
Livewell aerator timer
Toys
Added 24V 80# thrust Minnkota (55# Motorguide wasn't enough)
Added fish locator and GPS (will add 2nd front locator)
Drink holders mount to duck blind brackets so are moveable.
Future plans? [-o<
Baitwell
Locking system for rod locker (will be Fish finder GPS storage so security is ultra important)
Bluewater LEDs in livewell
Bluewater light strips length of the boat for night vision
Ordered Fasco paint today to do a keel guard
24V onboard charger (Have it, to be installed)