Aluminum boat mods.

[swt70611]

Looking for opinions.

I have a 1996 15/48 weld-built with a 4cyl 40hp Mariner. I bought it new in 96 so I know the motor is solid. I regret not getting a 16' or bigger boat for that motor but since I have it I'm considering how to correct the overpowering issue.

My goal is to get a More shallow water friendly boat.

The boat needs some TLC. I pulled the Carpet and everything else off it. Going to the sandblaster next week. But before I do all that I'm weighting options.

Option 1 - Buy a long tunnel boat and use the motor. (not really wanting to spent that much on a boat the rarely gets used)

Option 2 - sell Motor and buy a 25hp for it. (Like the motor and know its be used lightly)

Option 3 - Modify the boat buy adding sponsons and cutting a tunnel in it.

Any input is appreciated.

[Natural Light Kid]

I think you should sell the motor to me for hardly anything Just my opinion.

[breambuster]

I wouldnt bother cutting a tunnel. Maybe try to trade for a tunnel hull?

[I make oil]

What do you do with the boat? Maybe put a mud motor on it?

[flounder_smacker]

Whatever u do don't sand blast it. You will for sure be looking for a new hull

[boggycreek]

Why shouldn't he sandblast it?

[latravcha]

Sand blasting alum boat will warp it

[swt70611]

Would the sponsons help. The rear has always rode pretty low.

Why not tunnel?

The guy doing the blasting knows the trick to it but yeah if you don't know how you can destroy aluminum.

[boggycreek]

I have built quite a few boats and most of them have been sandblasted , no troubles from any of them.

[j.e.hagen]

I don't know why bream buster said no tunnel he may know something I don't, but putting a tunnel and pontoons seems like the best options for you to get up in shallow water to me. My wife's grandpa has 2 15x48 that run well with them. If Cajun Christian chimes in I would take his advice.


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[flounder_smacker]

if you are blasting aluminum 1/8 or thicker and you know what you are doing then you wont have problems. when you blast thin aluminum by the time you get all the paint off one spot you will take a good amount of material off leaving it pitted and looking like crap. i still wouldnt blast with sand regardless. boogycreek why would you blast a newly built hull with no paint?

[scott craft]

In my opinion if you're interested in shallow water an 18' tunnel hull would be a much better option than anything you can do to 1548.

[breambuster]

Originally Posted by j.e.hagen

I don't know why bream buster said no tunnel he may know something I don't, but putting a tunnel and pontoons seems like the best options for you to get up in shallow water to me. My wife's grandpa has 2 15x48 that run well with them. If Cajun Christian chimes in I would take his advice.


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In my opinion. I dont think he should cut up a good hull to add a tunnel to a 15ft boat. If the hull is nice I would try to trade for an 18ft tunnel hull. It'll run better than the 15 will.

[boggycreek]

Flounder Smacker , when you are painting it , the paint sure does stick better.

[swt70611]

after more internet reading and talking to a buddy at a fab shop, I think I'll try the sponsons. Not wanting to spend much on the boat. It won't get used enough to buy a 18' boat.

[Natural Light Kid]

Pease keep us posted. You may be surprised at the price to add the sponsons. I checked into it at one time. At that time Cabelas had some that were made by beavertail that you could buy and have welded to your boat. That route was less expensive that having some fabricated locally.

[swt70611]

Originally Posted by Natural Light Kid

Pease keep us posted. You may be surprised at the price to add the sponsons. I checked into it at one time. At that time Cabelas had some that were made by beavertail that you could buy and have welded to your boat. That route was less expensive that having some fabricated locally.

I'll be building them so should be cheaper. I have a Tig welder and plasma cutter.

[smooth move]

i have a 1448 with a 15 hp johnson that i put a old manual jack plate on and modified it so's i can lift it with a cheater bar and pin it in 5 positions. i also made a cavitation plate for it. it will run in very shallow water, 4" on plane and will get up in 8". it will plane in all jack plate positions except the very top one. the cav plt slows it down on top end, but i never run anywhere except the marsh. i'd try this before i spent too much on sponsons. you can always add them later. good luck.

[Lil Silver]

Looks like you have an oil seal leaking. Might want to check that out.

[Bdub]

Been wanting to make a plate for my motor so bad!