You're right Shaun. I'm not sure everyone pays attention to the smaller font subforums though. We'll keep it alive, because not everyone is in a big Fiberglas rig.
I wanted a stealth install, and that's what I got. If you don't know they are on my boat you'd likely never notice them being there until I turn them on.
I do quite a bit of night fishing once the weather gets so hot that it's miserable to fish during daylight hours. When the masses are leaving the lake at last light, I will be launching. Nice cool breezes on the water, no pot lickers, and more often than not some awesome action.
I also build my own custom submersible lights using the LED strips. On a good night a pound of minnows doesn't last an hour between 2 guys. I do build some to sell on occasion as well. Best submersible light for the money, different lengths and options available, if y'all are interested shoot me a PM.
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!
That's a 1652 weldcraft. I was partial to the layout of the bass tracker grizzly but my bettrr half was in love with this one. It has a 25hp Evinrude E-tec. She'll run about 25 - 28mph depending on load, water, wind and etc. but gets around 14-15 mpg!!!
So far the only thing I've done to it is make some make shift rod holders out of pvc (the kayaker in me I guess) and just installed a Humminbird Helix 5 Si gps combo. A bimini top or something to hold an umbrella is next on the list.
If I was to do it over again I think I would've gotten power tilt and trim. Though I found an after market kit that may be installed next year. It should set my motor back about 5" off the transom which in turn may help with my side scan.
The only negative I've found in the rig is that it's to easy to pick up and move spots so I usually wind up doing more riding than fishin!!
Here is my 79 model Eldorado I recently fixed up. Before and after. It was a fun project my sons and I did together. The engine is a 15hp Yamaha 4 stroke with electric start. I bought it brand new a couple of years ago. Runs great.
I hope to be on the red below the dam when the current settles. I'm not getting out there like it is now.
Last edited by newpontoonguy; 06/29/1504:57 AM.
If it ain't yours don't mess with it! Need a friendly place to talk hunting? www.talkhunting.com
Here is my 10 year old son driving it on our maiden voyage after all the work was complete. She ran great and didn't leak a drop. It takes the water great, rides smooth, and is dry. Now its time to teach him all about boating safety, fishing, etc. He's all about it.
Last edited by newpontoonguy; 06/29/1505:03 AM.
If it ain't yours don't mess with it! Need a friendly place to talk hunting? www.talkhunting.com
I fish from a 18ft SeaArk with a 90hp Mercury. I don't have a pic to post right now but I will get one and try to post it in a few days. This is going to be a fun forum.
My 2003 Tracker Grizzly 1448 & 25HP Merc. Built it out to be a miniature bass boat. Since it's a BPS product, I call it the "Micro Nitro." Sadly, it's getting listed this weekend when I pick up my new (to me, anyway) Nitro NX 882. I hate to part with it, given all the work I did on it ( Tracker Buildout ) but I don't have the room for it in my garage. I gutted the boat and rebuilt the interior out of plywood, converted the motor from tiller to steering wheel, built a custom steering console with switch panel, added remote shift/throttle, Lowrance Elite 5X, rebuilt trolling motor, new casting seats and posts, cockpit seats, carpeting from front to back, stripped and repainted hull (it's all scratched up now thanks to Lake Fayette), new tires, bearing buddies, stripped and repainted cowling, new fore and aft lights, cup holders, cleats, added a bilge pump, made separate compartments for battery and fuel tank, vented fuel compartment, added blower to fuel compartment, door for front hatch, then topped it with super-cool zombie decals. It took me 3 months of weekends to get it all done. Caught a lot of fish in it this year, but I wanted a "regular" bass boat, so now I have to let it go.
Just ONCE I'd like for someone to call me "Sir" without adding, "please stop making a scene." "The problem with quotes on the internet is having to ascertain whether or not they are genuine." -- Abraham Lincoln
So how much you looking to get out of it? I'm thinking of going in the opposite direction. Selling my 2007 BassCat Pantera IV and buying aluminum. Then after I retire next year, a pontoon for momma.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a look at the American Indian".
