marshthumper
Member
Earlier this year I decided I wanted to get away from a big fiberglass boat. I wanted something aluminum, lightweight, and with good reliable power. So I started researching online and closely inspecting boats at the ramp whenever I took my boat out. I asked questions with a hunger for knowledge about people’s experience and why they chose the package on which they settled. I also read a lot on his site and silently observed people’s opinions.
After a couple months I had an idea of what I wanted and a firm vision of the end product. While never putting anything down on paper, I had a list with boxes to check off in my head. I wanted to go from a continental gpu to a more abundant parts market motor. And something still serviced in the aircraft industry. I scooped up a Lycoming 4 Cyl off this site with a good supply of spare accessories for my build. Over the next 5 weeks I proceeded in as fast a pace I could to complete a full build in my spare time.
I started by taking a few measurements and making a large order of square tubing for my rigging and cage. Once it arrived I started welding up the seat stand and motor stand as a single entity to save weight and space. I’ve never built an aluminum hulled boat. But have a reasonable idea of the balance points and basics. That said, this hull threw me for a couple loops. It’s not a straight deck and has a raked rear wash over. This creates a compound set of angles in relation to the motor stand’s angles and the motor. It made measuring things a bit more time consuming in making sure things were right. But it came out just fine in the end. I went with a side by side rear driver with a double up front. I know it seems like a lot of seating on a lil over a 12 foot hull. But it’s so I can take my kids out with my wife if I want. The boat actually floats great with four adult men and rides just as good. I was surprised when I tried it out. The boat is finished and been running it for about 2 months now. The boat has had a few kinks I’ve encountered, but overall it came out great! It rides stable and smooth. Doesn’t porpoise and has very strong performance. It’s an O360 straight valve with a lil better compression pistons and conservative cam. Spins a winglet q series 72 on a medium hub, making it 71inches overall. Using 4 foot rudders.
I had a basic idea of the budget I wanted to try and stay close to, which I managed to do relatively well. My initial goal was to stay around about $6500. I acquired the engine for $2500 with the accessories to build something and that put me right on track to meet my budget. I was expecting to pay about $1500 for a hull in need of work and $1000 on a decent prop, if I was patient enough to troll and wait to pounce. I got the hull done way under my initial price budgeted for. I ended up with $600 into my hull and an old trailer for just $200,off this site. And my search continued. I spent just over $250 on metal square tubing, through my distributor of which I have a few whole sticks leftover. I used 2 gal of super slick on the bottom at a cost of $226 after shipping. I also had diamondback roll me two pieces of round for the cage hoops for $125. I spent a lil more than planned on my prop, but wasn't worried because its a newer series and not a standard carbon prop. but I picked it up for $1250 with hub and bolts. The cage wire cost me $90. and I paid $500 for powdercoating it all. There were a few other small expenses that weren't much individually, but added together they cost about $200. I managed to reach my goal quite well. The whole build cost right at $5620 total to turn key boat in a working timeframe of just 5 weeks after accumulating all the major parts. At that rate, I have half what a comparable package complete would cost. Just with the investment of time, thought, and some effort filled actions of sweat equity, I've managed accomplish my goal alone. Now all I need are people to ride with. Cruising the river and trails alone isn't as much fun as it used to be. Miss the days of running kicker boats as a big squad down to bulldover cabins and back up to indian mound or further to oak head.
After a couple months I had an idea of what I wanted and a firm vision of the end product. While never putting anything down on paper, I had a list with boxes to check off in my head. I wanted to go from a continental gpu to a more abundant parts market motor. And something still serviced in the aircraft industry. I scooped up a Lycoming 4 Cyl off this site with a good supply of spare accessories for my build. Over the next 5 weeks I proceeded in as fast a pace I could to complete a full build in my spare time.
I started by taking a few measurements and making a large order of square tubing for my rigging and cage. Once it arrived I started welding up the seat stand and motor stand as a single entity to save weight and space. I’ve never built an aluminum hulled boat. But have a reasonable idea of the balance points and basics. That said, this hull threw me for a couple loops. It’s not a straight deck and has a raked rear wash over. This creates a compound set of angles in relation to the motor stand’s angles and the motor. It made measuring things a bit more time consuming in making sure things were right. But it came out just fine in the end. I went with a side by side rear driver with a double up front. I know it seems like a lot of seating on a lil over a 12 foot hull. But it’s so I can take my kids out with my wife if I want. The boat actually floats great with four adult men and rides just as good. I was surprised when I tried it out. The boat is finished and been running it for about 2 months now. The boat has had a few kinks I’ve encountered, but overall it came out great! It rides stable and smooth. Doesn’t porpoise and has very strong performance. It’s an O360 straight valve with a lil better compression pistons and conservative cam. Spins a winglet q series 72 on a medium hub, making it 71inches overall. Using 4 foot rudders.
I had a basic idea of the budget I wanted to try and stay close to, which I managed to do relatively well. My initial goal was to stay around about $6500. I acquired the engine for $2500 with the accessories to build something and that put me right on track to meet my budget. I was expecting to pay about $1500 for a hull in need of work and $1000 on a decent prop, if I was patient enough to troll and wait to pounce. I got the hull done way under my initial price budgeted for. I ended up with $600 into my hull and an old trailer for just $200,off this site. And my search continued. I spent just over $250 on metal square tubing, through my distributor of which I have a few whole sticks leftover. I used 2 gal of super slick on the bottom at a cost of $226 after shipping. I also had diamondback roll me two pieces of round for the cage hoops for $125. I spent a lil more than planned on my prop, but wasn't worried because its a newer series and not a standard carbon prop. but I picked it up for $1250 with hub and bolts. The cage wire cost me $90. and I paid $500 for powdercoating it all. There were a few other small expenses that weren't much individually, but added together they cost about $200. I managed to reach my goal quite well. The whole build cost right at $5620 total to turn key boat in a working timeframe of just 5 weeks after accumulating all the major parts. At that rate, I have half what a comparable package complete would cost. Just with the investment of time, thought, and some effort filled actions of sweat equity, I've managed accomplish my goal alone. Now all I need are people to ride with. Cruising the river and trails alone isn't as much fun as it used to be. Miss the days of running kicker boats as a big squad down to bulldover cabins and back up to indian mound or further to oak head.
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