mud-skipper
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- Apr 13, 2013
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I bought an old 12' Jon boat just to test out some new engines and mud motors, but I've always found them a little unsteady for me. (Must be getting old). So I decided to try and find a cheap way of adding buoyancy but there seemed to be no real commercial products available.
I also looked at transom pods, but boy, are those expensive! Worse, they don't give much stability sideways. At least, I don't think so.
Here's what I did!
Purchased 2 4" x 10' long thin walled drain pipes and 4 end caps - from Home Depot. JM eagle Model 1610
I also grabbed some lengths of 3/16" threaded rods, some nuts and washers.
After some wonderful camo work with Krylon Fusion Plastic Paint, I made U bolts from the rod and installed two on each side of the boat, holding the pipes in place. Note how well the pipes bent to the contour of the hull.
I left the pipes at 10" long so they stuck out behind the transom, lightening the engine load and acting like a transom pod.
My young helper ran the boat without the pipes and after, and reported a huge improvement in stability.
The grab handle made standing up to operate the boat a breeze!.
Cost ? About $25 (Before anyone moans, yes, there's water in the boat - I should have drained it before I took the pics. It rained yesterday!)
I also looked at transom pods, but boy, are those expensive! Worse, they don't give much stability sideways. At least, I don't think so.
Here's what I did!
Purchased 2 4" x 10' long thin walled drain pipes and 4 end caps - from Home Depot. JM eagle Model 1610
I also grabbed some lengths of 3/16" threaded rods, some nuts and washers.
After some wonderful camo work with Krylon Fusion Plastic Paint, I made U bolts from the rod and installed two on each side of the boat, holding the pipes in place. Note how well the pipes bent to the contour of the hull.
I left the pipes at 10" long so they stuck out behind the transom, lightening the engine load and acting like a transom pod.
My young helper ran the boat without the pipes and after, and reported a huge improvement in stability.
The grab handle made standing up to operate the boat a breeze!.
Cost ? About $25 (Before anyone moans, yes, there's water in the boat - I should have drained it before I took the pics. It rained yesterday!)