Easiest operating "little motor" Ive ever used. Tilt and trim on the end ot throttle on the tiller, breakaway CMC 6"jackplate and electric start is good on a busted rotator cuff and this little Havoc pads up and turns like a bassboat
Here's mine.. 18' Voyager x-wide.. made some custom additions.. like reinforcing front/rear decks with alum diamond plate.. Bow rail added to aid in gigging, bowfishing, and to keep us fat guys from falling out.. Driftmaster rod holder bases spot welded all over the place.. pushed by 4 stroke 40hp Evinrude..
I don't have a way to post pics, but over Thanksgiving, I acquired the 12-foot SportsKraft flat-bottomed aluminum rowboat that my father bought around 1960. He used it on Lake Arlington and Lake Grapevine with an old(even then) Firestone 3.5 HP thumper. It's not a Jonboat, but has a pointy bow and three seats. I borrowed my nephew's Johnson Seahorse 5.5 that I found out is a 1961 model. I cleaned out the carb, and hooked up a gravity-feed gas bottle, and it runs like a top, after sitting for over ten years. The water pump impeller is dead, and I just ordered a new one.
My dad had the boat for about 25 years, then sold it to one of my cousins, who kept it for ten or so years, and then he gave it to my nephew. He never used it, and it's been sitting in his other grandfather's field for another ten or so years. It was never titled, and there are no numbers of any kind on the boat. I typed up an affadavit of the ownership trail for my nephew to sign, and I took that to TPWD, and they had a Game Warden inspect it, and, finding no number, she assigned me a Hull ID number($25.00). Then, they issued a title and registration(another $69.00). So, a title is being mailed to me, and I'm legal(sorta).
I built a plywood deck covering the front seat, with a seat mount and a hinged hatch for anchor storage. The engine I borrowed is a 20", so the prop shaft was way too low below the transom. I built a new transom board to replace the old, rotten one, and made it taller, so the prop shaft is now 3-1/2 inches below the hull, a recommended staring point(Thanks, Steve, from Steve's Custom Props). I bought a really nice Scout seat and 11" riser at a salvage store, so I now have a good casting seat for the front deck.
Rather than mess with a trailer, I built a hitch-mounted bed extender, and the boat fits in my pickup. I built a pair of clamp-on wheels for the stern, which I will remove after launching. I should be able to launch it anywhere I launched my kayak. I built a couple of PVC rod holders for the stern corners, so I'm just about ready to take it on it's first outing in about thirty years. I'm just waiting on the new impeller and a break in this winter weather that finally arrived. After I give her a shakedown cruise, I'll paint the hull nice and pretty.
If I can figure out how to post pics from my wife's smart phone, I'll do a show and tell.
Happy and safe New Year to all! Island Jim in Rockport
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
Added a few things to mine. I had to somewhat throw a floor in the bottom before the Mrs tripped and fell out of the boat. Later on down the road, I'll probably upgrade that. Re-Installed/Relocated a Helix 5 SI/GPS. It works wonderful but wishing Hummingbird would have had the larger versions out at the time of purchase. Put a couple of scotty rod holders up front and on the back. They seem to be working ok for white bass trolling. Also made some PVC rod holders to use when motoring down the river.
Cool idea for rod holders! Is that a 2" ball for your fish finder?
Thanks. No sir they're just a 1". I robbed the balls and arm off of my bike that has been collecting dust for the last year. I've only used the boat once since the relocation and they will probably do fine while on the water but I put the unit in the truck for the bumpy trailering.
Re: Post a picture of your Jon Boat!
[Re: BKT]
#1145984003/07/1602:01 AM
Added a few things to mine. I had to somewhat throw a floor in the bottom before the Mrs tripped and fell out of the boat. Later on down the road, I'll probably upgrade that. Re-Installed/Relocated a Helix 5 SI/GPS. It works wonderful but wishing Hummingbird would have had the larger versions out at the time of purchase. Put a couple of scotty rod holders up front and on the back. They seem to be working ok for white bass trolling. Also made some PVC rod holders to use when motoring down the river.
How are you liking the helix 5? I run a lowrance elite 7 hdi. Nice setup by the way!!!!
Maiden voyage was today. Tracker 1654 Sportsman, 40 HP Mercury Four Stroke - Power Tilt & Trim, Lowrance Elite 7 CHIRP in back and Elite 4 CHIRP in front, Monster Rod Holders, Minn Kota Riptide SM 55.
“Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much” - John Wayne
Folks, at long last...meet the XP. She's been in my garage since May, and I finally got all the paperwork straightened out...mine, all mine!
A bit of a frankenstein, here...'85 Evinrude 20, '97 Alweld 14' hull, and '79 Dilly trailer. Not sure if original parts are still in the majority! She started out with a 12' hull, and eventually moved up to the 14', which as you can see, has been well-used since. The motor's been rebuilt several times, including electric start upgrade, a bore, and a carb upgrade - thus the 'XP' moniker...for all the Xtra Power!
How do I know the history so well, you ask? She was originally owned by my uncle when I was a kid...he kept her (and kept her running) for a long time, then eventually gave her to my dad...and now she's been passed down to me. This isn't just a boat to me - she's chock-full of personality and memories, and pretty much a family legend. I've been fishing and frogging out of this boat on and off for over 30 years. I've had some great catches, I've fallen out, climbed back in, broken her (danged stumps) and helped to fix her up. Can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I was to finally take her out last week! And by the way, after 6 months in the garage, she fired up in less than 2 seconds, and ran like a champ!
Looking forward to starting to learn the local lakes...have boat, WILL fish!
Folks, at long last...meet the XP. She's been in my garage since May, and I finally got all the paperwork straightened out...mine, all mine!
A bit of a frankenstein, here...'85 Evinrude 20, '97 Alweld 14' hull, and '79 Dilly trailer. Not sure if original parts are still in the majority! She started out with a 12' hull, and eventually moved up to the 14', which as you can see, has been well-used since. The motor's been rebuilt several times, including electric start upgrade, a bore, and a carb upgrade - thus the 'XP' moniker...for all the Xtra Power!
How do I know the history so well, you ask? She was originally owned by my uncle when I was a kid...he kept her (and kept her running) for a long time, then eventually gave her to my dad...and now she's been passed down to me. This isn't just a boat to me - she's chock-full of personality and memories, and pretty much a family legend. I've been fishing and frogging out of this boat on and off for over 30 years. I've had some great catches, I've fallen out, climbed back in, broken her (danged stumps) and helped to fix her up. Can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I was to finally take her out last week! And by the way, after 6 months in the garage, she fired up in less than 2 seconds, and ran like a champ!
Looking forward to starting to learn the local lakes...have boat, WILL fish!
-L
That's one of the most expensive boats around. You cant put a price on memories!!! Very nice!
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
2000 model 1652 Weldcraft side console with tunnel and jackplate. 2000 model Johnson 50hp. I've added a Humminbird Helix 7si at the console. Lowrance Elite 5 CHIRP on the bow. MinnKota PowerDrive V2 with I-Pilot. She's a crappie fishing boat the majority of the time but I do use her to chase trout, redfish and ducks in the winter months. Will run in about 6" of water and get up in 12 if soft mud. Not a beauty queen by any means but she gets the job done.
2016 G3 Talon Dlx 1910 w/ 150 SHO. Dual 10 talons, two lowrance Elite 9ti and just replaced my Elite 7ti with a Elite 12ti for console graph. Really pleased with the ride and stability. Just wish rod boxes were bigger.
Top picture is my old tin boat, she was a 16' Alumacraft tunnel hull that served me well for over 9 years. Sold her for $200 more than what I paid for her 9 years ago.
Bottom pic is my new (old) tin ride. Scandy White Open Pro tunnel. She's a skinny water performance beast. Still only 16' but with an extra 40hp. Not really a john boat, but that's her heritage.
2014 Excel Bay Pro 203/2014 Mercury 150 Optimax Pro XS Point me towards the water!
I dont have a good pic of the whole rig right now but Ill put this one here. You can see a lot more on a post I put up earlier called Jon to bass boat conversion.
US Army and TXARNG 1984-2014 Gulf War 90-91 Iraq 2004-05 A'stan 2009 VFW Post Commander 2013-15
1959 sea king been setting in yard for 5 years, my boy took an interest and started cleaning it up, Motor stated today, but will need tuned a bit. So far we have replaced and packed the wheel bearings new tires/wheels new battery new nav lights on front. Still needs a lot of work, but it still floats, so alls good, will get a picture up soon
Hey Fluke, you and I are almost twins. I have your G3's little brother. Mine's a Sportsman 17 (18') w/ Yamaha 90. I have twin 12' Talons, a Terrova TM and Lowrance Ti12 at console and Ti9 up front.
