How to restore a 1648 Jon boat

[@TinyBoatNation]

1:07 - Parts List walk-thru 13:04 - Gutting the boat 13:54 - Damage & Corrosion to aluminumum 14:54 - Replacing the transom & end caps 18:07 - installing the subfloor. 18:25 - framing for boat lids 18:45 - framing the Livewell 20:16 - motor throttle, shifter cable install 21:20 - making sidewalls 22:40 - Making the seat storage bench 23:48 - Making the side console from scratch. 51:02 - Front deck restoration 29:06 - installing rotary steering column into the console 29:38 - running conduits through the foam voids. 29:59 - Making side conduit from motor to the console. 30:40 - painting the jon boat. 34:04 - making rod locker tubes 34:33 - finishing the seat installation
34:58 - making hidden conduits for the trolling motor. 35:21 - installing lithium batteries + lead acid starter battery 36:34 - hydro-turf on subfloor 36:37 - pour foam strategy & installation. 38:46 - installing the front & back deck aluminum sheets. 39:18 - back deck finish & hydro-turf install 41:57 - finishing the front deck. 43:05 - trolling motor mount for Jon boats 44:57 - installing hydro-turf on sidewalls 45:16 - trolling motor install 45:30 - Radio & speaker install in boat 46:05 - battery placement & rigging 46:37 - Replacing the outboard motor 48:56 1648 Jon boat restoration completed & on the water

[@chan6888]

20 grand for that tracker is insane. That'll get you one heck of a boat on marketplace

[@scottcol23]

For sure! You could get a nice boat with trailer, an older S10 or Ranger pickup to pull it, fully outfit it and still have money left to buy the wife something nice. When I saw it was $20k I laughed. Granted that Merc 50 ELPT is about $8k...

[@Josh-gy8zi]

I picked up a 1970s monark 15.5 ft. Flat bottom for $400. Found a 28hp Johnson spl for $600. A couple hundred in carpet wood,ECT.. Built a casting deck.Set it up with a side counsel, new seats, rod holders green interior lights. Under $1400 ,put together a nice little bass boat . It'll do about 25mph with 2 adults,and 2 kids. I can't afford a $20,000 tracker,but the kids don't know the difference. Like I was once told, being poor isnt the problem. It's being satisfied. If you want cool stuff,and don't have a lot of money. Get old stuff,and make it cool

[@iammachew9146]

well said potna

[@TyinAlaska]

Wow, man. That opening monolog. You're a good writer.

[@micahseymour2142]

I got reaaaally lucky and grabbed a 99 bass tracker for only 2500 bucks. Ripped up carpet and a bit of motor work was all. Completely restored it. Great boat now.

[@johntaylor4874]

This is just what I needed getting ready to tackle an 16’ alumacraft and I’m definitely going to be ordering from your website…thank you so much for the starting this channel it’s loaded with usefulness information 🤘🏽 hope to get out on the water with you when it’s all done 🤘🏽.

[@TinyBoatNation]

Glad I could help

[@ntj030885]

That’s the boat build I’ve been waiting for. I wish I had that boat. I would buy that boat if someone sold them. There’s nothing like it on the market

[@ewilfinger]

Keep this coming! I love the old school videos like how you started. Happy new year Mike 😂

[@zakadamz]

Just got my first 1648 upgraded from 1436. Love this channel!!!

[@TinyBoatNation]

Thanks for being a member here!

[@daviddrabek5834]

Beautiful build!

[@TinyBoatNation]

Thank you!

[@kenshin4768]

That's incredible. I wish I had the knowledge and resources to do this. Very impressive

[@TinyBoatNation]

thanks for watching!

[@tieoneon1614]

I bought that same Tracker Classic XL brand new '22 for $14999. The trailer and 50hp is the difference on this e$timate cost to build. Its an outstanding boat, I loved everything about it especially the trailer. Its a deal in this day and age, Compared to how much everything else in its class costs. Only reason I sold it is to pay my truck off to be debt free, giving me time to work on boat projects. Nice looking project boat here though, I love 16 SC Jon Boats.

[@bowfreak21]

Great work! Ya'll are killing it!

[@robmclaughlin420]

What a nice finished boat

[@TinyBoatNation]

Appreciate it!

