I went over to do the bracket today. The pvc pipe comes in at an angle, so it is going to be a bugger to get the bracket on...I tried to use a drill today to put two holes in for the fasteners...there is only about a half inch lip to attach it to. The drill bit wore down, and would not go through. I just couldn't believe it. So when I came back home, I picked up another drill bit. This one better do the job. I was not a happy camper. Anyway, here are two pics I took today while there. The second picture the flash was too bright, sorry about that. At least you can see what was done pretty much. You can see the pipe at the bow, and where it must attach. The boat is much cleaner now than previously, but still not finished. I will have to re-wax the thing. I bet I took off all the wax trying to get that black stuff off of it.

Those photos look great!!!

Thank you Dwight! I have the wiring all labeled too. I color coded them for the bilge pump, lights, and fish finder. I attached one black, and one red wire with a different color of electrical tape. This will help when I get somebody to help me finish the wiring. I wrapped all of the ends of the bundles of wires...so hopefully the wires stay together, and will not lose the color code I gave them. This should make the wiring a breeze. (for those gifted in wiring stuff, which I am NOT) I also set the anchor up front. It is next to the spare battery...located in the bow, ahead of the front seat. I was afraid of having too much weight in the rear of the boat. So I put that battery up front for the time being. :-)

So when is the maiden voyage?

Well I thought it was gonna be the past two days. Just that bracket is all that is stopping me from taking it out. If I go down the road with that pvc unsecured it will scratch my paint up. My son says he has plans tomorrow. Since I have never launched a boat by myself, I thought it would be good to have an extra set of hands for the first time or two I take the boat out. I bought that new bit, so I will try to attach it probably tomorrow. I will have to have some help adjusting that bracket though. I might can talk my 18 year old daughter into going with me tomorrow...at least to get the boat in the water, and check for leaks. I hate to try to load it up by myself for the first time, but I will if I must. My son said he would go Sunday. So I may wait till then. I am determined to get out THIS weekend.

You could run 2~leads of 6 gauge wire (welding wire from TSC,Lowes,etc) from the front battery to the rear battery and wire it in Parallel (positive to positive and negative to negative).

kelkay,

Good luck, bet she floats fine,very good looking job you've done there, you should be VERY proud. Are you gonna name her ?

btw, Not sure of what the bracket thing is, but you spoke of comeing in at an angle, is it possible to use heat and reshape it ?

Yes, that is a good idea. I want to see how much a problem weight would be first. I am not sure of the final position of the spare battery yet. I think up front is perfect...I do have that 6 gauge extra wire I had already set up for the bow mount trolling motor...for when I eventually HOPE to get a small casting deck. I also eventually hope to get a motor, so I will need another battery, and that would be good to have in the back as well...next to the other one. I appreciate the comment on running it parallel Dwight.

Well I am not sure about heating that bracket. It would be a last resort thing for me. I am hoping that the drill will help pull it in once I get that bolt going in that lip. It is very narrow, so that is the main concern. Just looking at it you think you could just attach the bracket and the pipe would go in straight. But it just couldn't be THAT EASY....I should of known. My son did turn that metal bracket quite a bit...but he won't be with me today. It is like Rosanne Rosanna-Dana used to say "it's always something"...

As Roseanne said, "Well it just goes to show you, it's always something......."

LOL..yes, she was my favorite SNL character back in the day...and you nailed it...I forgot to add the first part. (it has been a long time since I have seen her in that show...and she used to crack me up!)

This is a little off topic, but it was funny at the time Kelly...

For example, she was talking about eating a hamburger in a restaurant and how she felt something hard in it. And she spit it out and it was white and looked like a toenail. She said, "I thought I was gonna die. I mean, what was a toenail doing in my hamburger?" Then she went to the restroom and on the way to the restroom she saw Princess Lee Radziwill who she described as the "classy lady that no one knows where she's the princess of." But what the Princess didn't know was she had a tiny piece of toilet paper hanging off her shoe, and she was walking around and the toilet paper wouldn't fall off. "I thought I was gonna be sick. So I says to her, 'Hey Princess Lee—what are ya tryin' to do, make me sick?' " So Jane Curtin asked her what this had to do with anything. Roseanne said, "Well it just goes to show you, it's always something, you either got a toenail in your hamburger or toilet paper clinging to your shoe."

another fan I see...hehehe...join the club...I thought she was it in my younger days

Need a pic with Capt Kelkay in the boat now.

What we need are some up-close photos of the bracket & pipe so we can come up with a solution. Did you get to take her out this weekend Kelly?

Well folks the day finally arrived. My son and I took the boat out this afternoon. The boat does not leak that I can tell. We got the bracket to hold, but it is a temporary fix. I was told about another type of pvc clamp/bracket...but I have not seen one like my friend described. So I will look for one later. The pipe is fairly secure now, and we were able to get it out on the lake. The trolling motor scooted up around fast enough. I brought the fly rod, but only saw two fish. They were following the fly, but did not even hit it. The main thing was we finally got the boat out. I know there is a huge sigh of relief all the way around. My son and I enjoyed getting it out for the test run today. I am going to have to get some flags for the trailer, cause when I tried to back it up to get the boat back on it...I couldn't see the trailer at all. Not out of the rear view, or side view mirrors. That was scary. My son and I worked it out though. It was a tense moment, and panic for me. I have never launched, or loaded a boat before today. So this was a learning experience for the both of us. We were absolutely thrilled this day finally arrived. I still don't have the wiring connected, but at least the boat made the first voyage of many for us. Thank you all who helped me out in any way with this. I cannot imagine how many days of memories my son and I will have with this boat. It has been a long hard road, but the day has finally come, and we were able to enjoy the heck out of having a boat of our own.

yes I got the boat out today...I will take a pic of the way we have it connected...I was just dead set on getting to the lake, come hell or high water today...so I didn't think of taking a pic of the bracket.

Revo, as far as a pic of me in the boat...I will think about that...

Here is the new transom, for those who never saw it. (and seats)
vs the old transom

now for the newer pic to see the difference

Okay Revoman here is a pic of me.

Glad for you. I know you'll enjoy the boat.

That is a very nice boat. Can't believe how u fixed it up

thanks everyone :-)

What a great transformation!!!!