Bit of a Work in Progress, learned how to set up the lights and installed them myself. I still feel like a small boat in a big pond even on this sub-forum but I figure y'all got my back. Goes about 3 miles round trip with my trolling motor, and does what I need for light catfishing. Yes I know I pack my house with me, it's also a wip
Getting Better at Catfishing: PB Blue - 8.1 PB Channel - ~5 PB Common Carp - ~10 Still Scouting for YC
I’ve had several aluminum boats as finances allowed. I started with a monkey wards sea king 12’ with 9.9hp, a 14’ Richline with a 15hp, and then a lowes Big Jon 16’ with a 25hp. All good boats fixed up the way I liked based on affordability of the time. 2018 came and bass tracker came out with the heritage bass tracker at $9,999 magic price point. My dad had a 1978 bass tracker that we spent many a day on and made a lot of memories on. So I bought the heritage bass tracker. First picture of my dad and his 1978 then my heritage bass tracker. Me with my heritage tracker my first new boat.
Picked this up a couple weeks ago. 70hp Suzuki with 330hrs. Plan to refurbish mechanicals and basic cosmetics, maybe a hydroturf floor. First “tinny” in over 20 years. I’m excited.
67Tbend, it’s a 2007 Suzuki. Appears fairly maintained. One of the many POs had the motor sprayed with grease goo. I’ve all the OEM parts for a tune up and will get her on the water shortly after.
Lotta work done to this 2005 hull since I first got it back in 2014. It started out as a basic square nose river utility jon that someone tried to make into a mud boat. Had to rebuild and support the transom for a longshaft motor. I picked up a new longshaft 2013 25hp Evinrude with power TT from Rockwall Marine. I've done all the fab work and design on the mods to the boat: float pods, gun box, Ethernet boxes, helm box with storage, removable aluminum framed deck held in place by two ratchet straps (100 lbs for those wondering), trolling motor mount, removable wireless spot and flood lights up front, spotlights in the rear for backing down ramps (950 feet), Aluminum framed 4 peice duck blind, two 10" SI Gen 1 Humminbirds, one 10" Gen 1 Himminbird DI, one Garmin 126si with Panoptics Live Scope, 4 ducers, two Lithium batteries (one for the troller, one for electronics), and all the wiring and cut-off switches. Duck blind frame weighs 8 lbs. The pods have 220 lbs of lift to completely off-set the motor weight. They are of my design and build. I usually run one SI depthfinder/GPS during duck season. There is a thread in this forum on the removable deck build.
I'm also a metal fabricator/welder most of my life. And did structural fab repair for Tracker and others, for a few years. And yes, this is a riveted boat. Never has leaked yet. But if it does, I've got plenty of experience in rivet repair, being in aircraft industries and boat industry. As well as many others.
Last edited by Texas Grown; 05/05/2403:01 PM.
G3 river Jon - "The Wild Thing"
"The fish are biting, and there's hogs to be kilt. Gotta go!"
TIN STAR. Not a Jon, but a Tinny! It's a 1958 Blue Star 14 Super Chief Runabout, with a vee bow and rounded chines. I cut 5" of freeboard off the gunwales, made a 5-foot wide plywood deck, 2-1/2" above the seats, with a small cockpit. Powered by a 15 Yamaha 4-stroke, she'll do 22 with just me, or 20 with two. Forward seat is removable for casting, or on a riser for a second angler, or to run the troller. I fish the Coastal Bend flats, and occasionally go to SPI and Arroyo City. Only weighs about 350, and can be poled easily. At my advanced age, no poling platform for me! Hope the pic shows this time. IslandJim, in Rockport
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
It's fun getting a new boat and I bet you'll get a lot of good use out of it. What size boat & motor do you have? 
Nice work. Looks great.
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And by the way, after 6 months in the garage, she fired up in less than 2 seconds, and ran like a champ!
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