I once had a 15 ft Duracraft with three bench seats (outer two were foam with the seat rails and middle one was storage locker) and a very short front deck. I hated the three benches and wanted a larger deck up front. I had to get rid of it a year and a half ago for financial problems and I was thinking about making an offer to get it back, however, Id want to change the interior of it up. How difficult would it be to remove the front bench, and slide the middle storage locker bench towards the bow a foot or two? Would removing the front bench and relocating the middle one have any impact on the stability of the boat?
And what about extending the front deck? What would be the best way to go about this? Ripping the old one out and starting from scratch?
Every piece of tail you turn down is a piece of tail you didn’t get.
xHCFKx
I wouldn’t think that removing the forward bench and moving the middle storage bench forward a foot or two would hurt the stability. I have a 12’ jon that I have been messing around with, trying to get a “floor plan” that I like. If you are handy with a couple air tools and have some patience it really isn’t difficult at all. I drilled the rivets out to remove the front bench in mine and just put a piece of plywood, covered it with carpet and call it a casting deck. Make a “to scale” drawing of your boats interior and play around with it. I was worried about stability in my 12’ but it didn’t change that I can tell. That being said, I am sure a 15’ would be even easier to change up and customize. I saw one guy on the lake I go to with a 14’ jon. He had one bench in the rear with a small tiller handle motor (9.9 or smaller) and it looked like the whole rest of the boat was a deck. He had a couple pedestal seats on the deck and a couple of hatch doors…probably rod storage. It was hooked up pretty well. The tools I used was an air drill (electric would work too) and a rivet gun and a jig saw to shape the ply wood for the deck.
Take some pictures as you go, I want to see!
Mike
“Seahawk” 204CC Angler, 150 Merc
How close to the front deck is the front seat. Maybe add a little frameing and just make the deck larger. Could put in a couple of hatches and have some storage spact beneath.
Dang Chris, you really need to come over and see mine at the house.
Its ready to go, open floor, 2 decks, I think you’ll like it.
Its the 14 footer in classifieds on here.
I remember that boat Jim and believe me, if I had that kind of scratch, I’d get it. Wanna work out some trade for some O-knives??? they make great Christmas presents!
Every piece of tail you turn down is a piece of tail you didn’t get.
xHCFKx
I don’t have that kind of scratch for Christmas presents, unfortunately!! I still have not broken my O-knife in yet, just waiting for the right opportunity(almost went to pick some yesterday).
BTW, I’ve had some inquiries, so I want to send your e-mail to several of my peeps anyway, OK?
have at it bud
Every piece of tail you turn down is a piece of tail you didn’t get.
xHCFKx