My new project boat

[thill]

I had fun rigging my jon boat, and it's been a great little boat. But I wanted something bigger, in the 17-18' range. Big enough to fish the bay comfortably, but be easy on gas.

Found a commercial hull in the paper for $800, with 15 gallon tank and rigging, center console, steering, and other stuff on a float-on trailer. The floor and transom were both just replaced, and the hull has a fresh coat of bottom paint. It is a BIG 18' boat, very comparable to an 18-21' Parker, but with more V in the front. She ran up to 20-25 MPH with an itty-bitty 25 HP engine. I couldn't believe it! And she only drafts about 9"! They bottom painted it too high, but who cares, for that price?

But I wanted a little more power, so his boat mechanic friend had a 60 HP Suzuki for sale for $600, so my new-to-me boat is now at his shop getting the engine installed. So for a total of $1400, I've got the beginnings of a nice rig.

Here are the pics:





Can't wait to get the boat home and start rigging her. It's going to be SWEET when I'm done!

-TH

[littlecreek]

Good job!! it looks like the perfect boat for the bay, wish you the best of luck with it.

[CaptBeach]

SWEET SWEET DEAL...Congrats....NICE BOAT...HELLUVA FIND

[L HOLMES]

Looks allot like a Privateer hull. Look forward to seeing how you rig this one as well.

[redcat]

Not a Privateer, The raised inside of the gunnal is not typical . Privateer gunnals are flat

[L HOLMES]

Yeah I know. I said it looks allot "LIKE" a Privateer. Not that it was one.

[FishinMagician_IV]

Tony, I thought just a couple of months ago you were giving up the Bay? Glad you are not and the boat looks like it has potential for a nice ride and I'm sure you will be making it a fishing machine. Good luck with her!

[thill]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I must confess that I'm fascinated with this boat. I had no intention of getting anything this big, but this boat was so different, I couldn't resist. I've never seen a hull quite like this one. It is DEEP in the front, with a lot of flare. And it's very heavily built. You can't budge this thing! Yet with two people on board it easily runs 20 knots with a 25 HP engine... That's crazy! These builders seem to have known what they were doing.

And speaking of builder, this hull was made by "MIDLAND" in 1977. Possibly an Eastern Shore builder.
Has anyone ever heard of Midland???

I'm DEFINITELY open for suggestions on the rigging. I've found the sweet spot for the center console, but besides that, it's all up in the air. Where to place the gas tank and batteries, and what type of seating? Cooler seats, leaning post or pedestals? What about storage and livewells? There are so many options.

Does anyone have anything they really love about the layout of their center console?
I'd love to see some pictures to help give me some ideas. Thanks, all!

-TH

[Cool Breeze]

heres a couple of my suggections for what they are worth tony. the fathur aft you place the console the better the ride (kinda obvioue) but itmakes it a lot easier to fish say pilings along the cbbt by yourself or anywhere really with a lot of current. i also like to have a couple of straight verticle rod holders in the gunnels to hold my net or to get a rod out of the way. it is also good when driftinng for flounder, rockfish using eels, or anything where you would like to keep a little seperation. i would go for a pedestal seat as the cooler seats take up a lot of room aft especially in a smaller boat. pedestal is more comfortable for people like me with bad backs. for the cooler i would put tie-downs forword. thats all i can think off right now. see ya, nice looking rig btw, good luck with her! craig

[gary49]

Hull looks really similar to a Maine downeast skiff. Note the round chines. Real nice sheer line on this boat. You won't be able to go fast in rough stuff, but it will bring you home, I'll bet. Downeast hulls are reknowned for being seaworthy and economical to run. If you ever hear about another boat like this one, let me know, I would be interested. If it indeed is built like a downeast boat, it'll be wet, you might want to consider spray rails.