bake and waker

How far are y’all getting the bait out there?? I’m setup up with a 867 and a tranx 300 with 20lb fluoro seagaur. I stepped down from 25 big game and that helped a bit. Seems like I should be getting out farther. Not a big deal on the boat but shore sessions leave me wanting more. Thanks

Going to visit my boy in New Orleans next week. I’ve been once but never fished it. Any recommendations or tips? Anybody wanna meet up and let me used their rods lol? I’ll buy the beers!

I was concerned with that as well. Knowing alcohol, 5-8 setups with multiple trebles and carpet was a bad combination, I opted for vinyl. Also, I plan on bowfishing from my boat as well, so needless to say there will be blood!! I think most people are either turned off by the price or simply not aware of the vinyl options. Indoor/outdoor carpet can be had for $20 for a 6’x8’ piece from Home Depot which is cheaper than vinyl and much chaper than seadek. If I was too cheap to wrap my kayak in seadek, I’m too cheap to wrap the boat lol. That seadek looks good but wasn’t practical for my application. Looks like it will stain easy, get torn up fairly easy if you abuse it and may burn easy with ashes from smoking. I wrapped my benches in nautolex and couldn’t be happier. Still has plenty of traction, should stay cool in summer, and much much easier to clean. Waiting on paint before installing. Here’s a photo with a few pieces waiting to be wrapped and a few completed.

Looks like a fish slayin machine jake!! Thanks for the photos, got me stoked to work on mine. I’m really diggin that back deck. Good work buddy, be proud of it. I like the fact you kept the deck as low as possible, seen too many builds with the deck near the gunnels. The work never ends on em it seems. Got to agree with @Jinxd12 regarding the hinges and wire loom. Simple fix and the carpet shouldn’t show the holes that bad. If they do, slap a SU sticker on it lol. Thanks again for coming thru with the photos! I respect the hard work man, good luck buddy!!!

Sounds good bud, please do. I’m basically doing the same thing, resting the frame on the existing welds and supporting with 2x2s underneath. Another thing I carry in mine besides the knocker is googles and a towel. Save me a few times lol. Thanks for the response dood

Good work jake, I’m diggin the back deck with the gas tank cutout. Question, did the very front of the bow (at the point) have an exisiting support or did you make your own supports underneath or use aluminum angle riveted to the hull? I only ask because mine doesn’t and I don’t really want to drill thru the hull. I like your style, I’m going with the same color scheme. Looks great bud!

Hell yeah, that had to be fun. I’m in the process of doing the same thing to a 14’ vhull with a casting deck. Small boats can get pretty tippy in rough water when up on the deck. First thing I’d say is an inflatable life vest. Not bulky at all and could save your life. Other than the previously mentioned net, a plug knocker would be my next purchase if you don’t already have one. Save your self from going swimming and $ if your in deep water. Live wells can be made pretty cheap with an old cooler. Let’s see some pics of the boat!