Polar Kraft 1448 build

[Fishfried]

The Total Boat Aluminum sprayed great! The first coat does not cover well. You have to do at least two, I did three coats. Thinned 20% with water. Dries fast. Seems durable, time will tell though. It goes over painted surfaces really well, I just sanded and washed the outside of the boat.
I liked painting much more than the electrical I’m doing now. Everything is wired up and wires have all been ran to the the battery area, getting closer...

 

[Fishfried]

Purchased a new YachtClub trailer, I checked all the bolts when I got home and lots of them were loose, surprised it didn’t rattle to pieces on the highway towing it home. Got the stickers on, so it’s legal. Put the CMC tilt/trim unit on last night.

Besides screwing down some rod holder bases- I want to get on the water to see exactly where I want them before I install them. I have to get the boat on the trailer to finish the trolling motor and of course I need to clamp the outboard on.

I need to get on the water soon!

 

[Fishfried]

The livewell that I repurposed for the batteries. I tried to keep it as tidy a possible. The switch panel is on the other side of the wall so wires didn’t have to run far. I’m pretty happy with it. The large hatch on the deck has a 2 bank charger in it. The only wires not in there are the trolling motor wires, I can’t run those until the motor is on.

 

[Fishfried]

This is a pic of the three hatches open at the back of the boat, spans the rear bench seat to the transom. Aerator pump, bilge and the gas tank will be back there. The lids are rigid so I can stand on them. Decent about of storage too.

 

[Fishfried]

Couple views of the LED lights. There is a waterproof one in the livewell too. Should be handy for cat fishing at night.

 

[Fishfried]

This is the compartment that goes between the old center bench seat and the rear bench seat. Access to all the livewell plumbing is on one end. The aerator line and electrical to the transom, and the tilt/trim line runs under the angle frame.

 

[Fishfried]

Just a couple pics. I’ll get a pic tomorrow when it’s on the trailer. Maybe I can do a walk around video?

 

[Fishfried]

Motor is on. I can’t get it to fire. The priming bulb isn’t super firm. Dunno, might be the problem. It hasn’t ran in 4 months. But was completely overhauled and running in December. It’s an Evinrude, 9.9hp with 15hp carbs, 1994, 2-stroke.

 

[Fishfried]

Maiden voyage today. Ran great. Stupid me had the fuel line on backwards the other day...GPS top speed 20mph and 17.5 upstream. The Garmin trolling motor is insanely powerful, quiet too, doesn’t make a sound. I messed with the Garmin fish finder for a minute, scrolled through the side scan and stuff.

Only thing that isn’t working is the aerator pump on the transom. It turns on and spins the impeller but doesn’t push water to the livewell. There are no kinks, brand new line and pump. I have another pump just like it that works fine, it’s on the livewell for recirculating. I blew air through the line and there are no instructions. Anyone have an idea? I’ll post on the electrical board too.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

As far as the aerator pump, it may have to be “primed”. Try turning the pump on and then reversing the boat. That will break the airlock and get water running through the pump inlet. Not sure why it happens, but I’ve seen it before.

Boat looks great man! I’m going to order the Totalboat paint this week, so thanks again for the review! I decided to go with black 8)