Anyone into bass boats?

[pookie]

Over Memorial Day weekend my dad gave me his old Bass Tracker. It is a 1989 17' Tracker with a 40hp Evinrude. The boat has sat outside uncovered for nearly 10 years. The rear deck is aluminum and houses the live wells. The front and center decks were wood, both were rotten and we removed both this weekend. My question for you boat guys, is do I go back to marine plywood for the front and center decks or do I go with one of the newer options of thick plastic type stuff?

Also the boards/deck materials that I go will will be getting screwed/bolted to the aluminum braces. The factory used some awful screws in the front deck and many of the screws simply broke off in the aluminum during removal. I don't know what kind of screws they were, I know they were NOT stainless. What is the recommended attachment method to the aluminum braces in case the floors need to be removed again in the future?

Pics coming later tonight.

[Trak Ratt]

I'd stick w/wood. Use some capture bolts or stainless screws. Simple is better. Easy maint. Is even nicer.

[pookie]

Thanks TR. Part of me is thinking the same thing. My dad had already bought new carpet for the whole boat, so doing wood and carpet would be the easiest. And I'm complaining but the front deck would still hold me on it. It was rotten going towards the center, but I think if properly covered it should last another 20 years. The cost of the plastic flooring is kind of the put off.

I also thought about using aluminum sheets, but I'm unsure of what thickness I would need or, of how to cut them into the shapes I need.

These are the crappy cell pics I have now.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/image_zps472228a7.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/image_zps5b4f29b5.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/image_zpsf7b3e50b.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/4e199689-330a-4b64-83ba-8c244777e889_zps7070ff61.jpg

[HoodPin]

x3 on using marine grade plywood. The thicker the better.

I went through a boating phase for many years, and sometime miss it (though mostly not ;)). I'm sure you already know about the 2 best days in a boat owner's life. :lol:

But the BassTrackers are decent little boats. The motor will be a big ticket if its not working. But they can be very servicable.

As far as fasteners, you may want to look at Threadsetter kits to install threaded rivets, allowing you to use nice threaded screws as opposed to sheet metal screws. Or maybe install some strategic threadsetter rivets, and the rest sheet metal screws.

[Trak Ratt]

As far as fasteners, you may want to look at Threadsetter kits to install threaded rivets, allowing you to use nice threaded screws as opposed to sheet metal screws. Or maybe install some strategic threadsetter rivets, and the rest sheet metal screws.

That's what I was trying to thnk of.

[cmartin]

Lots of options for replacement. Okoume if great stuff, while some use foam and cover in epoxy and fiberglass. There are plenty of options, just depends on how much you want to get into it.

I have the boat problem too.

[realroadrage]

On Dorkiphus, any thread that begins "Anyone into..." will have a response or multiple responses. If you can imagine it, someone on Dorkiphus is into it. :)

[VaSteve]

On Dorkiphus, any thread that begins "Anyone into..." will have a response or multiple responses. If you can imagine it, someone on Dorkiphus is into it. :)

No....please let's not open that Pandora's box.

[pookie]

Thanks guys. I'm not having any luck finding marine plywood in my area. Which seems odd since there are so many lakes and rivers near me. But here are some more pics of my "little" project.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_193839_357_zpsfff50b69.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_193929_814_zps66623130.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_193855_554_zps68afaa86.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_193902_665_zpsc1dbccf1.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_193920_044_zpsa6fac980.jpg

[pookie]

And some of the motor.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_193957_189_zps7a9ba531.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_194014_822_zpsd2ff0079.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_194004_566_zps9978c5b8.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/JeepTJpics2007/IMG_20130529_194036_183_zps8242c460.jpg

[cmartin]

If you cant find anything locally...

http://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-building-supplies-epoxy-fiberglass-plywood/marine-plywood-cedar-strips/okoume-marine-plywood.html

[Roo]

Love that boat, especially the motor, and really glad it's not mine!:D boat

x2 on the marine plywood with one added suggestion:
Buy the plywood and pre-cut the pieces so they're ready to install.
Since marine plywood gets a pressurized dose of chemicals to make it last, give the wood a couple of weeks to "dry" outside in the open, then under cover for a few days if the wood was remoistened by rain.
Then apply a treatment of Australian Timber Oil available at Lowes.
That combo will last for many years.