[@TheKawasakiBros]

i have a rhyan craft jon boat i got it because of this channel. i cant wait to get it going! wish me luck.

[@RMG02841]

Awesome video! Thank you for making it!

[@TinyBoatNation]

Glad you liked it!

[@georgemebs]

Great build! Love your channel i have learned a great deal. Thank you!

[@TinyBoatNation]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgemebs]

My pleasure always look forward to seeing your videos. ​@TinyBoatNation

[@4ryanthomas]

Like these boat creations Mike!! Keep it up bro!!

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

Awesome video Mike,the boat came out super Dope, and done right ❤

[@TinyBoatNation]

Awesome thank you!

[@YOURthornSIDE]

Fantastic build, man!

[@TinyBoatNation]

Thanks a bunch!

[@rebirth_mishap]

"building better boats yeah we're building boats yeah" Neebs Gaming ❤

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

What a great project!

[@stompylee]

I used Garmin fusion stereo with either the shallow speakers or the surface mount 402 with spacer. Pair that with the NEMA and you can control it from any graph or through the phone app.

[@projectfishinchannel33]

Gunna need you to post more lol iv been waiting forever lol great video I know its tough to keep content coming I struggle as well

[@TinyBoatNation]

Spring is coming, don’t worry

[@Scott-yq1qr]

When you put an aluminum floor in a Jon boat do you need to put drains in the 35:51 floor? If not does the water pool up?

[@hettro-cv6082]

AWESOME JOB!!

[@Cavanpikefishing]

Mike your a legend love looking at your boat builds🎣👍

[@noahledbetter3969]

Man..and it'll last a lifetime!

[@WibbyKDX]

You should try Totalboats aluminum boat paint. I rolled it on and it flattened out so well it looks like it was sprayed

[@TinyBoatNation]

Do you have a link?

[@heavyd777]

Total Boat is great stuff. I used their 2 part epoxy paint for the bottom half of the hull of an Alumacraft. It sealed up all rivets and seams.

[@jordanohara9917]

Parkers is really great as well

[@bChipps]

would really love to see a build with the new 1436 tracker grizzly

[@stompylee]

I also have the PQ mini and another 100ah Lithium battery. The size difference is crazy and the cost was only about $30.

[@jamesscully5226]

Good job

[@grahamwebster8913]

I worry that if I order one of these kits it’ll require specialized tools that I don’t already own. Are these kit boats something I can put together without like an expensive rivet gun or drilling any holes into it?

[@michaelross5674]

I want to get a boat.... I'm really thinking about going this route though...was going to get a kayak but for the price of 2 kayaks I can have this

[@TinyBoatNation]

Sounds like a good deal

[@jacoblively4790]

I volunteer for my 78 duracraft bass champ to be restored 😅

[@akbuilder7626]

Someone please tell me where I can buy those transom supports @ the 00:10 mark. I can't find them anywhere and Google wants to sell me a transom saver.

[@TinyBoatNation]

You’ll have to get them specially made for your boat if you don’t have one already

[@MatthewSchoonyoung]

How thick is the aluminum sheeting you are using for the divider between compartments?

[@TinyBoatNation]

040 or 063

[@chrisgilman33]

$7800 is crazy for the amount of work. You can get a hella boat of market place for that

[@rfrazier113]

I have a 2002 Cresliner 1648 Modified V that I want to turn into a stick steer crappie setup like a bass tracker panfish 16. Do you have any plans to build a crappie stick steer boat? Any advise on the angles for the rod boxes on the side bending to get them in parallel with the rest of the angles? I saw you posted to use 1/16" angle and add to it. Could that stand up to a 260 lb person standing on them? Would they also help with flex on the sides of the boat?

[@TinyBoatNation]

I do not, unless one day it comes up

[@rfrazier113]

Can you provide a link to the foam flooring that you used? Also, a different question, what wire brand and size, consumable tip, and amps are you using for welding on the boat?

[@thornetheatre6303]

Love this build. I am going to attempt something similar in my v hull. Could the steering and throttle cables be routed through the wiring conduit as well? Or was there no other way than to mount it to the side like you did? Thanks!

[@TinyBoatNation]

The steering cable is really stiff. You could run hydraulic lines through consuits

[@creativeexperience6388]

What brand flat bottom 16ft should I go for as the best platform? Like is there a better brand that’s way better!?

