Woman with a power tool!

After drooling for months over a t-bar rod holder thing, I finally got one. When I went to mount it on my boat, I found that the plywood on the benches was R O T T E N. I knew it was time. So, I share with you my attempt at fixin' it up a bit.

This is my little fishing boat when I started. I had ripped the seats out months before when my aging father pulled the front one plum out of the wood. I thought it was him being a big fella. It wasn't. It was rotten wood.




So, I started off ripping the green plastic grass carpet out. The screws and bolts that held the plywood in place were mostly rusted and had to be hacksawed off.





After I got all the old stuff out of the boat, I blowed her out and tried to get all the old fishslime and dirt out of her.

Off to Home Depot, aka "nail world" for some shopping. I came home armed with plywood, paint, assorted screws, bolts, nuts and washers.

After cutting one sheet of the plywood to place in the bottom of the boat for a floor, I found that it was too thin and wouldn't do for what I wanted. I took it back the next day and got some 9/16 plywood. I didn't want to go 3/4" if I could help it because of weight concerns.

I found that the 9/16ths did just fine.

Here I'm trying to fit the plywood. Did you know that you can't make a 90 degree turn with a jigsaw? Well, I learned! So, I made two cuts and then drilled a hole big enough for my jigsaw bit. Hey, it might not be how Hatteras made thier yachts, but it worked.





I'm on a very thin budget and couldn't afford the marine plywood, but needed a sealer. The Thompsons would have to be reapplied every 6 months, or so the man at Nail World said. I couldn't afford the fiberglass stuff and certainly didn't know how to use it. So, I bought a good exterior housepaint off the mistint/markdown table for $10.00. It was originally 28.00 a gallon. Who said a woman can't find a bargain? I employed, at very low wages, some manual labor.





I will update/add to shortly!

A very nice story and very nice photographs also. As the work progress's please keep us informed. You are very resourcefull Anchorpuller.

Lookin mighty fine to me and looks like the younguns are having a good time also.

Looking Good AP You Got Your Self Some Good Help Going There So It Shouldn't Take You Long Keep Us Informed.

I tell you what it looks like you made some good tight fits!! good job

I've managed to learn to use a circular saw, jigsaw, and now an electric stapler thingie. At least sort of. I had to hammer em in a little bit sometimes.

Someone gave me a tip about mounting my boat seats. I'll be using my old swivel mounts. Today I went on a quest to find Tee Nuts. I found 6 (six). They are ordering me some more. Cool little jobs. I'll drill me a 3/8ths inch hole in my plywood (actually four holes), put the tee nut on the backside. Then screw the bolt into the tee nut through the mount on the front side. The tee nut has little gripper things and are threaded. Should make for a sturdy mount.

Now, to mount the plywood to the metal bench. Dragger told me I can use the lip of the bench and put some bolts in there. That's great for the front of the bench. I have some toggle bolts that I might use on the backside. Not sure yet.

Here's what I have so far.





I still have to mount my trolling motor. Or at least, build a place to mount it on the front. I have a piece of angle iron and going to secure that to the front of the boat, then use a small piece of 2x4 bolted to that to make my spot to put my trolling motor. It's a transom mount that I'm planning to spin 180 and make it into a bow mount.

Still have to cut and do the front deck. I will keep it fairly small. I don't want a fishing platform, just a spot to use for mounting things and a sturdy step for entering and exiting the boat. I'll probably put my depth finder up there, although I'm not sure yet. Thinking out loud here, but might make the deck just big enough to put the two batteries under it. Will have to figure a way to level them on the bottom of the boat, though. That would put a little more weight at the front instead of all of it at the back. Besides, if the trolling motor is up there, that is where I need the battery anyway. The old motor is a pull start, so I don't need a cranking battery. The other one is for my lights at night.

Alrighty....ready for all suggestions and ideas!

Sure Is Looking Nice AP, Won't Be Long And You Will Be Catching Them Big Crappie From There.

Looking good so far, AP.

Anchorpuller, that's just great. I'm really impressed. Couldn't have done a better job myself. I think it's really neat that some women can do things like that. I sure wish my wife could do anything. Yesterday she decided to wash all the windows of the house on the outside. By the time it was over I might as well have done it myself. It was "will you come and help me with this, will you come and help me with that" all day long. I know a couple of women who have gutted entire rooms down to the bare stud walls and remodeled them. I take my hat off to you, that's a great looking job you did there. Nice going!!!


Jim

Looking good AP and you got to love that cheap labor [but I bet it ain't that cheap in the end]

AP you are a skilled lady to do all that yourself. It looks good Congrats.

Looking good AP,your doing a great job, want a job?,I'm getting ready to re-do my 21ft. pontoon.............

Nice job,good fishin.