Don’t forget the stepladder option, Bob. Funny stuff. I’m looking forward to seeing the art that comes back too
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
"Awesome! Thanks, Bob! I’m sure you won’t disappoint…but what’s the weight limit on the PVC one?
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat"
I’m guessing about 250lbs., but I’m not a plumber.</font id=“red”> 
"Don’t forget the stepladder option, Bob. Funny stuff. I’m looking forward to seeing the art that comes back too
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com "
I’m thinking folding attic ladder.</font id=“red”>:sunglasses:
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Good stuff guys, haha!
Here’s a drawing of the switch plate my machinist neighbor drew up for me. This will be laser cut out of 0.100" thick carbon fiber. Switches will be the bank of six evenly spaced ones on the left. The right side column will be jack plate switch on top, keyswitch, then kill switch. Labels will be laser etched into the carbon.
Don’t mind the “SPL racing” text (inside joke), that will say Bentz-Craft, or it will say A-Salt-Weapon, haven’t decided yet.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
Consider this when laying out the switch arrangement. This is my opinion only, but it works well for me and I’m a creature of habit. I always position the switches in order of their importance to me, working from left to right and top to bottom. I want to be able to find every one in the dark by feel alone. Top left, always bilge pump, next deck lights, next nav lights, next plotter and VHF, and so forth depending on your order of importance. I usually put the bait pump last. Not that it’s last in importance but I can find it easily in the dark. Just a thought.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Well, topside is sanded. Gonna lay color on it tomorrow! Here’s a shot of the console in the boat to give you an idea on color…
Also, got to test out the Simrad angle and while it would probably be okay, I’m going to go with a mount anyway. I cannot decide, but think I may bite the bullet and go with this unit from Balzout LLC…it’s incredibly strong and it looks good to boot.
http://www.balzoutllc.com/#!product-page/c1tw9/c7c3a3ce-8e62-385c-b671-b7bcd9430953
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
Great thread. Love the PVC platform
Bob has been sending me progress pics of the platform. I can’t wait to see it done. The little things, like using oval tube for the steps instead of just tubing, will go a long way for tying it all together.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
Well of course the weather has put on the brakes…
BUT! New parts are arriving. The Uflex Hytech 1.0 hydraulic steering showed up surprisingly with a black cylinder instead of grey/silver, which is PERFECT in my opinion. The parts are machined incredibly beautifully, and seem to be very well built compared to the Baystar cylinder.
Had this idea of using an old transom support plate for the top motor bolt holes which reside in the splashwell, a very boring area of the boat. I tried to work with a machinist friend of mine, but doing a one-off plate the way I wanted would be very cost prohibitive. I reached out to Vance manufacturing, who makes jack plates and parts like that. They only do custom plates with 10 orders or more, but I got an email back from one of the big wig’s cell phone, as evidenced by the signature on the email. He was intrigued with the “bentz-craft” name and agreed to make me a plate. I promised to bring him an order for more in a couple of months, and have secured a half dozen already. Very thankful they worked with me, and were super to work with. Beautiful parts help that fact also.
These pictures don’t do this thing justice. It’s beautiful. One of those little touches that will make this boat special…
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
Also got a little further on the switch panel. Here’s a pic, with an explanation to follow.
What you see on the left is the layout of the panel in carbon fiber sheet, 3mm thick. The cutout in lower left will be open. The second piece is a piece of clear acrylic, UV stable. It will be milled down to make the rectangular part raised up over the rest of the outside. Bentz Craft will be etched in the back of the acrylic. The raised portion of the acrylic will fill the cutout portion of the top plate. Third piece is a side view of the acrylic.
So it will be 3mm of carbon, with a piece of acrylic milled down to about 1mm thick cut the same size. So looking from side will be 1mm of clear acrylic and 3mm of carbon. The acrylic will rise up into the carbon at that cutout. The back will be lit with electroluminescent wire and a small controller from www.coolight.com so the acrylic will glow faintly white, and reveal the Bentz-Craft logo in the middle, and slightly around the edges when the NAV lights are on.
Should turn out pretty cool…hope my explanation makes sense!
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
Great work! You are making really good progress too!
Mark Ingle
NauticStar 1810 Merc 90
Great thread. I’m about to refurbish a Carolina skiff and plan on doing lots of custom work. Boat looks great. Regarding your live well or bait well. I almost strictly fish live bait. The biggest tip I can give for keeping bait lively is to get an o2 system. It took me a long time to buy in but once I did I haven’t looked back. It’s amazing the difference in how good the bait act.
Thank you, leadenwahboy. This is one AWESOME thread. Love following your work.
Well, topside did NOT get painted due to weather and holiday, but now it’s teaser time! Special thanks out to Happy Bob for all of the help. Got to get to Columbia to pick this thing up on Saturday unless someone else is making the trip and wants to bring this thing home for me!
Note, the piece sticking rearward off of port side stanchion is a tube for using a stick-it anchor pin from the platform…
Also, the deck of the platform will be black starboard, and the platform itself will be powdercoated black.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
quote:
Originally posted by leadenwahboyWell, topside did NOT get painted due to weather and holiday, but now it’s teaser time! Special thanks out to Happy Bob for all of the help. Got to get to Columbia to pick this thing up on Saturday unless someone else is making the trip and wants to bring this thing home for me!
Note, the piece sticking rearward off of port side stanchion is a tube for using a stick-it anchor pin from the platform…
Also, the deck of the platform will be black starboard, and the platform itself will be powdercoated black.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
Seems like a black platform would be awfully hot in the summer but mayb you wear shoes all the time in the boat.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
quote:
Originally posted by pescazorroSeems like a black platform would be awfully hot in the summer but mayb you wear shoes all the time in the boat.
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
Was a concern, but now I plan on using a piece of marine mat on top for cushioning and heat reasons. The structure being black is of no concern to me, as it won’t be used for a hand hold or stood on.
But, yes, I do wear some form of shoe when fishing.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
That Linex coating doesn’t get hot. My son has it on his truck and you can lay your arm on it and lean on it all day without any worries.
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson
Thanks for pointing out “the piece sticking rearward off of port side stanchion is a tube for using a stick-it anchor pin from the platform”
I consumed five frosty beverages trying to figure out what that thing was…
quote:
Originally posted by fshunmanThanks for pointing out “the piece sticking rearward off of port side stanchion is a tube for using a stick-it anchor pin from the platform”
I consumed five frosty beverages trying to figure out what that thing was…
Picked up the platform from Bob today. It’s perfect. Can’t wait to get it rigged up and powdercoated.
Thanks again, Bob. Was a pleasure. The quality work was just a bonus.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
A thing of beauty. Gonna look great in black…
Should make a lot of progress on the topside and console this week.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
BEAUTIFUL piece lwb