Finally back at work on the restoration of a 1985 boat motor and trailer for my grandson.
It is a Lowe 1648 all welded aluminum jon boat.
I had posted earlier restoration photos, before the dos frio crash and they were lost.
Trailer restoration has been finished, before I started on the boat, my buddy Reba and I went through the 1985 Merc 50 and got it purring like a kitten. On the test runs at Somerville she idled smoothly, with a outstanding hole shot, and ran in the high 20’s.
I then pulled the motor, and started on the boat, first cutting out the seat tops to remove the sprayed in waterlogged foam that had caused numerous leaks. The leaks were only in the foamed areas, the rest of the hull is in perfect shape. And that is about where I left off, about a year or so ago, as other things in life got in the way.
Now I have welded up the leaks, modified the mini side console to a full center console, added rear pods, set up storage compartments with hatches and built front rails so he can bowfish or gig flounder and increased the size of the front deck with aluminum diamond plate by 50 %.
I am through with the fabrication, need to do some sandblasting and hope to be priming and painting in the next few weeks. Will prime all the new fabrication with zinc chromate primer, and a final coat desert tan 2 part epoxy to match his restored 2002 F150 that we did a couple of years back.
(thanks for the help on the F150, Reba)
Once I get it painted, I can start re-rigging.
It will get a min-kota trolling motor that I bought salvage and restored.
Humminbird Helix 5 chirp fish finder/GPS with inland and coastal database.
All new Blue Sea circuit breakers/switches with marine grade tinned wiring.
1 manual, 1 automatic bilge pumps. VHF marine radio.
New no feedback helm and steering cable, new shift and throttle cables
New 12 gallon gas tank, horn, nav and anchor lights, rod holders, bimini top.
New foam flotation, that does not contact the outer hull.
And a custom set of gigging/bowfishing lights that will mount on the front rail uprights.
I hope to have him on the water in this boat by summer. Until then he can use his little brothers Blue Wave that I restored 2 years ago.
I will post up progress as it happens
It is a Lowe 1648 all welded aluminum jon boat.
I had posted earlier restoration photos, before the dos frio crash and they were lost.
Trailer restoration has been finished, before I started on the boat, my buddy Reba and I went through the 1985 Merc 50 and got it purring like a kitten. On the test runs at Somerville she idled smoothly, with a outstanding hole shot, and ran in the high 20’s.
I then pulled the motor, and started on the boat, first cutting out the seat tops to remove the sprayed in waterlogged foam that had caused numerous leaks. The leaks were only in the foamed areas, the rest of the hull is in perfect shape. And that is about where I left off, about a year or so ago, as other things in life got in the way.
Now I have welded up the leaks, modified the mini side console to a full center console, added rear pods, set up storage compartments with hatches and built front rails so he can bowfish or gig flounder and increased the size of the front deck with aluminum diamond plate by 50 %.
I am through with the fabrication, need to do some sandblasting and hope to be priming and painting in the next few weeks. Will prime all the new fabrication with zinc chromate primer, and a final coat desert tan 2 part epoxy to match his restored 2002 F150 that we did a couple of years back.
(thanks for the help on the F150, Reba)
Once I get it painted, I can start re-rigging.
It will get a min-kota trolling motor that I bought salvage and restored.
Humminbird Helix 5 chirp fish finder/GPS with inland and coastal database.
All new Blue Sea circuit breakers/switches with marine grade tinned wiring.
1 manual, 1 automatic bilge pumps. VHF marine radio.
New no feedback helm and steering cable, new shift and throttle cables
New 12 gallon gas tank, horn, nav and anchor lights, rod holders, bimini top.
New foam flotation, that does not contact the outer hull.
And a custom set of gigging/bowfishing lights that will mount on the front rail uprights.
I hope to have him on the water in this boat by summer. Until then he can use his little brothers Blue Wave that I restored 2 years ago.
I will post up progress as it happens
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