Modifying my tinny - Casting deck and side pockets

[woody1]

Sorry about the crappy phone photos, when it is all done I will take some with the SLR

I bought my tinny about a year ago. It came really well set up with a sturdy floor (thanks coldasjoe) but I have been thinking of building a casting deck to add more space up the front when flicking lures and also give some better storage space. Some of the switches were getting a bit dicky, so it was also time to redo the wiring aswell. I had nothing to do last night and today, so decided to spend the day sweating it out in the shed. I wanted to keep the price down as much as possible, so this was never going to be a technically perfect job, more like a bunch of leftovers from the shed chucked together.

I started by pulling apart all the old wiring. The switches at the back of the boat have bever been all that useful to me, so i decided to move them to the middle of the boat, and build a little sidepocket to sit the sounder ontop of and put a new switchboard in – but that is a project for next weekend.

I marked everything out with cardboard – this old advertising from a dumpster outside a cinema was perfect

Everything was cut out of 16mm external ply (freebie) and sealed

The hatch is cut out so that it is supported by the frama all the way around, this makes it super sturdy to stand on

I made the frame out of some alloy angle and square hollow section. I can’t weld aluminium, so everything was riveted and screwed into place. There is a frame below for a piece of ply to sit on, this will be the inside of the hatch.

Marine carpet was cut out, stuck down with contact adhesive and stapled on the back.

Hallelujah, it fits!!!

Cut out a second hatch and added a hinge up the front for storage up into the bow

With the hatch open

At the moment the floor isn't screwed down so I can take it out and clean it - That will probably change if it kicks up and hitc me in the face on the water. The hatch in teh casting deck isn't hinged, I will probably pick some up next time I'm at a chandelery.

Still need to screw the lights back into the front, build the side console/pocket/thing and do the wiring. Will update as I go. it is a bit rough, but considering the only real expense was the carpet ($80 for more than enough) I am pretty happy!

[Runty66]

niceee!, where'd you get the carpet from???

[woody1]

Bias at Virginia, $40 per metre. It is meant to be waterproof. You can get similar at Bunnings for $35pm but I figured for $10 extra, its worth getting the good stuff

[rosstralia46]

sounds awesome mate but pics arent working for me :s

[woody1]

Just inserted the pics again. They seem to be working

[rosstralia46]

Yet mate looks awesome well done

[Runty66]

Bias at Virginia, $40 per metre. It is meant to be waterproof. You can get similar at Bunnings for $35pm but I figured for $10 extra, its worth getting the good stuff

How much did you get??

[shortie]

yep your right it is a bit rough

as long as your happy with it.

[fishingnut]

Watch that SS hinge after afew minutes in the sun, stand on that sucker and YOUCH!!!

[daveo17]

well done i like your work old runnnabouts are great for casting decks