Newbie

[Big Lar]

Just took possesion of a 82 20' Wellcraft cuddy with a 2001 150 Merc. the boat is in great condition only needing a non skid paint job on the deck (done), a new Bimini top, detailing, new decals etc. I am in the process of making it "My boat".

I have added trim tabs, will be installing a windlass, porta potty, sink and a new seating arrangement.

The original captains seats will be move to the rear for fishing. I found a great buy on 2 cushioned captains seats mounted on fiberglass storage boxes. These will be great for storing life jackets and other emergency equipment. Behind the passenger seat will be a 27 gal live well followed by the original seat. on the captains side the same set up except the live well will be replaced by a cooler.

I hope to install a small sink above the live well using the live well intake for water and the drain.

While I intend to, at least initially, stay within 10 miles offshore, I will be adding an Eprib.

I have a problem with my tongue weight and will be having a trailer guy look at this next week. may have to move the axles.

I do have before pictures that I will post later.

[randlemanboater]

Welcome to the site!

[Destroyer]

Boat porn, boat porn, boat porn, boat porn, boat porn, boat porn!!!!!! Do you sense a theme here? We love pictures...

Oh, and welcome to the site also..

[Road King Cole]

ya, what Destroyer said (as usual).

rkc

[jdawg69750]

Bring the boat porn....

[RWilson2526]

Nice job...welcome to the club....post up some pics of the fiberglass storage boxes with the seats...I think we would all have those if we could find them for a reasonable price.

[reelapeelin]

Welcome, Lar...sounds like big plans in store...all sound GREAT!!...like the others, pictures are always of interest here...I especially wanna see the seat boxes you describe...

Tongue weight...too heavy or too light?...many times this can be resolved by moving boat and winch-stand forward or back...usually doesn't require much...generally easier than moving axles ...note...you may want to finish installation of seat-boxes, windass, etc prior to adjusting weight on trailer...keep us posted on your progress...

[Big Lar]

Re tongue weight. The weight exceeds 400 pounds the limit of my scale. The boar has been moved so that a couple of inches are beyond the bunks. I do not believe that there is any other option.

Re the boat box seats. Will try to post pictures of the before look and then the after look. My goal is to have the seats, live well and cooler installed or at least on the boat before i take it to the axle guy. The only real wight is the storage boxes as they are at least 1/4 " thick.

By the way, sometimes u get lucky! I just happened to be surfing and was on craigslist when i saw the seats. I immediately contacted the seller via email he called me and said i was the first of about 25 people. Told him i would be there in an hour and got them by this time he had over 50 contacts.

I know u guys love pictures and i will try to post some tonight.

[Big Lar]

installed the GPS Fish Finder today and cut and painted the 3/4 ply for the covering of the storage box for the pedestal. tomorrow I will get the boxes ready and after the next coat of paint will probably install them Friday. the next 2 projects are the installation of the windlass and the installation of the live well. I have a small 13" sink that I plan on installing above the live well and the system will also include a salt water wash down. THOSE PESKY FISHES CAN MAKE A MESS.

My trailer problem has me concerned. In order to move the axles there will most probably be a lot of cutting and welding required as there is no room under the fenders and the are no bolt holes in the trailer

Having trouble with the pictures, have them in the system, but do not understand how to transfer them to the forum.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Big Lar

My trailer problem has me concerned. In order to move the axles there will most probably be a lot of cutting and welding required as there is no room under the fenders and the are no bolt holes in the trailer

Having trouble with the pictures, have them in the system, but do not understand how to transfer them to the forum.

Some trailers use U-bolts instead of bolts and holes, some use bolts and holes and some are welded. Look closely at the main frame of the trailer, and as you get back to where the axel is see if theres what looks like a piece of angle iron running along the bottom of the frame. If there is, then your axels can probably be moved. If there isn't, then your trailer is not meant to have the axel moved and you'll have to adjust your tongue weight by moving your boat and the front winch post forward or backward as needed. To properly set up your boat on your trailer you should put the stern of your boat even with the end of your bunk..... if you put it further off than that you run the danger of hooking your hull over time, which will act like a trim tab and actually push the bow of your boat down into the water while underway. The real object is to put enough load (weight) on your tongue so that the trailer doesn't fishtail back and forth as you're going down the road. Most people say that 10% of your total weight should be on the tongue. That's a good overall target, but truthfully it can be as little as 6% for a dual axel trailer all the way up to 15% on a single axel. As long as your trailer is of the proper load rating for your boat 10% is a nice target. Just don't go crazy thinking you have to be exact. You have some leeway. Also, don't forget to include the weight of the trailer itself when you are making your calculations.

As to posting pictures....Make an account at www.photobucket.com , then transfer the photos to that account. Click on the picture(s) you want to post here and on the bottom left side you'll see a box with several different ways to transfer the photo. Pick the one that has the [img yourphoto'sname img]. Highlight and copy that string and then just paste the whole thing right here after your message. Simple as pie once you know the tricks.