Northwest Fishing Reports

So here it is! Long time coming and the patience has paid off. This is exactly what I have been looking for. No kidding, EXACTLY!

The deal......

~posted on craigslist for $2400. called within 6 hours of it being posted (i hunt craigslist about 3x's a day). bought it less than 18 hours later.

Paid $2000 cash on the spot. I had to travel a little over an hour but this is what I got for my patience and effort:

-14 ft. LUND 1998 WC14
-Ez Loader Trailer 1998
-25Hp Mercury 2 stroke
-6 gallon gas tank(full), hose and pump
-30lb Thrust Minn Kota trolling motor
-Garmin Fishfinder 90/140
-2 Swivel seats with cupholders
-2 Rod holders

Both boat and trailer have clean titles. I am the second owner. The guy just wanted the cash and said he doesn't have the time to use it with work and the car re-builds he does. He told me I could probably turn around and sell it for $3-3500 tomorrow if I wanted to, but he just wanted some dough and I was the lucky guy to offer him cash first. SWEET!
Let the modifications begin.
to be continued....








So here are just some ideas I have so far:
casting deck, center bench seat either a live well or split to have a center walk-way and two side seats with storage, back will be flat decked, newer seats, carpeted, flat carpeted bottom, bow mount trolling motor and of coarse storage

The idea and what I am after is really a lake, bass fishing machine with the capabilities of hitting the Sound for crabbing and salmon fishing, but also with the luxury of taking the whole family out on sunny days and just floating on the water with comfort.


fishnislife

Nice! Congrats on your new toy!

Toni wrote:
How young are your child(ren)?

My boys are 8,5 and 1. They love the water and will always be in life jackets. So if they go in it will be all good.


fishnislife

First up will be a motor stand so I can clean and buff up the boat. I want it similar to the one below but a little larger for both or my trolling motors. I think I will fill in the front to be completely flat for the gas can and battery. I have wood and screws, now all I need are the casters. I will update once I'm done.


Got this off iboats.com. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-rep ... tructional
The pdf file in the post has complete layout prints and parts list.



fishnislife

I will do some looking when I get home.. There was a guy on here about 4 years ago who did his on Mods with a very similar Lund, 14'? It was almost the same boat as mine. Your's is just an older version of my boat, with a bit different configuration, transom height, etc.
You have to see this guy's mods, they were the best I've ever seen on a boat like this. His casting deck in the upper portion of the bow, lifted up for storage, etc.

You'll love your Lund. We have had ours for 4 or 5 years and have not looked back.

So here are a couple of things that have been going on since the last time I posted......
-been on 12 hour shifts so I haven't worked on the boat as much as I would have liked, but the money sure will help
-ordered almost all the pieces and parts I need to finish the trailer
-planned and thought about what I will end up doing with the interior
-cleaned the inside of the boat and purchased a product to buff up the aluminum


Here is the motor stand



I added 2" to the width of the stand (vs the plans) to be able to store both my trolling motors

After taking the boat out with the family I didn't like the way the trailer sounded and felt. Once we got back I took off the wheel and the bearings puked out of the hubs.





The bearings had been rolling around in the hub and causing havoc. The hub had scars over an 1/8" deep and the balls had also scared the axle spindle pretty good.



Now this is how she sits while I wait on parts



So i have decided to order a new axle, hubs and leaf springs.
I have also pulled the wiring and lights and have a new submersible kit coming. With these orders that I purchased online from Trailerpartsdepot and etrailer, I will be getting new bunks and brackets to replace the old ones,





new keel roller and battery box too. Also I have put on a new trailer jack so I don't have to pick it up by hand anymore to move it.
I purchased tires from Les Schawb the other day and they slapped them on the good wheels while taking off the crappy hubs for me and disposing of them. Great service btw!

Next steps are to license and tab both the boat and trailer, buff the aluminum on the boat, assemble the trailer and begin the process of the boat mods.
Purchase carpet, wood, brackets, hinges and waterproofing.
I have so many ideas and many of them have made it onto paper.
Tinboats.net has some really cool boat mods that people have done that I am pulling from.

This is my winter project and I am planning for spring, but of coarse time and money will all dictate that. I hope I can post often enough with progress to keep you guys interested and informed. All help and suggestions are welcomed btw. This is my first go around with a boat modification so bear with me.
First help I need is ideas on the best carpet for my buck. Where should I purchase carpet from?


fishnislife

looking forward to reading your progress. Good catch on those bearings.

Sweet boat man.

The garage was the best invention in the history of mankind

Looking forward to your updates!

Looking good. That's a great site tinboats.net

Since the previous owner went that long without changing bearings, I would make it a point to change the impeller in the outboard.
Keep up the good work! Keep us posted.

goodtimesfishing wrote:Since the previous owner went that long without changing bearings, I would make it a point to change the impeller in the outboard.
Keep up the good work! Keep us posted.

Good looking out goodtimesfishing, I appreciate that. I will do.
I am hoping to get the Mercury in to service soon. I know nothing about 2 strokes except how to mix the gas and start it. I'm as sure I could troubleshoot if something happened on the water but this is my first one.



fishnislife

Iboats is a good resource for you. The forum is great for diagnosing or repairing outboards. They also have quite a bit on modifications like you are doing. Might want to check it out.

The tinboats website had a great thread on a guy who put a center console on his lund, did an awesome job I wouldn't say no to that boat. Ya keep us posted on all the mods and make it pic heavy.

my first boat was a 12' Lund. Good lake and slag pile boat with a 9.9hp Evinrude. riveted so it seeped but did fine out in the sound. enjoy your project.

New bunks, keel roller, axle, hubs, leaf springs, tires......





Next is to run the wiring.


Cleaning the oxidation off the boat and I am half way there.





I am really digging the look and the character of the Dreamboat. I really like the aluminum look and I will not be painting this boat at all.

Once done with the trailer and buffing up the aluminum on the boat, I'll flip her over and start the decking. I have found the carpet I'm going to use and have already purchased the wood.


fishnislife

How do you clean off the oxidation? My boat needs that done big time.