21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

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RcgTexas
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Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#16 Post by RcgTexas » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:16 am

Lord willing I'll have it finished this friday and on the water Saturday... :biggrin2
Just don't forget that baby under there!
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

God Bless America

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#17 Post by Blessed » Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:14 am

Big Fat head rivets arrived...
Image

Big Fat head rivet box
Image
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

TDJ2591
Posts: 358
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:33 pm
Location: Smith Lake, AL

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#18 Post by TDJ2591 » Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:17 pm

I like your fish finder and mount. I may be able to use that mount on my boat.

Your rivets look similar to the Magna-Locs I used on my under skinning. They were pricey at $.40 per rivet.
Attachments
image.jpg
Magna-Loc 3/16" structural rivets
image.jpg (82.02 KiB) Viewed 4543 times
[color=#4000FF]2005 Crest Caribbean 25'
2006 Honda 135hp 4 stroke[/color]

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#19 Post by Blessed » Sat Sep 27, 2014 8:15 pm

TDJ2591 wrote:I like your fish finder and mount. I may be able to use that mount on my boat.

Your rivets look similar to the Magna-Locs I used on my under skinning. They were pricey at $.40 per rivet.
Wow! $.40 per rivet... I used over 600 rivets!


That is a Ram mount we picked up at Bass Pro... works great... I used stainless 10/32 screws with washers and nyloc nuts... I hard wired everything through the mounting base plate... looks factory...
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#20 Post by Blessed » Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:32 pm

Finally done! That was pretty brutal! Working under the boat with the trailer.... my knees, back and neck are aching!

I didn't keep an accurate count... but it took over 600 rivets the way that I chose to install... but I'm thrilled at the end result! Looks great and it far exceeded my expectations on overall performance! I'm shocked at the difference it made...it's much quieter. ..much smoother...picked up two mph... I looked under the boat while underway and if I would have known the brutal beating that the plywood decking was taking I would have probably done this sooner... here's the pics...

Installing the Rear tabs
Image

Angle piece had to be added beside the motor pod... can't tell it from this pic... but they have shims between the crossmember and the motor pod to clear the rear of the boat... Had to add this short piece of trimmed down angle to close in the gap so the underskin would sit flush....
Image

Had to recess a rivet to attach the angle piece...

Image

Rear panel installed... first of the underskin pieces
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Tabs are complete... ready for the sheeting... and more rivets!
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End result
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Gps...29 mph! Two adult men over 200# each... trolling motor... extra battery (front mounted)... 42 gallons of fuel.... misc. Stuff... bimini top up and open...
Image
Last edited by Blessed on Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:30 am, edited 4 times in total.
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

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teecro
Posts: 1028
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:23 am
Location: Sunset Bay, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#21 Post by teecro » Sun Sep 28, 2014 3:10 am

Looks great, liking the fat headed rivet idea....
T CRO
2017 Berkshire CTS 24 RFX with Yamaha F150/Simomized 200
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RcgTexas
Posts: 2656
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:37 am
Location: Texas

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#22 Post by RcgTexas » Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:40 am

That really looks good! Now........take it all apart and add a center pontoon log with a motor mount! :lol3 :lol3
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

God Bless America

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#23 Post by Blessed » Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:32 pm

teecro wrote:Looks great, liking the fat headed rivet idea....
Thank you... yeah the rivets worked great... they were really inexpensive.... and plenty strong enough...
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#24 Post by Blessed » Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:48 pm

RcgTexas wrote:That really looks good! Now........take it all apart and add a center pontoon log with a motor mount! :lol3 :lol3
Thank you... Funny that you mention it... I found a place online that custom builds them for your boat... the price is a little high... It was approximately $3, 000.00 for the pontoon with the motor mount... then $850.00 for the built in fuel tank... and $600.00 for strakes... $4, 450.00 total... ouch!

I wonder what lifting strakes would do on the center pontoon only...?

The price pushes me toward the waterglide... looks like it would be more bang for your buck...
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

RcgTexas
Posts: 2656
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:37 am
Location: Texas

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#25 Post by RcgTexas » Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:56 am

A place in Ohio quoted me almost that exact price to build me one with strakes last spring. I went a different route but, it has made a ton of difference in performance.

A waterglide may be all you need I just don't know. The center toon I installed has been a good thing for sure.
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

God Bless America

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#26 Post by Blessed » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:17 pm

Picked up some 303 for the toon...
Image

Also got a trim gauge! I looked all over the web for the factory type trim gauge that matches the gauges that came on the boat... wasn't sure which one to get... went to the Tracker boat store at the Lake... they had one on the shelf!... several years old... package all covered in dust... I asked the salesman to order one for me... he was having a tough time because it wasn't an option on our boat... so he was looking through all of their info... trying to cross reference other boats.... narrowed it down to two possibilities... then we go check the shelf.... BAM... there it is! Woohoo... can't hardly wait to get it installed... also ordered a toggle switch for our docking lights... now I need to find a dimmer for the dash lights.... they are way too bright at night... so much to do... so little time.... anyone know of a good dimmer to use for the dash lights?
Image
Last edited by Blessed on Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

RcgTexas
Posts: 2656
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:37 am
Location: Texas

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#27 Post by RcgTexas » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:33 pm

Wouldn't a dimmer for a 12 automobile dash work? maybe an autoparts store could fix you up! there is always rockauto.com
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

God Bless America

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#28 Post by Blessed » Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:15 pm

RcgTexas wrote:Wouldn't a dimmer for a 12 automobile dash work? maybe an autoparts store could fix you up! there is always rockauto.com
None of the auto dimmers that I can think of would work... all the old school dimmers are built into the light switch... not to mention huge.... and all the newer autos are "wheel" type potentiometers also built in... I think that would look cool... but, I suspect neither would be waterproof... also... all of the newer type work in conjunction with the vehicle body control module I assume and wouldn't work stand alone... I added factory fog lights to my truck a few years ago and had to take it to the dealer to get the output programmed... :x truck already had the wiring... relay and fuse... I added the lamps... changed out the switch... plugged in the factory wire harness connections. .. pushed the button... :( ... then try and find a dealership technician that can program an output :donno was a real hassle... was hard to believe some of the responses I got on the phone...
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

Blessed
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:43 am
Location: Tims Ford Lake, TN

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#29 Post by Blessed » Sat Sep 12, 2015 8:19 pm

11 months later.... I finally got around to installing my new trim gauge and toggle switch for the docking lights...

Before...
Image

After
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At night...
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Next I'm going to install a dimmer on the lights... they are way too bright at night...

Trim gauge is right in the middle with the motor level... it's not very sensitive or precise but it works... not sure how useful or helpful it will be... the main reason I wanted to install it was the dash looked off balance to me with four gauges off center... looks symmectrical now if nothing else... I'm excited about it! Plus... now I don't have to run my docking lights to listen to the stereo!!! WooHoo
Last edited by Blessed on Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2010 Sun Tracker 21' Fishin' Barge 90hp Optimax
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Acts 16:31 (KJV)

RcgTexas
Posts: 2656
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:37 am
Location: Texas

Re: 21' Fishin' Barge upgrades & underskin project

#30 Post by RcgTexas » Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:01 pm

:thumbsup Looing good!
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

God Bless America

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