Shaft length on 18 Fisherman

[jasoncooperpcola]

I plan on moving the fuel tank forward, also i will have a 150qt ice chest up front. Not to mention 300? of anchor rope and 20?chain and three anchors in the bow. Also a bunch of small stuff like leads and tackle boxes and such. I think this would be enough to offset the weight in the rear. Also i want a flotation bracket so that should help some too, right? Keep in mind i have not had this boat in the water. So i have no clue how it will sit. I may hang a v6 yamaha on it and put it in The water to see how it sits, before i begin tearing the boat down.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Update; it was a pretty busy weekend. I hung a v6 Yamaha on the 18 and put it in the water. She does sit a little stern heavy, but with a full fuel tank of water (someone took the sending unit off the tank) and two 1000amp batteries it toom a little rocking to get water to come thru the scuppers. Even then the water did not leave the drain recess. I got the garage cleaned out and now she is sitting on blocks in the garage. I removed the liner but it had to come out in two pieces. Where the po cut it, it wouldnt hold. Just kept breaking so i recut it. Now for the bad news. All of the stringers are rotted or broken or both. It made getting the fuel tank out a little easier. Tonight i want to clean it up and check for leaks. At this point should i rebuild all the stringers, or just trash the hull? If i can find cloth at a reasonable price i can rebuild it. I plan to use west system on the entire project. If i rebuild the stringers the liner is not going back in. I hope to rebuild it like Kracker Jack did his with plywood floors and plywood gunnel caps and exposed hull sides. Now while i am at the subject, i am taking quite a bit of weight off the boat. Would it be feasible to put a bracket on it? The transom is all new. Its the only thing the po didnt halfass.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Bad news. Fuel tank is full of holes. I have decided not to go any further with her. I am selling the entire hull and liner minus bow rails and console. If nobody is interested, she will make one more voyage offshore.........

[Curapa]

Post the GPS numbers please!

She does sound like she is in rough shape....

[jasoncooperpcola]

Here are a few pics of the boat. There are a few pics of the stringers but they dont do justice as for the extreme rot of the stringers. Also two pics of it in the water with the Yamaha hanging on the transom.

[jasoncooperpcola]

More pics








Curapa when you said it was built like a tank, you was right. Thats a helluva lot of wood in the hull.

[Stinky_Hooker]

I think you made the right decision. Hate to see her get thrown out but thats alot of work. Good to see the stringer layout. I always knew mine was a solid heavy beast for her size. I see why now.

[Stinky_Hooker]

I understand.

Just a thought, but a shortened cuddy (mostly only useful for storage) with that center console setup would be sharp. Kinda like the sport cuddy Makos, or contenders. Way more fishable than the V20 cuddys with a ton more deckspace than the 18.