Well here I go...
(Storytime, skip this paragraph if you want)
Years ago my dad purchased a used 1987 bass tracker. I think I was around 14 years old at the time. As we had previously been confined to fishing from shore, forced to watch those with boats come back with what felt like 10x as many fish, my younger siblings and I were ecstatic. It fished the local lakes really well and we even took it out to the bigger waters of the Missouri River a few times. I have a lot of great memories in that boat. But fast forward past a few acts of mother nature, some torn boat cover, then a few years of neglect and the boat is in rough shape. Like, really rough. I could probably find a similar, mostly functional and intact boat for not too much more than what it'll cost me to fix it, but there's a nostalgia factor and thanks to several years of hands on work during my time in the Air Force followed by college, I really like getting my hands dirty and solving technical problems. The wife (finally) gave me the go ahead to take it over from my dad and put it in my hands and fix it up. I'm meeting him a few hours from here to pick it up. I would have taken it with me a few weeks ago but it appears something ate the trailer wiring.
(Storytime over)
So the bow casting platform was semi intact but had a few soft spots. The main deck in the middle of the boat was just about reduced to soggy sawdust. A couple of years ago I took both of them out, discovering that the boat had its own ecosystem and what may have been several new species of life. Managed to keep everything except the disintegrated main deck mostly intact for templates. Here's the pictures I could find.
I have a long, (expensive), road ahead of me but here's what I'd like to accomplish. I've perused and lurked in these grind for a while and there's always a lot of helpful info all your feedback would be much appreciated,. Remember I mentioned Air Force, not Navy, so boats are new to me.
Check out the old 40?50? hp Mercury motor. Spark plugs, compression check, impeller, oil. I know there are tools for the compression and spark plug checks but I'm not sure what they are called. I'll also clean up the old fuel tank. It was taken into the shop a few years ago for tune up so hopefully it's not too bad now.
Remove the rear aluminum casting deck to check the foam. When I ripped out the other decking I want really aware that flotation foam existed but I've since been educated and I'm sure the foam under that deck is absolutely ruined.
Clean up the aluminum hull and check the general condition of the hull. Removing the old decals would be part of this process as well. Any good products out there for surgery of those two tasks? I've seen a product called Luma Brite mentioned for the aluminum.
This is more want than need, but I'd like to paint the aluminum. Previously I'd thought about just using Rustoleum spay cans and the corresponding spray can primer but I've also seen mention of Parker's duck boat paint. Here's the colors I'm considering. Green aluminum, tan decking.
It'd also be nice to throw some white tracker decals on top of the new paint but that that's even further into want not need. It can shall be accomplished at a later date so it might have to wait.
Replace trailer bunks and electrical while the boat is off for paint. Also need to look at bearings and tires.
After that it needs all new electrical, somebody stole the priceless original cassette player and tried to take the speakers too, big money in 30 yr old stereo equipment I guess. That combined with something living under the cover made a mess of the wiring. So it all needs to be redone. Fore and aft lights, interior lights, fish finder, bilge, livewell aerator, motor, trolling motor (also needs new trolling motor)
Then replace the old flotation foam with cut to fit polystryene with a protective epoxy coating.
Next replace the decking with marine grade plywood and Tuff Coat paint. Any idea if the wood requires additional sealant treatment when using Tuff Coat?
Along side the decking, it needs a new console and seats/pedestals. I might be able to reuse the old pedestals.
And I think that's it... Oh wait! And then take it out, make new memories, and catch some fish!
More posts/pics to come as I make progress
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
(Storytime, skip this paragraph if you want)
Years ago my dad purchased a used 1987 bass tracker. I think I was around 14 years old at the time. As we had previously been confined to fishing from shore, forced to watch those with boats come back with what felt like 10x as many fish, my younger siblings and I were ecstatic. It fished the local lakes really well and we even took it out to the bigger waters of the Missouri River a few times. I have a lot of great memories in that boat. But fast forward past a few acts of mother nature, some torn boat cover, then a few years of neglect and the boat is in rough shape. Like, really rough. I could probably find a similar, mostly functional and intact boat for not too much more than what it'll cost me to fix it, but there's a nostalgia factor and thanks to several years of hands on work during my time in the Air Force followed by college, I really like getting my hands dirty and solving technical problems. The wife (finally) gave me the go ahead to take it over from my dad and put it in my hands and fix it up. I'm meeting him a few hours from here to pick it up. I would have taken it with me a few weeks ago but it appears something ate the trailer wiring.
(Storytime over)
So the bow casting platform was semi intact but had a few soft spots. The main deck in the middle of the boat was just about reduced to soggy sawdust. A couple of years ago I took both of them out, discovering that the boat had its own ecosystem and what may have been several new species of life. Managed to keep everything except the disintegrated main deck mostly intact for templates. Here's the pictures I could find.
I have a long, (expensive), road ahead of me but here's what I'd like to accomplish. I've perused and lurked in these grind for a while and there's always a lot of helpful info all your feedback would be much appreciated,. Remember I mentioned Air Force, not Navy, so boats are new to me.
Check out the old 40?50? hp Mercury motor. Spark plugs, compression check, impeller, oil. I know there are tools for the compression and spark plug checks but I'm not sure what they are called. I'll also clean up the old fuel tank. It was taken into the shop a few years ago for tune up so hopefully it's not too bad now.
Remove the rear aluminum casting deck to check the foam. When I ripped out the other decking I want really aware that flotation foam existed but I've since been educated and I'm sure the foam under that deck is absolutely ruined.
Clean up the aluminum hull and check the general condition of the hull. Removing the old decals would be part of this process as well. Any good products out there for surgery of those two tasks? I've seen a product called Luma Brite mentioned for the aluminum.
This is more want than need, but I'd like to paint the aluminum. Previously I'd thought about just using Rustoleum spay cans and the corresponding spray can primer but I've also seen mention of Parker's duck boat paint. Here's the colors I'm considering. Green aluminum, tan decking.
It'd also be nice to throw some white tracker decals on top of the new paint but that that's even further into want not need. It can shall be accomplished at a later date so it might have to wait.
Replace trailer bunks and electrical while the boat is off for paint. Also need to look at bearings and tires.
After that it needs all new electrical, somebody stole the priceless original cassette player and tried to take the speakers too, big money in 30 yr old stereo equipment I guess. That combined with something living under the cover made a mess of the wiring. So it all needs to be redone. Fore and aft lights, interior lights, fish finder, bilge, livewell aerator, motor, trolling motor (also needs new trolling motor)
Then replace the old flotation foam with cut to fit polystryene with a protective epoxy coating.
Next replace the decking with marine grade plywood and Tuff Coat paint. Any idea if the wood requires additional sealant treatment when using Tuff Coat?
Along side the decking, it needs a new console and seats/pedestals. I might be able to reuse the old pedestals.
And I think that's it... Oh wait! And then take it out, make new memories, and catch some fish!
More posts/pics to come as I make progress
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
