1980 Lowe 16'x48" upgrade

Hello all, I just joined the forum, I guess I am a tinboater. I inherited this boat from my father who passed away in Feb. We used to fish out of this boat all the time when I was younger('90s) and I am going to upgrade it. It has been sitting since '99 so it needs quite a bit of work. Tomorrow I will find the pics I took of it before I did anything to it.

First I tore the rotted transom out and built a new one out of pressure treated plywood:

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/PICT0001-1.jpg

I use one piece of 3/4" and one piece of 1/2". I intended to use two pieces of 3/4" but they wouldnt fit, this fit perfectly. I put the braces back and use bolts instead of rivets. I also put a piece of 1/4" diamond plate aluminum on the back side of the transom to help spread the force out.

Then I put the floor in:

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/PICT0003.jpg

I used 1/2" plywood for the floor, and as you can tell I took the front seat out.(I also took the console out for the moment). This weekend a friend is going to help me build the front deck so stay tuned for more pics.

**edit**

I found the pics of the boat before any work had begun:

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/boat2-1.jpg
https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/boat3-1.jpg

I have resized the pics but it keep saying they are too wide(800 max), sorry

:WELCOME: Nice project.Work looks good.

Welcome gotmuddy, look forward to pics of your mods.

Hi and welcome to the site.
Boat looks good.Pretty sure someone is going to chime in and ask about the pressure treated wood though.
Was it pressure treated or marine grade?
You might want to read some articles on the pressure treated wood,you might have troubles down the road.Most people here are using regular plywood,weather proofed themselves.

Welcome Abaord! 8)

:WELCOME:

Thanks for joining! :beer:

Looks like an awesome project. Sorry to hear about your dad. This boat project will be a way to keep his memory alive.

Jim

Zum said:

Hi and welcome to the site.
Boat looks good.Pretty sure someone is going to chime in and ask about the pressure treated wood though.
Was it pressure treated or marine grade?
You might want to read some articles on the pressure treated wood,you might have troubles down the road.Most people here are using regular plywood,weather proofed themselves.

Click to expand...

guess I should have checked that out sooner! oh well, I can redo it later if need be.

Got a couple little updates/questions. I am installing a livewell, its actually a igloo marine cooler(72qt I believe). Originaly I wanted it like this:

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/boat2.jpg

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/boat1.jpg

however after looking at it today I am leaning more towards this:

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/boat4.jpg

The reasoning is to make the front deck easier to access, and easier access to the livewell. The only downside is my front deck wont be quite symmetrical, which doesnt bother me much. That and I have to pull up part of the floor to move my drain line for the livewell.

I am going to use a simple ball valve to regulate how high the water level is in the livewell:

https://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/gotmuddy/boat3.jpg

I intend to use thru-hull fittings for both the drain and the suction port. With the livewell being 3-5" higher than the fitting, I shouldnt have any trouble with drainage should I?

Jim said:

Looks like an awesome project. Sorry to hear about your dad. This boat project will be a way to keep his memory alive.

Jim

Click to expand...

thanks, thats the plan. I cant wait for sunday. I am a horrible carpenter but a friend at work used to be a framer so it should look at least halfway decent.

The ball valve should work well. Not sure how heavy the livewell will be, and mounted to one side (off center-line) it may cause the boat to sit lower in the water (not much maybe) than if it was mounted centerline, with the livewell running length-wise on the boat. Just a thought.

I think some of the newer boats put them there,in front of their console.Quackstackr's is like that,can't remember how wide his boat is but I think it's atleast 52".

Welcome gotmuddy. I notice our names are a little similar...were you on the HighLifter forum as well????

I didnt even think of that. Maybe if I counteracted that weight by putting the trolling battery on the other side?

Oh yeah, about the livewell. I would put it sideways. My boat has a factory livewell right in the middle of the boat. I really dislike it. I am constantly walking around it to get on my deck, but like it said its permanent.

it doesnt make the boat list to one side or anything does it?

I may put it on the left side, since I will be driving on the right and just as often as not be fishing by myself.

gotmuddy said:

I may put it on the left side, since I will be driving on the right and just as often as not be fishing by myself.

Click to expand...

I was going to suggest that, but you beat me to it.

Welcome to the site. Looks like a ffun project. The 1648 was a good choice. Plenty long and stable. Looking forward to the after pictures.

got some updates finaly. We have been working before work this week and we have the framing done for the deck and one deck lid. We are flying by the seat of our pants and have changed the design a bunch of times. Originaly there was going to be just a rod box on the left hand side, but now there is a 8ft rod box on the left, tackle storage on the right, battery storage in the front(for trolling battery) and at the back of the deck there is storage for the anchor and odds and ends. By the end of next week I think we will have the front deck done. Anyways, on to the pics.



In this pic the frame isnt quite done. We added some more studs in the front right corner of the boat and some bracing but you get the general idea.



Here is the rod storage lid, before we cut the right side to fit. It took alot of tracing and templates to get it as close as we did I am very happy with it.

I forgot to ad that I put the pedestal base on the floor. The pedestal is going to go through the floor. Before the picture was shot my friend and I (~450 pounds) stood on the lid and it didnt bow or anything.

More updates!

Today we cut the tackle storage lid(on the right), closed in the back of the deck, and put the center of the deck in. We also got the pedistal hole drilled and put it in. I was afraid it would be too high but I think its going to be perfect the way it is now.


Tomorrow we are building the lid for the battery box(foreground), and the door for the rear storage area

Looks good, keep it up.