Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: Wetwoodshunter on September 22, 2024, 07:51:07 AM
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I acquired a duck boat from a good friend on this site. This weekend I started in Ernest getting it ready for this season. At this point I’m taking it down to base patching holes, removed the waterlogged foam and am going to build it back up to the boat it was made to be.
The boat is a 17’6” (I think) PolarKraft with a tunnel near the prop.
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The transom came out yesterday. I kept it intact so I can use it as a pattern and will be inserting new marine grade ply after epoxy seal it.
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Foam is out, and the inside of the hull has been hit with a strip disc to remove flaking paint.
I’m not sure if I’ll patch with marine Tex gray or 5200 yet. A few areas of larger damage. I’m going to sandwich aluminum plates and 5200.
My plan is to strip and apply glove-it to the entire bottom.
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Few more, the transom had some dissimilar metal screws in it. It is going to require some plates/patching.
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Wow
That’s a job. Good luck.
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Big job, looking good so far. I would use a zinc chromate primer before painting because of its corrosion resistance.
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More progress tonight. I flipped it and am half way done taking paint off the bottom.
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Ouch, that one left a mark. The hole on the top is the size of a quarter.
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I traced and cut the new transom out this morning. Hopefully my resin gets here tonight and I will start encasing it. I used a 1.25” sheet of underpayment.
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Quite the project. I did one similar back in the day. It worked, but I chased leaks constantly. If you have a good welder and can weld on thin medal, you can slow some of them down. I had welds, patches, JV Weld and all sorts of paint. I think a good heavy coat of paint did the most sealing for me when all said and done.
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Thanks for the pointers. I may be chasing leaks on this one. Im hoping in the end I may have $1k into the entire project. Prep will hopefully be done this weekend the. I can start putting it back together.
Quite the project. I did one similar back in the day. It worked, but I chased leaks constantly. If you have a good welder and can weld on thin medal, you can slow some of them down. I had welds, patches, JV Weld and all sorts of paint. I think a good heavy coat of paint did the most sealing for me when all said and done.
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Are you thinking of using Gator Glide on the bottom?
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I haven’t decided what to coat the bottom with. I was thinking super slick but gator glide looks like the same thing for 1/2 the price. I also have used gloveit on other boats but it flakes off and isnt terribly slick.
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TremPro
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Was that a carp shooting platform/blind in the first pic up by the bow?
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For bigger holes that you cannot weld I'd recommend Pettit flexpoly. It's a 2-part mixing tube/caulk gun, expensive but does the trick. If you want to mix your own for the right "kick" then look at West Systems 655 gflex. Small holes where a less thick or runny compound is ok then check out Systems Three quick cure 5. I buy all these from Fisheries Supply, did a similar rebuild this spring on a 17' tracker.
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Was that a carp shooting platform/blind in the first pic up by the bow?
Yep it’s a bow fishing platform. I took it off but I am going to mount the brackets so it can come on and off.
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Transom is patched, hull is patched. The foam ate through a lot of aluminum. I went liberal with MarinTex Gray and filled in any pitting I saw along with holes. I used an aluminum grid backing to reach at least 1.5” past every hole larger than a pinhole.
I also pulled and patched some bolts from an old transducer and a low bilge pump port.
The front support for the bow platform was pressure treated. I pulled it and patched the corrosion. I’m going cut a white stud and seal it with epoxy to replace it.
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The new transom was covered with epoxy and I wrapped the edges with fiberglass cloth.
Next step is clean up the inside again and apply GluvIT to all rivets and I’m going to encase where the foam came out of.
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looks great! I've considered using a poly uria spray-on truck bed liner on the inside and bottom of a small riveted boat I have. Only concern is bubbles/and trapping salt water against the aluminum for corrosion.
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Was that a carp shooting platform/blind in the first pic up by the bow?
Yep it’s a bow fishing platform. I took it off but I am going to mount the brackets so it can come on and off.
Bow fishing is a hoot! Your putting a lot of work into this boat, hopefully you got it cheap. It's looking really good and I hope your able to set it up just like you want. The hours into a project like this your not gonna want to get rid of it!
