FS18 = Flats Stalker 18

[FLYonWALL9]

Ellie

Why not mount the switches and gps on the starboard
gunwale and run the wires under it? You can mount
hand rails on the gunwales also to keep the paths clear
Don't know about you but the only time I need a gps
is to find my way out

Its killin me, where are the study plans

[Super Spook]

I was hoping they would be up during my lunch hour because I'm going to have to spend the rest of the day away from the computer. The wait is almost painful.

As far as the grab bar goes, I think we may be talking about different things. On the "Unnamed Boat Manufacturer"'s, one option is a handhold so that you can run standing with a tiller extension with less chance of eating it into the front deck or falling overboard. This link shows what I'm talking about.

http://eastcapecanoes.com/photos/image. ... age_id=349

I was talking about having the same setup but with the inside leg bolting to the coffin box back. Wiring would be in 1/2 a piece of PVC glued under the gunnel and run up through the U-bar. What do you think?

The Hell's Bay actually has all the switches on the bulkhead under the back deck. This way when you're running sitting, you just reach down by your right leg and hit the buttons. The boat I was on had tabs and trim/tilt set up this way.

[FLYonWALL9]

Yeah I thought you were talkin about that stipper bar or
dancin pole

Not sure I would want that thing in my back cast, I have
been known to be pretty wild .... I am going
to do the bulkhead thing myself for switches and such.
I have an actuator around here I have been dying to
use I may mount my electronics and motorize them
out of something. Dunno yet.... I liked the GPS about
where my last one was near the starboard gunwale
this kept people from getting my numbers due to the
angle. I will have to play with the angle on this boat
to see where I can see it better.

I can tell you this I'm damn sure not gonna go all nuts
with all the wood I did on my last boat. This is going to
be SIMPLE, just like all the boats we have shown on this
thread.

[mikebro72]

this boat (and all boats) can obviously be outfitted to each and every owner's needs...but, my plan is simple, simple...the more electronics, and hydraulics....the more weight...battery, etc.. im thinking clamp-on running lights when needed..manual mini jack(we have one made localy here--mini cajun jacker, aroun 130 dollars)the key to this design is the simplicity...i even have a plan for trim tabs that require no power...if i want to hop a marsh bank to the next pond, no problem with 2 guys and only 350 pounds of boat motor and gear..just something to think about...

[jerryholmes]

Please give details on the inexpensive manual jackplate and the trim tabs. If I'm going to build this boat I want to go ultralight. Can you adjust the jackplate while in motion? I have a friend here in Nederland who has one that is adjustable while moving. I'm thinking about pulling a pattern off of it. I realyy want to stay under 4".draft, static.

Second issue...poling platform. Where I fish the water is always turbid. You can't see the redfish in one foot of water. I seldom see a tailing fish....but I use a trolling motor. Can you spot fish in shallow turbid water? Am I missing seeing fish because of the trolling motor, even in turbid water? This is important because I don't want to add the weight of a poling platform if it isn't going to be helpful.

[ghstdanc]

I wasn't sure if this thing was going to have a sole to it or not, with no study plans yet. If you were to put an "Unnamed Boat Manufacturer" style grab bar/rail in it, it would need to be prety stout to hold up to its intended use. If you would mount it to the boats sole I would think you would need a good size backing plate.

[FLYonWALL9]

Second issue...poling platform. Where I fish the water is always turbid. You can't see the redfish in one foot of water. I seldom see a tailing fish....but I use a trolling motor. Can you spot fish in shallow turbid water? Am I missing seeing fish because of the trolling motor, even in turbid water? This is important because I don't want to add the weight of a poling platform if it isn't going to be helpful.

I fish in the chocolate milk water myself. If you fish
shallow water a platform is still of use because you
can see those waking, bulging fish. I don't think a
trolling motor scares them in this color of water, but
that is depending on the area. I have had the motor
nearly go right over fish in 4ft of water in clear water
and they didn't ever move. However, I have been in
little creeks and back waters where even the boat
will spook them off. A platform for this little narrow
boat will only weigh in the 20lb range. I do think they
are worth the money but then again if your the only
one fishing and you use the trolling motor just get a
good bow platform, say 12" to 18" tall.

[mikebro72]

i have pics of the jack plate, and i have some drawings for the trim tabs...but they are on my computer at home...ill be home tomorrow...ill put some up here so you can see...the jack is not adj under way...its a set and forget type of thing(once fine tuned, no problem)...weighs very little, i will be building my own this time around(i have one to copy)...the trim tabs are very simple...i ll have to show...cant explain....very common design down here...

about the fishing...my marsh, im sure is like yours in tx...i fish for redfish commonly in 1 foot to 18 inches, maybe 2 foot of water at the most....i can trolling motor around...but in the small ponds i fish(1/2 to 1 acre with ditches connecting series of ponds together), the first clump of grass the tm hits, the reds in that pond are spooked for 1/2 to an hour....thats why im wanting this boat....to pole....my aluminum tunnel boat(4 inch draft, run in 4inches) is a pain to pole...as ive said earlier, i had come up with my own design boat to build, but this one came and i trust a professional's design...mine would be alot of trial and error, probably...

the water i fish is brown...sight fishing is very occasional...we just blind cast to cuts and drains and what i call funnels....where ponds get real narrow...

so, as far as the poling platform....i havent decided yet...this boat should be able to be poled from the back deck(hence, the narrow beam)...ive never had a poling platform, my clumsy, 2 left footed self would probably fall off

[mikebro72]

http://www.anglerschat.com/showthread.p ... #post25254

look at the pics in posts 2 and 3 for pics of the jackplate...for pics of the trim tabs, i have to get them tom from home....i actually had these on my ipod...

[timoub007]

Jerry,

The plate mikebro posted is similar to mine. The only difference is mine has turn-buckles on each side that should allow you to lift the motor without the use of a floor jack (once you loosen the bolts). Mike Watson (Watson's Propellor) makes these kind of plates for about the same money mikebro posted. He made the one that Brian had on his scooter.

As for trim tabs, you should go with the Smart Tabs. They really worked on my GF-16T and are fairly cheap and very light.

I wouldn't go for a poling platform. You could put a small bow platform on it though since you'll be fishing from the front. If you get someone 225+ up on a poling platform, your static draft is going to suffer. Put that weight up front and you should be okay. Not sure you're going to run a trolling motor to well in 4 inches though.

Let me know if you want to see the Smart Tabs. I'm not going out in this weather though.

Tim