N FL FS 18

[Uncle D]

I like your driveway, John. Boat's looking great too.

[thb]

John,

Where in North Florida are you??

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

[johna]

Had to move the boat to another garage so I had to buy a trailer earlier than expected.

The local trailer shop fitted me out with a 60" wide trailer for a 16' boat and made it fit my 18'. Very pleased with the fit and price was good, too. Now I should be able to make some better progress as the boat is located where I live most of the time.
Hi Tom in Steinhatchee, I'm just north of J'ville.
Thanks Uncle D. The pavers sure do add curb appeal. Money well spent.

[thb]

I went up to Yulee a year or so ago to buy a trailer that John had at bogey creek skiffs. Good guy and builts neat little boats all by himself. I sold the trailer as there was no way to make it fit my 18 ft Ugly boat. Made a few bucks so that was good.

Sure have lots of little tidal areas up there.

Enjoying watching your build. Nice work.

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

[johna]

Thanks for the kind words. It seems like I have to make irreversible decisions every time I work on the boat and it can be a bit nerve racking. I am having to force myself to move slowly so I don't get in a hurry and screw up. But I sure would like to be out on the water at 6am again instead of in the garage. My kayak fishing friends are shaking their heads at me. If I could fish out of one those plastic boats I probably wouldn't have thought to build this boat. Hope it's worth it.

I've met the guy at Boggy Creek and was impressed with his boats. None of them really worked for me though. Hope he can hang in there with the economy like it is.

And yep, the big tides do add a critical dimension to fishing and just being out on the water. Makes staying local more rewarding though because there are so many areas where the fishing is great but where you can really get into trouble (thus the skinny water skiff). I frequently see the poor souls in their bay boats who make a miscalculation and end up watching fiddler crabs for six hours in the blazing sun. That is one mistake I've never had the pleasure of enduring but I've come close a few times. I used to have a go devil which didn't need water to run. It was pretty amazing how it just skidded across the mud flats without missing a beat. It was slow on the water though and not the most fishable boat- better for ducks.

I've been fishing down your way a few times and loved it. I bet it's a great place to live/fish. I'm liking those less populated areas in the state more and more as fishing pressure increases around here. Where are all these people coming from?

[thb]

There are several disadvantages to living in unpopulated areas. Have to travel 70 + miles to find a Sam's or Home Depot or descent hospital. Have to travel 30 miles for food shopping. Not much for the OWMBO to do other than garden and such so she gets pretty restless. Still it is nice to live in a town without a stop light or blinking traffic light. Gets pretty crazy with visitors here in the summer to scallop but usually nice and laid back.

Folks from all over the SE seem to come here and buy properties. Lots from around Atlanta and central Florida. It would be nice if we were closer to a big city but then we would have more residents. North of Jax would be close to big city and therefore more folks.

What do you do? Stay put and enjoy wherever it is that you live. There are no greener pastures over in the next county or state. We have lived all over the world and home is where you make it.

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

[johna]

Making some visible progress. Cleats installed, rubrail completed, frames installed and lighter holes cut- no hatches planned. Going for lightweight, well, at least lighter than I would build it if I put hatches in it.

BTW anyone who's interested - the trailer I bought for this is a continental CB 1717 - about $1650. Fit's well. Seems solid. Aluminum has gone up a lot recently and I couldn't find an aluminum 60" wide that would fit anyway.

[johna]

Well I missed my deadline for finishing by the summer, again. Maybe next year. Here's the latest progress-

Dry fit sole, fwd and aft decks to get an idea about how I want to set things up. I'm passing on the fixed poling platform and will build a casting/poling platform that I can attach forward (as casting platform) or aft (forward of motor as a poling platform) or in the cockpit as a seat using Kennedy tie downs in each location.Considering a cooler with an attached grab bar. Making progress but it's less visible so not as encouraging. Getting ready to drill for jackplate, trim tabs, eye bolts, drain plug, etc. Gas tank is in process of being built. Running lights are ordered (Can't seem to find an LED sternlight- anyone know where I can find an appropriately sized one?). And I'm looking for a small fishfinder so I can install the transducer. The transom will be cut to final shape as soon as I drill for the jackplate. Not sure if I'll have to build up transom for that or not. Latest photos:

[Cracker Larry]

Looks good John. Are you putting any foam under the sole? And did you cut out the sole from the plans, or measure the boat? I'm wondering how it fit if cut from the plans.

I see you are near Yulee? I'm going to be passing through there in a few weeks, going to fish with Aripeka Angler. I usually tale the A1A Yulee exit off 95 and cut over to 301 from there. I'd like to stop in and say hello if you are going to be around.

[johna]

Thanks Larry. Yes I did foam under sole. I will probably foam outside the stringers aft of frame E since I plan on making my rod tubes under the aft deck. It would be nice to keep the motor afloat in some unforeseen mishap. That area is going to be for lightweight storage of things I hope I never have to use like first aid kit, required gear, etc.

The sole started out as per plans but I ended up having to trim it to fit. It was off a bit I think mostly because I used honeycomb panels which are 3/4" thick vs. 3/8". I am pleased with how solid they feel.

Come on by. I would invite you to go fishing but I gave up fishing to build a boat
I am not far from Yulee and it wouldn't be far out of your way. It would be great to get some feedback on what I'm doing on the boat besides making a dusty mess. Let me know when and I'll try to be around. ask for my email if you want to contact me that way. there is a good shrimp and beer shack on the way out of here, too.