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Transom is installed. All new SS hardware installed on the whole boat. I also cut new support for the bow painted and mounted it all. Every bolt has 5200, nylock nuts & 2x washers with rubber gaskets attached.
This morning I started fitting the hatches in the boat.
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More pictures of some progress. I used a compressor and sprayed the base coat on the inside. I’m leaving the gluvit unpainted so if I need to I can thicken it up.
I also did the base coat and tune up on the 30 hp evenrude. Compression is 150 on both cylinders. New gas, started on the third pull and ran it for 30 mins.
Appa can’t even dog after his morning hunt today.
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Few more. I had some time to paint this morning. I have a lot more painting to go.
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Today I cut new floor boards and got them painted. I also added brown to the camo pattern. Next step is to mount the floorboards and move on to the other camo stencil and go over the top to tie it all in.
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I am enjoying following along on your build. I have also done a complete rebuild on a duck boat and I know how much time and work are required. Thanks for the posts- looking great so far! :tup:
One question- the trailer looks short from the pictures. What size motor are you putting on the boat? Maybe it is an illusion, but the axle looks pretty far forward to have much weight hanging that far back?
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I am enjoying following along on your build. I have also done a complete rebuild on a duck boat and I know how much time and work are required. Thanks for the posts- looking great so far! :tup:
One question- the trailer looks short from the pictures. What size motor are you putting on the boat? Maybe it is an illusion, but the axle looks pretty far forward to have much weight hanging that far back?
I agree, the boat doesn’t fit the trailer as it is. The trailer is an easy loader from a 15’ arima. My plan is to move the winch mount forward 2’ and replace the rollers with bunks. That will significantly change how it rides on the trailer and the overhang will be reasonable.
I already made the bunks but won’t work on the trailer until I flip the boat and start rolling on gator base and gator glide. That’s a weeks process with dry time. The trailer should be a lot better set up when I am done.
I have a 30 hp 2 stroke evenrude prop that I am going to put on it. I have another 70 hp I was thinking of turning into a jet but I think that one’s going on marketplace. I think it’s too heavy.
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The floor went in this morning before work. I thought I had it fitted right but it needed a little work. I also added D-rings so I can use a bungie net to keep everything in the boat.
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A few more from tonight. I changed stencils and am blending it together. I think I am going to finish with 2 more colors and call it good. At this point it’s overkill.
I also realized I mounted the floor before wiring and fuel lines so the floor is coming off again.
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Looking really good. :tup:
Good job!
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I got up early today and set up lights to spray more paint. I’m calling the exterior camo done. It turned out exceptional.
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Today I adjusted how the boat sits on the trailer. It sits more like it should. I am planning to flip the boat this afternoon and start on the bottom coat.
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My neighbor helped me flip the boat this afternoon. I was hoping to start with the gator glide but looking at the bottom it needs a little prep work and dry time before I coat it.
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I took a few days of prep to fill all pitting on the bottom and throughly clean the bottom. I brought my garage up to 70 degrees and applied GatorBase this morning. 6 coats (1/2 gallon) took me 3 1/2 hours before work, I mixed it in small batches and my boat has a lot of contours which was a pain. This is a cool product and it went on really thin per layer but integrated very well.
I’m going for 3 days cure time then prep and add GatorGlide over the top 5-6 thin coats. (1/2 gallon)
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GatorGlide went on this morning.
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Looking good! Way to stick with the project! :tup:
This is a big project, and you are stating the course. Good job.
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It is coming together nicely. My son and I installed a lightbar on the bow of our boat the other night. Nothing quite as gut wrenching as drilling into a brand new boat :chuckle: but it turned out great. Keep the pictures coming.
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I cut off the rollers and mounted the new hardware for the bunks. The boat is now on bunks and boy is that GatorGlide slippery stuff.
Motor went back on the boat too. Next steps is fuel lines and electrical. I also have to figure out how to mount new trailer lights. No metal was left from the original brackets.
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This is the bracket my EZ Loader trailer uses for lights. Looks like yours did too. The J-bolt is what holds the bracket to the trailer. The 'J' hooks to the bolt in the trailer beam. It isn't great in my opinion, but it's functional.
