Howdy.

I am a new boat owner, and a new member to these forums. I got a decent deal on a 14' Sea Nymph V Series John boat. I paid $1300 for the boat, trailer, and a 15HP Mercury outboard. Here are a few pics. I am wondering a few things...

#1 How much do I need to worry about raising the center of gravity of the boat? Would it be ok to just deck it to the level of the tops of the benches?

#2 related to #1 If I raise the decking would I be stupid to put 15" pedestel seats on it?

#3 Would removing the middle bench seat compromise hull integrity?

I would LOVE to be able to take the bench out and make a nice floor in the middle (keeping the high sides because of my toddler) and have two casting decks, front and back. Here are a few pics, and ANY input would be appreciated!

Welcome to the site.

I have a 14' V and have thought about decking it here are some links to other boat projects that I found to be very helpful.

http://www.tritonmike.com/boat.html

http://www.myjonboat.com/aboutboat.htm

I stood on my bench seats while fishing just to try and get an idea of how it would feel by raising the CG. I wasn't scared by it but I could see it being a little tipsy with two people moving around. My boat has a 15" transom so there isn't much freeboard and if I do put a deck on it I am only going to deck the front and build a battery box up there. The my jon boat site has one really nice V hull conversion.

I too have tried the "standing on the seat" test. Mine felt the same as standing on the floor pretty much (there were two other guys in the boat at the time as well) but even in that situation, on top of the seat you would have to have your feet pretty close together.

I guess I am kind of overwhelmed at this prospect. I am pretty much a trail blazer around here. I am the first one in a loooooong line of bank fisherman to get a boat, so not only am I clueless but so are those around me. I guess I just need to get started and do something. I just feel like it is such an undertaking!!

I think I have pretty much settled on decking from the middle bench seat to the bow, giving a large front casting deck and underdeck storage, as well as a place for a future livewell. I am also going to deck over the back bench to the transom allowing some workable space overtop of the batteries and gas tank. This will leave a small floorspace with high walls for my wife to be comfortable with the little one and allow the boat to be more useful for fishing. I am going to get this phase finished before I worry about seats.