Convertable / Removable Flounder Lite System / Rod Holder Set

I didn't do my usual today. I had too much going on getting this Windshield laid out, holes drilled in the Acrylic and Console aligning the Windshield slope with the Backrest slope.

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I needed the Windshield installed so I could fabricate a Grab Bar to protect it from damage.

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I will back up the mounting hardware with extra thick Aluminum washers on the inside of the Console for improved clamping of the 1/4-20 SS Screws & Nuts.
All the weld are painted with Hot Shot, the additional welded pads were painted too. Boat is finished just waiting on paint to dry.

Looks good

Boat went out today. No more projects for friends the rest of the year and after that a very weak maybe. Time to stick steel to Crappie. Best time of the year to fish, Winter!

Go get on them. You’ve got some tacos to make….lol

Awesome work

I like it! Time to settle down for a long winters nap or…

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

I like it! Time to settle down for a long winters nap or…

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Winter fish! I fish these trash piles out in the rivers 20+ft down with micro jigs and 8# braid. If you use mono you can't feel a bite. I very slowly lift and lower my pole just a little checking for weight or slack in the line. A lot Of the biggest fish I catch all year just suck the jig in and sit there with it in their mouth. When raising a Monster Slab to the surface you got to take your time too or possibly straighten or pull the hook.

I've had the boat here for a few days but needed to finish the Peach wine, Christmas, and processing enough wine bottles to bottle 40 bottles of my Tripletail wine.

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Starting out with a Light Mounting Bracket I used a pair of Spring clamps to layout the location of the mounting bolt hole on all 8 Mounting Plates. After locating the hole I used a Transfer Punch to center punch a mark for drilling.

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Of course when the 1/2 inch holes were drilled huge burrs was left on the exit side of the drill bit. I used a deburring bit to bevel both sides of the mounting holes.

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here is a quick picture of the TIG welds. I Bump Weld Anodized so I can weld in one pass without creating a Heat Affected Zone in the weld.

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The wiring is a bit of a pain to deal with as there are numerous "Tees" I tied all the power and control wires as best I could to keep them off the deck. Each Light has a Ballast and the Mfgr of the Lights provided a harness to tie all the ballasts for each side together and mount them remotely. Here I have the Ballasts screwed to a piece 1/2in piece of King Starboard using 1/2in Screws so the ballasts will be isolated from the boat hull. The thickness of the ballast flange is enough to prevent the screws from touching the hull.

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Very cool and I bet very bright. Looks good.

I will get a few pictures in the field. I have to tune one of my Compound Bows for fishing once this is finished.