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This is the bracket my EZ Loader trailer uses for lights. Looks like yours did too. The J-bolt is what holds the bracket to the trailer. The 'J' hooks to the bolt in the trailer beam. It isn't great in my opinion, but it's functional.
I think this is an exact replacement. My q bolts are still intact on the trailer. I think I’m going to try cutting a 3” piece of angle iron and drilling holes in it. I want to use the boat Sunday for a hunt. I may order from EZ loader when I order new fenders too.
I appreciate you sourcing the part for me!
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I have carpeted side bunks on my boat trailer. I launch in rivers and tidal affected areas and it makes life much easier. I also mount my lights off the bunks so they dont get hooked on as much stuff nor go in the water as often. I also took some metal grating and welded it to the trailer so that when launching or retrieving in difficult situations i can walk 1/3 way down the center of the trailer to retrieve or launch the boat. gator glide might reduce the need for that but now would be the time to do that project. :twocents:
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I have carpeted side bunks on my boat trailer. I launch in rivers and tidal affected areas and it makes life much easier. I also mount my lights off the bunks so they dont get hooked on as much stuff nor go in the water as often. I also took some metal grating and welded it to the trailer so that when launching or retrieving in difficult situations i can walk 1/3 way down the center of the trailer to retrieve or launch the boat. gator glide might reduce the need for that but now would be the time to do that project. :twocents:
I was just going to say the same thing as special t. Side bunks and mount the lights up high off of them. Keeps them out of the water for the most part.
Project is looking good.
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@full choke @Special T do either of you have a picture. I can get a set of side bunks for $50 that may be a good option. I already bought waterproof LEDs but they can go anywhere.
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99.674% of trailer wiring issues is because the trailer frame is used as the ground and the ground wire that comes out of the lights attaches to the frame either at the light bracket itself or some place within a few feet of the light with a self tap screw. Eliminate this and run a full trailer length ground wire from your lights, with you other wires, to the tongue and plug. Ground through the plug and you will never have trailer light issues again. (as long as you run quality lights that have a water proof housing) I do this with all my trailers now, boat or not, and never deal with annoying trailer light problems anymore.
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I took a step backwards to take a step forwards. I pulled the floors and installed the new fuel line and fuel filter. I also took the opportunity to put another coat of pain on all the edges of the floorboard.
I’m probably going to have to install and remove the floor one more time because I want to hunt it Sunday and my wires won’t be here yet.
That awesome fiberglas gas tank I painted also doesn’t fit below the bow. Looks like I’ll be painting up some 6 gallon tanks instead. I think the room in the boat is more important than fuel capacity.
I also went and got new registration decals for it yesterday.
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It floats! It is also 100% dry.
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:tup:
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Cool project, man. I like the fact that it has a tunnel on it. Was the outboard a prop or jet unit?
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Cool project, man. I like the fact that it has a tunnel on it. Was the outboard a prop or jet unit?
I have a 25 hp prop on it. I think it would do great with a 40 hp. I have been using it quite a bit. For where I use it I want to stick with a prop due to weeds.
It’s not complete yet but it hunts and I didn’t want to prioritize boat work vs hunting season.
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Man this turned out awesome!
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Nice Job man! Good to see that hard work pay off!!!
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Last time I took her out she ran real rough. I pulled the carb apart and cleaned it then took it for a test run. I completely unloaded the boat other than black lab, fuel and safety gear. Even though my cowling says 30 hp I realized that it is powered with a 25 hp 2-stroke unloaded it is plenty fast about 15-20 mph.
The tunnel does not allow for turning at speed, if you try to turn too sharp the tunnel causes the prop to miss the water. If you go in a straight line the tunnel works great. In the headed into chop it’s the opposite of my ocean boat, and you have to slow down and keep the bow up. Wind was sustained 20 mph and (30 mph gust) that is past the limit of where this would be safe to be out in. I was in a protected bay and took it into the main stem of the Columbia which was a mistake. I’m thinking a realistic limit of 15 mph sustained and 20 gusts blowing west up the Columbia.
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@Ghost Hunter pm me if you want to chat about your boat build.
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Great job dude! Awesome project with great results!