Boat Builder Central - Builder Forums

T minus 4 days to launch the boat at final destination Marco Island. I decided to stretch wrap the front of the boat seats and motor from road rash for its 24 hour journey from Wisconsin to Florida. Just got on the road.

Sunday night or Monday I’m picking up a poling platform from a guy in Naples. I have a bunch of real work to do on Monday and Tuesday, but hope to be splashed in the water on Tuesday afternoon. I will get it all shined up and take a bunch on pics from every angle.

I decided to put in a lift for the boat, but it won’t be ready for a couple months, but that will give me a excuse to come Back to FL. I’m also looking to get a cover made down in fl.

Cbuf.

Safe travels.

You are very close!!!! She looks great!! Jeff

Have a safe trip!

The trip down was great and uneventful. I had shrink wrapped the cushions, motor, and front of the boat to prevent bugs and road rock from chipping the paint. Also the original trailer has a 8’axle originally, which was too wide for a 5.5 foot boat. So I took the trailer apart and cut a foot out of everything and welded even thing back together. I‘M so glad I did that it made it narrow than the truck which making pulling much easier.

The boat made it all 1200 miles without any issues.

The day we got to Fl I stopped at a guys house that I met on Facebook markplace. He had a polling platform that I thought would fit perfectly. Unfortunately it was 2” shorter than I needed it. However I really liked the hugeness of the platform. I have been on platforms that are small and I find it challenging. This platform is 40 by 32 plus it came with 4 nice rod holders for the right price. It was the wrong color, so for the next 2 days I stripped, primed, and painted it to match the boat. I also made 3”x2” risers to make you the extra height I needed. My mom, my sister, my son and I went out to catch some dinner and caught3 keeper grouper and som snappers.

Once all the paint and sealent was dry. We launched it. It floated higher and ran much better in the saltwater. I was really impressed with how well it performed.

Top speed 35
cruise with 2 guys full gear, full gas, and full livewell was 30 mph @ 4900-5100 getting 7 mpg.

I only has a half a day on the water to play with it because I had to work the entire trip. However we took it out caught some fish and met up with my family on a small island we like to fish from. I took some good pics there.

Right now the boat is in the garage waiting for a cover to be made and the lift to be installed. I will be back down for a fishing trip in either oct or nov once the lift is in. Hopefully I will not be so busy at work and I will be able to fish more.

Cbuf

I'm glad you made it safely!

Sounds like it performed perfectly! Congratulations!

Looks great! Can only see one thing wrong with it. Not enough cup holders.