Bass don't like music

[Bca8ball]

While looking through all the cool stereo and lighting mods I figured I would post the completely different mods I have recently completed.

* Trolling motor with a quick disconnection plate.
* Front casting deck with a pedestal seat mount and tackle storage (mounted to 4 added grab handles)
* Depth finder/GPS with a tilt/swivel mount (viewable from the steering wheel or front deck)

The plan: I go bass fishing at zero dark thirty and the family meets me at the lake in the afternoon.
Within 5 minutes (seriously) I can have the front deck and trolling motor off the boat and in the enclosed truck bed.

We tested the theory this weekend; it was hot and I was ready for some boating by the time they arrived.

I had a 20' bass boat that was certainly better for fishing; however, it basically only seats 2, is far from being fuel efficient (on the boat or towing vehicle), and it is nice not having a huge prop/outboard when loading and unloading tubers/skiers.

The wife and kids like it...mamma's happy-everyone is happy

 

[Dr Honda]

cool. Nice mods.

 

[biffdotorg]

Those are sweet mods! I never thought to just pull my front three seat cushions and lay in a casting platform that could be pulled easily when pleasure boating. I could then easily hide a third battery for motor under there while fishing. Or tie into the second battery for the stereo that is deep cycle that I use for the stereo.

I have read a few threads on here and Yamaha jet boaters of folks putting a bow mount on these boats. The latest "puck" style mounts from Minn-kota have caught my interest for sure. I would bet I could put a second mount and transducer in for my Lowrance as well if I wanted it in the bow. I was finding myself following a lakemap on GPS more than the actual depth anyway.

Nice right up. What brand motor is that? Is it a motorguide? The three blade prop leaves me to believe that.

Thanks!

 

[Bca8ball]

The trolling motor is a Walmart "Watersnake" 54lbs thrust 54" shaft (really hard to beat their buying power).
I am typically running it at approx. 25% speed and it will get up a go when needed.
There is also the quick disconnect bracket option; pull one "U" shaped rod and it's off.
The battery is safely in a battery box in the storage bay in front of the steering wheel and most importantly, easy to pull out the extra 68lbs.
I mounted the transducer on the transom; I like mapping the surface of new lakes, setting important fishing way points and I didn't want to lose the water temp function if going thru the hull.

 

[Palm Bay Chuck]

This is exactly what I was planning to do! Yours looks much nicer than what I was going to create!

I want to create two 'plug ins' for my Challenger 1800 - one for fishing with rod holders and such, and one for scuba diving that holds tanks and other gear. I'll be book marking this!

 

[Bca8ball]

I installed 4 additional grab handles in the bow that are used to support and fasten the front deck when fishing and look like OE when the deck is off.
Something you may even consider is a "Coleman 48 Can Party Stacker Cooler"; these things are only about 12" high.
If I were doing the again, I would use one of these stacker as the base of the deck with 2 grab handles (instead of 4) for support and fastening.
A door hatch (like I used for a tackle box) could open into the chest for needed dry storage or a additional cooler.
Since you are looking at two different functions, you could create two different tops or two complete cooler packages.

http://www.target.com/p/coleman-48-can-party-stacker-cooler/-/A-11265798

 

[MikeM8560]

sounds like a great set up with the removable deck 8ball

heres my fishing machine