Well I finally started and am well into it now.

I decided to go camo, but, still used good paint, went with the ecthing primer first then laid down the marine Olive green.

It was more limey than I wanted, but it dried much darker

Got the camo templates out

I'm further along but, will get to the other picks soon

 Looking good . The etcher was probably a good idea. Have you decided about the inside?

                                     As Ever,

                                      skillet

Looks great FB!!  What are your plans for the interior?

What are your plans for the interior?

Bose speakers, Sirrus Radio, MP3 player, leather on the seats and chrome on the dash ;D

I'm jealous FB.  I'd love to have the equipment and space to do a project like that.  Not to mention that nice of a jon to work with.  Looks really good man.

looks great so far. Keep us posted!

Thats gonna be one sweet bass fishing machine.   Nice job on the Camo

Thank ya fellas,

well it should be simple on the inside.

I took Russ's advice and didn't strip the floor or bench seats, I'm covering that up with a small deck up front w/storage, sub floor in the middle w/storage, and figure out the back how I want it. Then cover all it up with carpet.

Putting on a MinnKota endura 55# bow mount hand control, along w/my mercury 6(want to be able and take it off for the all elec/lakes) HummingBird 525 fishfinder and a XPS one bank On-Board marine battery charger. Rod holders too.

I've got seat pedelstalls that are 8" or 12" high(can't think of it now)

I have one issue I'm tryen to work out. its the transom area, I gotta tank issue and a battery issue, I'm going to lay down 5/8 ply on the back bench for the seat to mount securly and then I was going to run the ply over to the transum for cosmetic reasons, the tank is a 3gallon and its the smallest I found. and the battery tray is what I was wanting but I made a Boo Boo on measurements

here's the picks

best I think is notch for the tank handle under the lip of the seat. this way it would fit.

so to cover all this up I'd have to deck up higher, I wasn't planning on using it as a deck but storage and such, just don't want it to look stupid

Just take your battery out of that box and everytime you get through fishing take it out and put it up in your shop, i had the same problem and that's what i'm doing. But for the gas tank, look around on the internet and find one small enough. That's all i can think of about the gas tank.

Beautiful.  Simply beautiful.

And yes, what are you going to do to the interior?

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

And yes, what are you going to do to the interior?

well, I got some zebra skin and some angel hair, I'll lay those stripes down and trim with angel hair, on the side I'll put Huggy Bear 8-)

get me a aquarium stlye seats filled with oscars, maybe some curb fillers, no wait dock fillers

Need to figure out how to do some hydraulics 8-)

Huggy out ;D

The battery box and lid wouldn't fit in my boat either.  I ended up just using the plastic box screwed to the bench and not using the lid.  I don't think you really need it, the plywood deck will go over it.

looks good i always like a good jon build should get somethin taste to put on the table from that rig

well I got some more to post.

all of the framing for the front deck is 1" aluminum L-angle, bolted together and riveted to the cross ribbing and the tank seat. I made trusses, there's three running length wise.

The front deck flooring will be 5/8" plywood, treated

I plan on adding a floor between the two benches (5/8" ply)also will add 3 pieces of 1 1/2" square aluminum tubing on top of all four ribs.  That way I'll managed to get 3" of storage depth.  It's not allot, but will work, and more will help.  The floor will be one solid piece, I'll cut the doors out and carpet them, same with the front deck.  All of these compartments will be fully carpeted.

I used a rivet gun called the "Big Daddy" that shoots 1/4" in diameter rivets. this gun is usually for automotive works, They are proud of the rivets-.61 cents each :

But on the ribs I did not want to take a chance for bolts to strip out. thats why I chose to rivet and I wanted the biggest ones.  The gun will go for $130 bucks-I've seen it for that, I found it on ebay for $40 bucks also. Well I ended up getting one on HarborFrieght.com for $14 bucks isn't that amazing.

I had me (250# frame), my son is 100# and my wife(which will remain weightless) on top of the deck and we moved about, it did great-no creaks or movements

Looking good.  Harbor Freight is awesome isn't it:).  Probably not the best quality tools but you sure can't beat the price.  That riveter got the job done didn't it?

yep, they got the stuff cheap. its slowly becoming my tool store.

The gun has worked out killer, but the rivets was a surprize on the cost

nice weather this weekend, I was able to get out and do some more on the project. I finished the front deck except for a couple little things

The hatch turned out great considering it was a pain for me(just one of those things) and the hinge about done me in-took for ever to center and get just right, still a little off :-/

I carpeted the back bench and pop riveted the seat bracket on, again I used 1/4 inch diameter auto rivets, so she's not going anywhere

Th famous "Big Daddy" rivet gun

also a special "Thanks" to a BR member Dan(Daniel My BratWurst) for hooken me up with some wire for the project. Thanks Bro

Lookin good.  You taking it out tomorrow to see if it still floats?

Hydrolics? For what pnuematic activated valves for a livewell?

Can I ask... are those rivets the same size as the ones they use in making the boat? I gotta replace a transom and a lot of rivets have to come out. Id rather not bolt it. I see they sell 1/4" air rivet gun on the site, if thats the same size, ill be having that tool.

Can I ask... are those rivets the same size as the ones they use in making the boat? I gotta replace a transom and a lot of rivets have to come out. Id rather not bolt it. I see they sell 1/4" air rivet gun on the site, if thats the same size, ill be having that tool.

No not the same, I believe your looking for the "mushroom rivet" at least thats what we called them back when I worked at a trucking  wreck rebuilt company. someone would be on the inside with the block against the back side of the rivet, I on the outside with said air gun.

the ones I used are automotive rivets used in the window and door bizz

Can I ask... are those rivets the same size as the ones they use in making the boat? I gotta replace a transom and a lot of rivets have to come out. Id rather not bolt it. I see they sell 1/4" air rivet gun on the site, if thats the same size, ill be having that tool.

I had to to some transom work in my boat last year.  Had to drill out about 12 rivets.  I replaced them with 1/4 in. aluminum bolts, lock washers and nuts,  and sealed them good with Marine Silicone.  Never once has leaked and looks good too.

Can I ask... are those rivets the same size as the ones they use in making the boat? I gotta replace a transom and a lot of rivets have to come out. Id rather not bolt it. I see they sell 1/4" air rivet gun on the site, if thats the same size, ill be having that tool.

I had to to some transom work in my boat last year.  Had to drill out about 12 rivets.  I replaced them with 1/4 in. aluminum bolts, lock washers and nuts,  and sealed them good with Marine Silicone.  Never once has leaked and looks good too.

Aluminum bolts... wouldnt they be soft?

Not at all, since they are holding aluminum.  They work just great.  No weaker than an aluminum rivet.

Not at all, since they are holding aluminum.  They work just great.  No weaker than an aluminum rivet.

Ive never even seen an aluminum bolt. Where do you get them? Any benefit over stainless?

umm, the only thing i can think of is aluminum is lighter??? i have a 14' aluminum, never have to worry about paint