My 1st Boat

[DrNip]

Went to Hot Springs Arkansas yesterday to finally pick up my boat after a 2 month wait. I was really impressed with this city. I will be traveling back there in the future. Purchased the boat through Bull Bayou Marine. They came in $400 cheaper than everybody else. Got me a great deal on a boat and trailer in the end! The boat I ended up going with was a Weld-Craft 1248. I went with the 24" sides and 21" transom though the transom is 22". It came standard with a .1" hull. It is rated at 30 HP max and 801 lb max weight. I had them convert the middle bench into a full length livewell. Only thing I'm not too happy with is the trolling motor mount. It will work but a little taller than what I want. Thankfully there was a mix up and they didn't mount it but just gave it to me for me to mount. Other than that I am very impressed with the quality of the boat.

The trailer is by Diamond City Trailers. It was made to fit the boat and fits it like a glove. Very impressed with the quality of it too.

Work will be a little slow on it at 1st. 30 HP outboard will come sometime this winter. Plans are to floor it, place batteries up front under the seat, a little electrical work here and there, mount the trolling motor mount, latches for livewell doors etc. Really want to do a digital camo paint on it but don't know if I will. Once outboard is on it if it is too squirrelly I will look into transom pods in hopes that it will make it behave more like a 14'. My plans are to have it fishing by spring.

Here are initial pics of the boat.

[Woodworker42]

Sweet!

[swollencrappie]

Great looking boat. Hope it allows for several slabs to be caught.

[DrNip]

I hope it does too!

[Cray]

That's a lot of boat for a 12 fter. Bet that thing is going to fly with a 30 on it. Can't wait to see how it looks rigged. Congratulations.

[Bobo Greybeard]

I am loving that storage space in the center bench. Great looking boat and congrats.


bobo

[DrNip]

Thanks guys! Really loving this boat. I thought of getting a 14 footer but I am always fishing by myself and garage space was limited so 12 it was. Originally I was determined to get an 8' plastic boat but wife talked me out of that and I'm glad she did.

[bigBone]

Very Nice boat. Soon to be a fish catchn machine.

[Stinkfinger]

Hope you have fun fixing it up and fishing this coming spring. Nice boat, extremely nice boat.......proud for you!

[Micropterus salmoides]

Too awesome. That is exactly what I want and plan on looking into. Mind saying or sending me a PM with how much you gave for it to give me an idea when I go to shopping?

Adam