Upgraded the skinny water rig:

[Pete D.]

Ok, so I would like to get the azz end of this boat up a little higher while running on plane. She does pretty well, but I noticed if I have my passenger stand about where I am at, the boat gets on plane much quicker and rides much more level in the water. Inches are vital!!

Was looking around on CL and found my identical boat with two seats side by side vs. the front and back combo. The other thing about having my buddy in the back is it's hard to communicate. A little grinding and riveting and I could easily be set up like this. (I would likely keep the stick steer vs. console.) What ya guys think?

[KB]

I think side by side will do trick. Plus like you said easier to communicate back and forth.

[Pete D.]

Thanks man that's what I am thinking. Looks way more fun to run that way too. Although I would probably get a hot foot (gas pedal) and put the stick steer on the right side, and just use the control box for key on/off and shifting. That would be a sick setup!

[bushwacker]

I like the side by side as well. Looks like it opens it up more for fishing as well.

[Pete D.]

Im tearing stuff up!!! I have decided to grind the seat boxes out of the boat and free up my space. Going to install a center console.

[seaduck]

looking good pete. i like the console better as well.

[Pete D.]

Still at it!!! Need to figure out what I am going to coat the fresh aluminum floor with. Possibly some nautolex marine vinyl......... Definitely NO carpet!!!

[mwardncsu]

Leave it like that, have Yam stand In front of the bait tank and you stay at the controls.... I'm sure he'll stay upright

[Pete D.]

Hey man those bait tanks work perfectly as a seat!

[johnr]

Pete, Check into Aqua Weave as a replacement for that vinyl. I have that vinyl and I question the longterm durability.

Or go with SeaDek!

[BentRod]

Seadek!

[31Airborne]

Def one of the smarter shallow water set-ups I've seen. You did really well on this.

[Pete D.]

Seadek!! Excellent suggestion guys!! This stuff looks great, isn't super expensive, and looks to weight MUCH less than rubber matt. Plus its easy to install. I just don't feel like sanding, priming, painting and adding grit to the top coat.....

Anyone know the best place to get this stuff? I need 48"x 125" (4'x10')

[Pete D.]

May 9, 2017 10:17:50 GMT -5 31Airborne said:

Def one of the smarter shallow water set-ups I've seen. You did really well on this.

Thanks Airborne! Trial and error bud. This boat had a bunch of No-No's straight out of the box. It was fun, but I ran it long enough to learn what I like/dislike about it.

1.) Aluminum rig setting on a roller trailer=dimples in the hull, which in turn = cavitation. I took the rollers out and put bunks in. Once I got the floor up I beat the hull back to flat. Hoping that really helps with cavitation.

2.) Top deck not sealed. Water got down and soaked the foam underneath. Not going to happen this go around.......

3.) No consideration of weight distribution. Too much stern weight = long time to plane out and general stern heavy boat.

4.) Tunnel is cut too deep. Starkey puts in a short ramp tunnel which leads to more drag and less buoyancy in the rear end. I am going to leave the tunnel as is for now and see how she does with the new mods.

[Pete D.]

Ok,

So I eat my words. I will need enough seadek to cost me $350!! Just cant put that into some floor mats!! Yikes!

Maybe there is an off-brand that could be used?

I love that this stuff doesn't weigh hardly anything. I have rubber floor mats that I use on my other boat, but they would weight 50lbs. or more. Thats just weight that I cant afford to add on-deck.