Hello all
I am a new poster to this site but have been reading threads for a couple months. I recently purchased a 14' shallow V Arkansas Traveler with trailer on Craig's list for $400 that I hope to finish modifying this summer. I have read just about every conversion thread on this site and have learned so much from locating and fixing leaks to electrical wiring to light weigh constructions methods. I have reached the point where I want to install a level floor. The boat has three bench seats. I plan leaving the support structures for the front and rear benches and cutting out a rectangular section of the middle bench support about 3 feet across but leaving a good portion of the bench support attached so that I don't hurt its structural integrity. This will provide me with an unimpeded walkway in the boat of about 3 feet wide and 8.5 feet long. I'm an overweight old guy and prefer to sit inside a boat rather than stand up on casting platforms.
As I have look through all the prior projects I haven't seen how people determine what is level. I started thinking that I could run a level board across the gunnels and measure down to where I want the floor to be but my little boat is a bit deeper in the bow than in the stern. I am now wondering if I should place a level across the middle seat and then adjust the boat on the trailer until the middle seat is level then cut out the rectangle using a square and then extending supports forward and aft level with the center seat.
Does this make sense or is there a better way to go about this or am i overthinking it? I appreciate any insights.
I am a new poster to this site but have been reading threads for a couple months. I recently purchased a 14' shallow V Arkansas Traveler with trailer on Craig's list for $400 that I hope to finish modifying this summer. I have read just about every conversion thread on this site and have learned so much from locating and fixing leaks to electrical wiring to light weigh constructions methods. I have reached the point where I want to install a level floor. The boat has three bench seats. I plan leaving the support structures for the front and rear benches and cutting out a rectangular section of the middle bench support about 3 feet across but leaving a good portion of the bench support attached so that I don't hurt its structural integrity. This will provide me with an unimpeded walkway in the boat of about 3 feet wide and 8.5 feet long. I'm an overweight old guy and prefer to sit inside a boat rather than stand up on casting platforms.
As I have look through all the prior projects I haven't seen how people determine what is level. I started thinking that I could run a level board across the gunnels and measure down to where I want the floor to be but my little boat is a bit deeper in the bow than in the stern. I am now wondering if I should place a level across the middle seat and then adjust the boat on the trailer until the middle seat is level then cut out the rectangle using a square and then extending supports forward and aft level with the center seat.
Does this make sense or is there a better way to go about this or am i overthinking it? I appreciate any insights.