Thread: Another new project!

Originally Posted by DRPEPPER

You asked for advice, so here is mine. I have a 24' Premier with almost identical seating as yours. I have a problem (when I load it down with people) with it listing to the port side. I simply make the heaviest guy sit behind me/captain's chair in a folding chair to help or eliminate the problem. The list makes it hard to steer and hold course.
But, my biggest problem and it sounds like you might run into this too, is it is "MY WIFE'S BOAT". There will be no modifiing for fishing. I used it to place some brush with Nimrod a couple of years ago and placed some condos in Ouachita. My sins were explained for some time after. You have probably heard me cry about my fishing boat becoming a storage bin;...that is different.
We do have plans for some re-upholstering and a new bimini for this summer. We love to cruise the river to sand bars for an afternoon of grilling and swimming.
DP

DP, I don't know if you need frame and cover but this guy's price is hard to beat.
eBay Motors: Pontoon Boat Bimini Top 8' x 10'!! (item 220355312143 end time Feb-09-09 13:10:18 PST)

You're gonna really enjoy your rig when you are finished.

My wife Virginia and I bought a 21' Sweetwater (fishing edition) that has fishing chairs in all four corners, electric anchors fore and aft, two live wells, the grill and a removable 8'X8'X7' enclosure-complete with a Lil'Buddy propane heater--for those really cold winter crappie days and nights.

We just love the boat. Even though it is a handful on windy days, that's okay. I'll just stay home. But when I DO go, I have plenty of room and can fish comfortably.

One thing I would do differently if I had it to do over again: I would not go with the electric anchors. They are incredibly noisy!! The letdown pullys you are installing are more the ticket. I expect I'll be selling the deck hands if I can't quieten them down some. I never would have thought that a free-falling anchor system could make so much noise-and I can't deal with that while fishing.

Otherwise, we will grow old(er) wearing out this boat. I use it 2-4 times a week and the little Yahama 90 on the back and the 101 Minkota on the front do all I ever wanted it to do. The 4-stroke 90 just sips fuel and is super quiet. So much so that I surprised eight mature gobblers while just idling along, the other day.

It is a good all-around combination pleasure/fishing rig. Virginia can take her buddies out this summer when they come to Hot Springs and have a blast doing it. She can drive that thing and load it back on the trailer like a pro!!

Enjoy your project and post a few photos along the way.

See you at crappie camp. <><

aj