Looking for Aluminum Boat Mod Ideas

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

I've spent the past few weekends fixing up an old aluminum Semi-V Hull that I've had sitting around for a while now. I'm wanting to use it for duck hunting and fishing. If anyone has some tips or recommendations on the following, let me know what you think.
1) Decking - Should I deck from the front of the middle bench forward or only from the front bench forward? Wood VS Aluminum? If I go with aluminum what thickness and what size rivets to use?
2) Stereo and Speakers - Where do I put one? I'm thinking about up in the bow underneath the v-shaped support but I'm worried it will get the snot pounded out of it being up in the bow. Has anyone cut into the benches to flushmount a deck and speakers?
3) Interior - I just painted the interior with Green Primer. Should I camo it up too? Or just leave it? For duck hunting I'll be using a blind. It'd be more of an aesthetic thing.
4) Trolling motor- Has anyone used a freshwater Minnkota in Saltwater? The riptides cost so much more and are white. I really don't want a white trolling motor sticking out like a sore thumb. I don't like the idea of painting over a brand new TM. If I had to I guess I could buy a Riptide and use a camo vinyl wrap on it. If a freshwater TM will work, I'll just go that route. Are there any cons to using a transom mounted TM?
Any other tips or recommendations are appreciated.

Started as a POS.



Currently.

Sides painted in this photo. The floor is now painted too though.

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

Also, where can I get a piece of 1.5" thick piece of wood to replace the transom? What type of wood can I use for this? For a temporary transom, I nailed/glued two 3/4" pieces of plywood together and coated with thompson's waterseal. Will this last a little while or just crack from the weight of the motor?

[Rollo]

You might be over thinking it simple is always the ticket I say get the transom straightened out ,cut some plywood inserts out for the floor hang the engine and get to fishing ,Times a wasting!!

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

Rollo,

I've thought about keeping it simple. A Couple clamp on seats, drink holders, and a portable radio. I've got my kayaks for when I want to fish rugged. This will be more of a sit back and relax, drink a beer, soak some bait, type of boat haha.

[WestEndAngler]

Bailey, Robby & I tackled this Jon Boat... very fun project.

http://www.fishwestend.com/component/option,com_picaweb/Itemid,127/act,show/albumid,5213737710014268977/unit,album/

[BayPounder]

I would put some indoor outdoor carpet on the bottom just so I wouldn't hurt myself so bad when I passed out. course then you will have rug burns on your nose /jk

I would get a 2x12 treated for the transom.

[Rollo]

Bobcat, you just let me an Paul know when its ready and soon as the weather warms a bit we'll take her out tube'n.just kiddin great project.Big memories are made in small boats!!Have fun brother!

[H.Maier]

I remember when I was a young kid my Dad would build skiffs out of 1/4" marine plywood. He would cut it out and use 2x2 for ribs and deck it out with oars stirrups and deck the back end to pile up the 400' seine. He'd nail the skiff together and paint it with marine paint. He would do some process to soak the skiff so that the wood would swell and keep it from leaking or taking on water.We'd go down to Surfside beach about 4 miles from the house and his friends would hold the seine stake on the beach while he rowed out feeding out the net and row paralell to the beach and end up about 100 yards down. They'd pull the seine in and my brother and I would pick up fish and cull. It was always exciting to see what that seine would catch as it came ashore. Lotta work after 2-3 pulls but plenty of fish. Ah the good memories.

[Rollo]

Boy Harvey,you hit that nail on the head,Those were the days!

[Texfish]

[coachlaw]

Looks pretty good to me AS IS. For the transom, 2 pieces of marine plywood laminated together are going to be stronger than anything else.

[reeltime]

Keep it simple and paint NFIC on port and starboard sides and load it up with gear and fill the boat with fish.Good luck.

[TXSHOCKWAVE]

Solution to your transom problem.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-1-2-BLACK-KING-STARBOARD-HDPE-sq-ft-CUSTOM-CUT-SIZE-/220946628048?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337171fdd0

[H.Maier]

Boy Harvey,you hit that nail on the head,Those were the days!

I wish I'd been paying more attention instead of playing ball all the time. Old man could make cast nets, shrimp nets, boats. I never took interest unless he said" Grab that rod and reel, boy." I don't know if you ever met him, Rollo?

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

TXSHOCKWAVE... I thought about using some Starboard but that stuff gets expensive in large sheets. I can't remember the size of wood for my transom but its aroud 46in X 12in.