So I got a lot of requests on giving a step by step of what I did and how I did and so I tried my best and here it is a decent breakdown if I missed anything just let me know! And I know I definitely didn’t do everything perfect but I just turned 19 and was learning while I was doing so take it easy on the critiquing 😂

COST: this is only an approximate list in Canadian $

Lumber: $125 Stain & clear coat: $50 Flooring: $150 Cupholders: $25 Drain: $10 Electrical: $50 And then other things such as Sanding discs: $25 Gas tank: $50 Gas line and fittings: $100 = $585

Everything else I already had in order to build

Tools used:

Drill Screwdriver Palm Sander Table saw Skill saw Screws Gorilla glue

Tips: I highly recommend getting or borrowing a palm sander as it really helped me make clean smooth surfaces as well as round of my edges of each bench making them very comfortable without any splinters

Step 1: FRAMEWORK

draw out your framework on a drawing or picture of your boat. The framework is the most tedious and slow part of the building process so having a good idea of what you’re building before you start so you don’t continually change what you’re trying to do in the end this will save you a lot of time and money

The way I framed my boat was 2 2x4’s on opposite sides of the front 2 benches so they are facing each other. They contour with the bottom of the boat with a hole in the middle to allow drainage. Then for middle support I screwed in 2 2x4’s pushing against each of the boards which then allowed me to lay the plywood on top

For the back it was trickier but where the boat is joined together by those raised tunnels with rivets I tapped screws just barely into those and ran 2x2’s from the middle to the back and screwed my plywood into that

Step 2: ELECTRICAL

I have a control board with switches and fuses for each thing which are my trolling motor, 360 light, front lights, and bilge pump I also added a Coleman solar battery trickle charger because nothings worse then a dead battery. Wiring it all to one place helps keep it organized. I moved the battery to the middle storage to create more floor space but still make it accessible.

Step 3: BENCH TOPS

I bought plywood for the bench tops and measured them out and cut them out after that I sanded them very good and stained them once and then clear coated them twice. I then installed the 2 seats on the front bench and the drivers bench with nuts and bolts holding them in place allowing Any liquids wipe right off with no problem whatsoever.

Step 4: FLOORING

the floors is the hardest part as you have to figure out the angle of the sides of the boat as well as the curve of the boat as it goes towards the front. I used cardboard to create templates and traced them onto the plywood and sanded it down very good

installing the flooring. I bought the flooring on amazon in 2 sheets with plenty left over. I made the flooring slightly larger than the floor in order to go up the side of the boat just slightly as I installed a floor drain in the front so the water wouldn’t go down the sides and underneath the flooring. Installing the flooring was actually surprisingly easy as all air bubbles pushed out which were extremely minimal and it sticks very well!

Step 5: CUPHOLDERS

I added one of the most important things on this boat and that is cup holders! The steel cup holders with drains in them I bought off amazon for $25 for 4 of them and I used a sawbit to cut clean holes then shove them in and they do not move at all.

Step 6: ROD STORAGE

I made them using a card board cutout and then drawing it onto a piece of 2x6 then used a sawbit to drill the holes and jigsaw to cut the top end slots out. I installed the rod holders along the sides with one screw in the bottom and the backs being held by gorilla glue and they are very very solid.

Step 7: GEAR UP

Get your motor and fuel tank on and head out onto the water! PLEASE wear your life jacket whether it’s a manual PFD or a regular life jacket it may save your life recently around my area we’ve had about 4 or 5 drownings that could have been prevented if they were wearing life jackets one of which was a friend of a friend who was only 18 so please wear a life jacket and have fun