OK guys here ya go!!
I wanted to get rid of some more very unuseable space. My 18 had a "livewell" in front of the console that I never used. It had long since been out of commission and I dont know why they even put them up there. When in anything but slick calm conditions all the water bounces out and the bait gets beat to death too. I keep a cooler in the back for a livewell untill I get the transom enclosed and the bracket on.
Here is the before shot:
After some grinding:
The uneeded livewell:It will be on Ebay, the first 299.95 gets it!! :D
Oh my, thats gonna take on water! :o
The floor actually cleaned up pretty good where the old livewell sat and now I just have to caulk the front of the gas hatch with some 5200.
I know just the thing to cover that up with! Starboard to the rescue!!! :D
After smoothing the front lip off while being very careful not to damage the console I covered the hole with a piece of 1/2" starboard, which still has to be caulked in.
Here is the final result: As you can see now I have room for a cooler
and I am able to walk around. Before the cooler had to sit on top of the livewell or get tripped over.
I even buttoned it down with two Igloo tie downs from a set of cooler chocks holding my 150qt in place of a seat behind the console. I screwed small stainless strap hooks into the console so that I would'nt have to put any more holes in the floor for cooler chocks. ::)
I LIKE it!! 8)
One other tip I thought of that some of you guys might can use was this fan setup.
I keep a fan blowing into one of the back storage compartments of the boat. It runs ALL the time. If the boat isnt in tow or in the water the fan is going. This keeps the whole inside of the hull from holding moisture when not in use. It even blows through the belly drainage and up under the console. You can also feel air blowing out of the anchor storage up front. I like knowing the water doesnt collect in there...it'll probably add many years to the life of the old girl. ;D