My 1969 14' Richline Model 15

So, this is my first boat, and I got excited when finding this site researching it. Now I'm already thinking about what I can do to it. I paid $1500 for the whole setup, which I feel pretty good about:

• Trailer (needs TLC, but tows great)
• 25HP Evinrude electric start (1996, looks brand new inside, sounds like a dream)
• Basic trolling motor (can't remember the name, it's well used, but works)
• 1969 14' Richline Model 15

I've already started lurking a couple of the other Richline projects on here, and I have quite a few questions I was hoping you could help me with in planning my mods.

1. Regarding decking, even just to the seat tops, is this not a problem with the added weight, and the center of gravity? I just don't want to make it topheavy or anything like that.
2. Would you deck the entire thing, or maybe just part of it?
3. Can anyone recommend a good guide on electrical for boats? I'm looking at what the electrical demands would be for, say, the TM, a fishfinder, the lights (which will rarely be used), and the motor. I'd like to understand better just what the battery can support and for how long.
4. How does decking affect drainage in cases of water in the boat?

All in all, what I'm thinking about doing is:

• Partially deck/carpet the boat
• Raise seats
• Build a battery compartment
• Add a live well
• Hardwire a fishfinder and the TM

I look forward to sharing my progress with everyone!

Welcome aboard and congrats on the new rig.

1 battery for the motor, 1 deep cycle for the TM (assuming it's 12V), lights, and finder should do it.

You could deck from the bow to the first bench at bench height without issue. Decking won't affect draining. Move the middle seat to the back and keep it low. That would give you plenty of real estate to add livewell.

Good luck with the project.

Thanks, I'll look into getting the second battery. I think I may plug the boat into Sketchup and do a 3D model of how I want it to come out first. I think I'm going to leave the body stock alumnium rather than paint it though - just clean it up real nice. If anything, maybe just do something like a red accent stripe just above the waterline.

I also have a 1969 Model 15! You can see my completed mod in my signature link. I was wondering if you could tell me what the ID plate has listed for the maximum weight capacity? The picture you posted is a bit blurry. Please post some updates! Looking forward on following your progress. Good Luck!

I have the same boat!

So, this update has been way long in coming. My dad and I have set in starting the work to take care of all the things we'd talked about back in 2012. My dad is a high school shop teacher, so we ended up paying their metal shop to do all our frame welding and some of the other woodwork for the boat as a class project. The result is dirt cheap labor, that maybe isn't as pretty as it otherwise could be. But hey, helping kids learn is its own reward, right?

Basically, we've had them deck out from the second seat forward. Between the back and second seat we left open, and that's where the "command console" is going. The welded up an aluminum livewell there in the middle, and a removable battery box fore of it. They welded a plate to the bow where we mounted the new trolling motor, and under that will be the front speaker box. Sorry I don't have a few more "in progress" shots.





Total cost on the materials and labor for all the aluminum frame welding was < $200 going this route.

We already have the plywood decking and carpet cut to fit, along with all the seat mounts and cup holders. I also have the pump kit for the livewell. We need to cut in the doors for the various hatches, and finish some electrical wiring, and she'll be ready to go back in the water!

I have a similar setup and I just run one cheap Ever Start group 27 deep cycle for the cranking battery, and my trolling motor which is a Powerdrive like you have. I run my lights and a fishfinder off it as well as a bilge pump and livewell pump. I can typically bass fish two good long sessions with my trolling motor, probably like 8 hours total and still have enough to crank the motor. Does your outboard have a pull start backup? Mine does so I don't stress about a second battery.

Boat arrived back home today:



Still to do:

• Mount trolling motor blade
• Run line for trolling motor foot control
• Wire up second battery
• Install livewell pump
• Install stereo head unit
• Run main line for electrical bus from battery
• Finish wiring running lights
• Mount pole holders
• Catch all the fish

Curious if anyone has some recommendations and suggestions for other things I'm thinking about now that I've taken the boat out a couple times.

First, I'd like to add a decent voltmeter to our electronics console to keep track of the battery state. There are of course the more normal car type, and I've seen the kind you stick in a cigarette lighter port (my main switch panel has one). Does anyone have a recommendation of one they particularly like? I'm considering something like https://smile.amazon.com/Digital-Voltage-Panel-Voltmeter-7-5V-20V/dp/B005UWD2J4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401588196&sr=8-1&keywords=LCD+Digital+Panel+Battery+Meter+12V

Second, is there any value to tossing a solar panel along an edge to keep a trickle charge going to the battery? I'm not sure if what's out there is able to provide a remotely worthwhile current to the battery to make it measurably helpful in extending the life for a trolling motor.

Third, has anyone added an AC/DC inverter to their boat so that you could plug it in when stored (for instance, to run a pump to drain the livewell in the garage while the main battery is on the charger)? The specific use case in my scenario is that my battery charger is fried right now, so my dad has been taking the battery home with him after we go out to put a charge in it.

So, it only took me six years to post an update on this...

First and foremost, we've been using and enjoying the boat since this project started. Last season I had to ditch the foot pedal on the new trolling motor, and rather than replace it, I adapted it to a remote control. (Turns out the MK foot pedals are notoriously prone to failure frequently, and I didn't want to be dumping $100+ dollars every other season replacing it)

I ended up getting a voltmeter readout installed, works great. It's only running on the rear battery though (the trolling motor up front runs on the second battery, and it has a battery readout on it already).

I also pulled the old console (I had some high schoolers build it as a project - note the patched hole where they thought a speaker should go):


And rebuilt it so it looked at least a little better (and with the speakers placed sensibly, I encased them in a box inside with soundproofing):


Next up is a new trailer and we've been hunting a leaky rivet unsuccessfully. I think we may just spray the bottom of the hull with Line-X or Gluvit or Sea Flex or something like that.

Well done