Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Lord willing I'll have it finished this friday and on the water Saturday...

Just don't forget that baby under there!

Big Fat head rivets arrived...


Big Fat head rivet box

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.

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...

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


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....


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



Rear panel installed... first of the underskin pieces


Tabs are complete... ready for the sheeting... and more rivets!


End result


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...

Looks great, liking the fat headed rivet idea....

That really looks good! Now........take it all apart and add a center pontoon log with a motor mount!

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...

RcgTexas wrote:That really looks good! Now........take it all apart and add a center pontoon log with a motor mount!

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...

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.

Picked up some 303 for the toon...


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?

Wouldn't a dimmer for a 12 automobile dash work? maybe an autoparts store could fix you up! there is always rockauto.com

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... 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 was a real hassle... was hard to believe some of the responses I got on the phone...

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

Before...


After



At night...


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

Looing good!