[@TinyBoatNation]

Lowe

[@creativeexperience6388]

@ thanks

[@larrybalowski951]

i have watched your program every sense you started out love all your videos great job do you give vetran discounts for items . i just got a 16 foot blue fin and gutted it and about to start another build . thanks

[@blakejewell8209]

Is there a world where flipping old Jo boats like this would be profitable? Or is it like not other boat stuff where it’s only this valuable to you because you know all the parts are new

[@randlemalone4884]

They should make a catfish version for the boats

[@samkeath4688]

Fill the wine bottle with cold ice water to cool it faster

[@TinyBoatNation]

Smart!

[@brycedav1s]

Where do you get the clear template material

[@northgeorgia7357]

Home depot has 1/2" 4'x8' sheet of pvc boards , better than plywood.

[@TinyBoatNation]

It is not. It’s actually worse.

[@LilBethy]

how does the water travel under the foam to get to pumps? are there tubes under foam?

[@TinyBoatNation]

The floor is hollow and the deck is sealed

[@hookedhorizon_tv]

so what size does the jon boat have to be to buy this kit

[@TinyBoatNation]

1648 or 1448

[@stagshunter]

I’ve got a 1542 tracker with a small hold in one of the bench seats, I want to put some insulation in it to make it a cooler, anybody have recommendations for that?

[@TinyBoatNation]

Pour foam

[@paulreed5554]

Do you have to add the foam?

[@TinyBoatNation]

Yes, unless there was some already in there and you can reuse it

[@javiator8ify]

Where is this boat available for rent?

[@MichaelRubino-w4n]

You didn’t paint the inside even though you said you would. Why?

[@oklahomaditchpickles8705]

All in, what was the final tally?

[@TinyBoatNation]

Tally? It was a little over 10k because I had to buy a new outboard, but still weigh under 20

[@oklahomaditchpickles8705]

@@TinyBoatNation I enjoyed the build, and 10k isn't too shabby either! Thank you for the reply.

[@raymondjohnson6496]

Cabela’s where I live in Louisville Kentucky it is a green utility 1754 with a 50 hp motor on it I don’t think it had a trolling motor but it might I don’t know they was asking $23,000 almost $24,000 for it

[@TinyBoatNation]

Yep, that’s the new norm

[@thepauldixonOC]

Why did you say to not use a Lithium Ion battery for starting? I have been doing it for 3 years now on a Suzuki DF25A with no issue. Just curious if you know something I don't. Thanks for the great videos by the way!

[@TinyBoatNation]

Well, if it works, then keep doing it but generally it burns out the stater or the battery goes bad

[@eccentricsmithy2746]

Just like you building the boat cheaper, we can build everything you are selling on your website cheaper. ;)

[@TinyBoatNation]

No, you can’t

[@mikekopf1173]

Is it just me or does this seem like completely way too much time, energy, and money spent on a small boat? His craftsmanship is amazing but dang man, just find one that is close to what you want and send it. Just my opinion.

[@TinyBoatNation]

Nahhh…. It was totally worth it!

[@sikosis999]

it's all insanity . . . and i'm 6'7" 325lbs. . . i'm hunt'n a 20' for just me. . . i'll step to a larger hull type when i wanna bring people with me :) but i do not have even $5k for that crazy. . . real DIY pennies and nickles and time to get it done >< at least you guys make it a bit easier having trounced through all this space and sharing. . . sucks being old, slow, stoned. . . broke and broken makes doin stuff sketchy, can't afford to do anything really but have to build it safe and capable of handle'n a large dude that can not afford to be in a rescue situation, i'm too freak'n big to try and save >< you guys ever get a big ole boat and a whole lot of charity i'd giggle for weeks see'n you build an "ogre built tiny boat" :)

[@user-zv7ov4rm5w]

Good job

[@TinyBoatNation]

Thanks

[@grahamwebster8913]

I worry that if I order one of these kits it’ll require specialized tools that I don’t already own. Are these kit boats something I can put together without like an expensive rivet gun or drilling any holes into it?

[@TinyBoatNation]

You can get a cheap rivet gun and let your hands wear out. Or you can invest a little bit into a pneumatic rivet gun or an electric one like the Milwaukee. And people often resell it after they’re done.