My boat...cause she's done!

[Roosterrusek]

At least done for right now....I am going on a trip to Mexico Beach Fla (assuming no oil there) and will be taking her and 13 of our friends for a great trip.

I plan on using this for fishing, diving for scallops and pulling people on a tow tube. I just finished the front and rear deck by adding hatches and sealing the decks....fun stuff...I actually love working on my boat.

I plan on naming her Rooster's Tales.

[s_morrison57]

I'm not a boat guy but that seems a little small for 13 people

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

I'm not a boat guy but that seems a little small for 13 people

yeah, the minnow had less than that even and it was waaay bigger. the howells, ginger, mary-anne, the professor, the cappy, & gilligan....

[Bill Douglas]

Nice boat. Plenty of space for standing and sitting. I don't like boats so built in there is no room. Good bit of relief from the sun there too with that shade.

Good luck with weather, oil and fish. We expect catch photos

[pwd72s]

How'd it compare to a Boston Whaler? Looks nice, looks stable. Enjoy.

[DanielDudley]

There should be a plaque on the boat with the rated capacity.

If this is your first boat, I suggest a boating safety course. Very much worth the time.

[Roosterrusek]

LOL...OK, I will be a little more specific.

1 - The boat is rated for 10, I will only be taking out a max of 4 on the trip whereas 13 people are coming to the beach trip.

2 - This is very much akin to a Boston Whaler, just not as expensive. It's an 18.5 foot Carolina Skiff. Flat bottom so I save gas but get wet more often and I can go very shallow.

3 - I did take a boaters safety course when younger, and have made sure to edumacate myself on current regulations. I have all of the necessary safety equip...the horn, the whistle, the flares and of course ropes and life vests....the water is one place that I don't fark around with.

Yeah...I have finally gotten her to be able to just hook her up and go. I have a tow tube and rope, I have a 72 lb thrust trolling motor that attaches to the front up on the left of the bow. I have more plans for her to attach a cooler in front with seats on the side for chicks, and a rear seat as well. It's gonna be so cool.

[JeremyD]

That deck looks slick - be careful - get some boat shoes - bare feet don't work as well. Get a flush kit for the engine.

Carolina Skiffs are great for the bays in inland - they tend to pound in a chop. Good luck with your trip - take a spare trailer tire - and I would get a strap that goes over the transom and a set of trailer tire fenders (you should see what rocks do to gel coat at 60 mph) too.

[tangerine911S]

Where do you attach the tube rope to on a boat like that? I usually see them tied to an overhead bar.

[Roosterrusek]

On the Carolina Skiffs, you hook the tow rope up to the rear O-rings that are on eitehr side of the motor...the ones that you also use to tie down for trailering.

[red-beard]

Where does the beer keg go?

[Roosterrusek]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Where does the beer keg go?

LOL...mini-keg will go in da cooler. Don't think that hasn't crossed my mind.

I have all sorts of ideas and cannot wait to get them all implemented. When I get my front deck completed with cooler space, additional storage and removable seats, then the back can be for the livewells and baitwells.

Truly, I need about a week and $800 spare dollars and my boat will be the envy.

[JeremyD]

did you make that out of starboard (the casting deck?)

[M.D. Holloway]

Fun stuff! Boats are great, but best when they are somebody elses...

[Roosterrusek]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

did you make that out of starboard (the casting deck?)

Well, I talked to a boat dude and he said that I could use regular 3/4 inch plywood, but that I had the seal the heck out of it....so that is what I did. I cut it to size, waterproofed it, primed it, and used the same paint you would use on your outside deck.

See, the marine grade plywood is something like $100 per sheet, and the marine paint and primer would have cost me about 3X what I paid for the paint I did get.

The boat is not on the water all of the time, and I take care of it, keep it covered and all that. The boat dude I talked to said "it'll probably last 10 years".

Again, my plan is to make a center mount for a cooler, and on either side of that cooler build out more decking that can be lifted up or where seats can go for the chicks that ride on the boat. See the pic below.

Also, by doing that, I can put livewells/baitwells in the rear areas.

I can be pretty handy...I built out my basement to be a recording studio/mancave. Again, all I need is a little extra cash and some time.

[JeremyD]

Alrighty then - it looks like you did a great job - but it look like you left out a critical step - the non-skid surface. Deck paint is fine - I've seen people get great results from outdoor house paint.

You can add non skid material to paint - to make a textured surface. I can't reinforce this enough - especially on areas as critical as front decks. Salt water is as slick as snot on a glass door knob. (You can get non-skid additives - for fairly reasonable money)

Just so you know - and I'm not some wacko - I have three boats - I've rebuilt three completely (not the same ones I have now) - from the hull up = including a San Juan 24 that started like this



ended up like this...

[Roosterrusek]

Some non skid stuff will likely be added before the trip....good advice...will be taking it.

And BTW, no matter what you claim, there's wacko in you just like all of these damn Pelicans!