Customising a dinghy
Submitted by Ashen on Sun, 2014-11-16 06:47
Hi all
Have sold my Voyager LTD for a deposit to buy a house. Couldn't be without a boat so I've bought a 12ft dinghy with a 15hp outboard.
Would like ideas for customising the dinghy to make it "fishing friendly".
Advice and especially pictures would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
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A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
Image Upload:
Hutch
Posts: 2221
Date Joined: 21/04/13
Casting deck if fishing
Casting deck if fishing calmer water mainly, and put heaps of rod holders, can never have enough
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Yeah, was thinking of
Yeah, was thinking of those. The dinghy will be used on the Swan river and also Matilda Bay for crabbing.
What type of screws can i use on the dinghy. Its ali so i assume stainless steel screws are a no no?
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
jarrid
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 20/08/10
Rod holders where you are
Rod holders where you are fishing and set of 4 x vertical rod holders for transport which you can out up dent out of the way. Removable bait board (if you fish baits)
jarrid
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 20/08/10
Ps use stainless screws but
Ps use stainless screws but apply the "gunk" liberally
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Gunk, as in silicone?
Gunk, as in silicone?
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
Swompa
Posts: 3938
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Gunk as in Duralacin saying
Gunk as in Duralac
in saying that, I have SS bolts in my tinny and after 11 years, no issues, though I used silicone.
Shimka
Posts: 465
Date Joined: 06/02/14
Floor between each of the
Floor between each of the seats but keep it low so it doesn't raise the centre of gravity too much. Raised casting deck (seat height) front & rear. Use the space created under the front & rear casting decks to store fuel tank, battery etc. IMO vertical rod holders in small boats simply get in the way & are a great way to end up with damaged rods if you drift in too close to overhanging trees. Stick with rod holders that will be used while actually fishing, lay the rods down on the seats when underway or when not in use. Removable swivel seat to slip over the existing centre seat & tiller extension (50mm PVC pipe) for when your fishing/crabbing solo. A sounder is a must & a bow mounted leccy is super handy when fishing the snags for bream or cruising the flats for flathead.
"Gunk" is actually Duralac, available from boat shops. Coat all nuts, bolts & other fixtures in it to prevent corrosion.
jarrid
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 20/08/10
We always had 2-3 rods each
We always had 2-3 rods each and didnt go under trees so vertical holders are better in my opinion
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Awesome! Great advice, guys.
Awesome! Great advice, guys. Will post up pics when im done customising!
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
makai
Posts: 459
Date Joined: 28/10/08
Casting decks
Casting decks are useful if you are going to use them, but can also be limiting unless designed well. You need to make them so you can easily get gear in and out from under them, and removable so you can retrieve things dropped (sinkers, swivels, hooks, or worse motor or reel parts) that might bounce or roll under thwarts and then under the casting deck. You DO NOT want to leave dissimilar metals in contact with the hull as you will end up with pin holes or worse in the hull. At the very least, make sure you have an easily opening hatch in the centre at the stern so you can get to the inside of the bungs. It is amazing how often crap lodges there and doesn't make it out through the bung.
lachieH
Posts: 1126
Date Joined: 02/03/13
If u like bream fishing u
If u like bream fishing u will love an electric motor to Sneeker up to the snags and be like an anchor against the current and a live well
Fishing the swan for bream, it's just an obsession
Shark B8
Posts: 152
Date Joined: 10/01/13
Are you going to pull the
Are you going to pull the middle seat out?
It will give you more room your nearest fabrication mob will weld you a couple of ribs either side to compensate for the missing seat.
Go big or go home..
Swompa
Posts: 3938
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Middle seat will most likely
Middle seat will most likely be structural sou I would recommend against it.
dumper
Posts: 1027
Date Joined: 03/04/08
Couple of rod holders And a
Couple of rod holders And a bait board should do it. Take it to a fabricator and there goes ya home loan deposit. There some awesome Dhingy fit outs on here, but for 12 foot and 15 hp I'd save my money until you've got some decent equity and then buy something good again
Shark B8
Posts: 152
Date Joined: 10/01/13
You would be suprised what a
You would be suprised what a carton of beer will get for you. Pull the seat out yourself they will have ali off cuts laying around its a small job. Well worth it
Go big or go home..
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
I dont want to go to the
I dont want to go to the extent of cutting things up. I'll probably add simple stuff like rod holders, sounder, nav/led lights etc.
The missus has promised me a new 22+FT boat after we buy the house so the dinghy is just a temporary "ointment". Haha!
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
a splash gaurd across the
a splash gaurd across the front and a flat bottom
Red Dog
Posts: 311
Date Joined: 13/12/12
We used the suction cup
We used the suction cup battery operated LED nav lights for years on our dingy.
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Portable-Light-LED-Bi-Colour-Suction.aspx?pid=135431&menuFrom=571488#Cross
The white one we would put on the cowling of the motor, the red & green up on the bow, with a couple of tethers made from 100lb line just in case the suction cup let go, which they never did.
An easy alternative to stuffing around with wiring etc. They were there when you needed 'em and out of the way when you didn't. I just onsold them with the dinghy.
sandbar
Posts: 704
Date Joined: 25/10/09
LED light strip
under the gunwhales directed at the floor. Excellent lighting that doesnt affect your night vision.
uncleben
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 06/01/09
if your on fb there is a
if your on fb there is a page called tinnie boat mods and ideas .... some great ideas on there with plenty of pics
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Hey guys. What type of rod
Hey guys. What type of rod holders are recommended on a dinghy with no gunnel? Are surface/deck mounts ideal?
Example:
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=136&item=72120&intAbsolutePage=1
Have installed a battery, switch panel. Next up will be a sounder and nav/led lights
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
uncleben
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 06/01/09
http://m.bcf.com.au/Product/B
http://m.bcf.com.au/Product/Blueline-Boat-Rod-Holder-Rowlock-Pair/223906?menuFrom=571480