salmonslayer
Junior Member
Never attempt anything you don't want to explain to the EMT
Posts: 105
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Post by salmonslayer on May 8, 2010 14:16:11 GMT -5
Heres a question for all you guys with fiberglass boats.
I am in the process of rigging my boat for Lake Michigan and have run into a little problem. Underneath in the back where I want to put a little extra storage & also get underneath to bolt my rigger board in place, there is a large amount of some type of foam from when the boat was built. It's in the way of what I want to do and I'm not sure if I should remove it. If I remove it will that affect the strength of the back of the boat? Also, to mount the trolling board all the way accross the back of the boat the way I's like to I would have to raise it up almost 16" off the boat to get it to clear the motor. Does it matter how high off the water the riggers are mounted?
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Post by ChampionShip on May 8, 2010 14:43:05 GMT -5
Height of the rigger from the water isn't a giant-huge deal so no worries there, just get them to a comfortable height for you. I ran into some foam under my gunnels as well- it's supposed to be structural, but I hightly doubt it's doing anything for the structure after 35 years. I cut a few sections out to mount rod holders and haven't looked back.......yet.
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Post by pioneer on May 8, 2010 14:58:41 GMT -5
I don't know what kind of boat you have but I would do some research to see if it is in fact a structural piece. If you do have to remove it or cut a section back take it to a fiberglass shop and have them add some more into that area or fiberglass in a section to connect to so you can bolt through it. There is a fiberglass shop in Kewaunee (bet steve o would know the name) that are great at fiberglass work. They have done some stuff for me and are doing more and I really like their work. Without seeing it thats what I would do.
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salmonslayer
Junior Member
Never attempt anything you don't want to explain to the EMT
Posts: 105
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Post by salmonslayer on May 8, 2010 15:38:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the input...I wasn't so much worried about the comfort height although I guess that could be a big deal, but more about clearing the motor. As far as the foam goes, I don't want to remove all of it, just enough so I can stick my big head in there & be able to bolt the mounting plates for the board on. I want to put a plate on the outside & on on the inside & thru bolt it so it's good & solid. Pesky things keep getting in the way...like the stern light.....
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Post by fishinglinder on May 8, 2010 18:35:18 GMT -5
My boat is quite deep and I have mine raised 8" just to clear the night running light post and the dog house. Too high and you will have trouble getting the rods out of the holders when the drags are screaming!! Here is what mine looks like. I had to beef up the board with stainless on the front and back. Painted the steel with rubber coating after I had some line issues with the sharp edges. Attachments:
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