So I went out on my buddies mud boat about three months ago and after that decided I wanted one. So working with what I got I decided to convert my 1648 bass tracker to a mud hull.
This is what I started with:



And work began



Ordered some new paint and started putting it on today


Tomorrow I'm finishing painting and adding gator glide to the bottom. Also have tan camo hydroturf coming in on Wednesday.

This is what's going on. A 27hp Beavertail longtail.


Hopefully have it in the water next weekend!

Let us know how it does

After two coats of gator glide. One left.

Looks like it has a lot of potential! are you going to keep the consol steer?

Nope gave it to my dad. It's all open floor. Camo hydroturf coming in tomorrow and it's all finished!

Nice, I like how open the boat is. Are you going to put a floor in?

I'm putting in a 1/2 plywood sheet that I treated myself. Covering it with tan camo hydroturf. Using one of the old live wells as a seat.

Looks great!

Swampthing, I would suggest an aluminum floor rather than the plywood. The wood will work but be heavier and eventually rot. I would go with at least .090 alum. You can add some insulation/flotation under the floor and between the ribs to make a snug quiet fit. You can put the hydroturf over the alum and the be good. Just my two cents.

I would but didn't have the budget, it's gonna be wood for a little. When it rots I'll go with aluminum.

Putting motor on tomorrow. Testing Saturday.

Looking good!!!

Ok, I know about the budget thing, I bought hydroturf "closeout" pieces as well because that stuff is as expensive as the aluminum- well, almost. I guess too late to say spare the hydroturf on the wood, but you apparently glued it on already. I bought a 4' x8' sheet of aluminum .090 gauge back in 2004 for around $75. I imagine that has gone up a bit. I did the bow with the dark grey diamond groove pattern and ordered the floor piece in the tan camo. Don't care about uniform color, it's my duck boat, not a bass boat. Let us know about the gator glide- I only used one coat of the steelflex (fasco corp.) and it is great. Looks like you'll have plenty of room to put the battery and/or gas tank up front if need be for balancing the load. Did the BT cavitation plate include a "trim tab" on the trailing edge to adjust planing depth? Or do you have to bend the whole plate? I know you must be excited. I figure if you tweak the throttle after break-in period, you'll realize about 4200 rpm out of the water and you should be close to 20 mph by yourself. I figure your 1648 rivetted hull should be lighter than my welded 1648 .100 Grizzly hull? Don't forget to wear your kill switch lanyard! I would also recommend those "bird bucket" seats (Cabelas) for seating. All the best!

Sorry, but I must add that I have always enjoyed DIY, specially on my duck boat. You get more satisfaction, not to mention saving $$, on this type of work. Does that hull have the gunwale T-bolt channel? It has come really handy on mine- you don't have to buy expensive T-bolts either- you can drill an access point on either end and insert full head 1/4" diameter carriage bolts and make it work. I've added a bunch of items with this feature and they are out of the way and you don't have to drill through the hull. Give us the full field report after the "maiden voyage"!!

Thanks man. Yeh it totally looks like a brand new boat. I'm real excited about taking it out. I think it only had the bend tabs on the side for the motor.

I have def enjoyed building this myself. I can make it how I want it and save some green. Planning on taking it out Saturday and Sunday. First time driving a mud motor!

Ready for tomorrow

Nice job!

Sharp looking rig

Thanks guys. The only thing I'm worried about is I over tightened the clamp bolts and the are crooked now. Think they will be alright? There is still one 3/8 bolt going through transom

Guess you'll find out tomorrow

You really r a buzz killington lol

you'll be fine. I guess you already know about watching for logs and stumps with those horizontal braces? Over time, the bottom of your boat will 'washboard' and lose performance. that light hull will haul ass.

Boat did great but I can't get the damn prop to stay in the water.. What did you guys use to bend the cap plate up? The Beavertail has tabs on both sides I'm guessing bend those up?

No not the side tabs, the flat part above the prop

I bent the sides up bc I couldnt get the flat part to move. Heading back to lake

Use a large crescent wrench. Tighten it up just enough to slide onto the tab, then bend it up or down. It doesn't take much.

I found the sweet spot. Just happens now when I hit a wave or something it'll pop up. Rode well though. Already hit my first stump lol.

good deal, i hit one in mine too with less than 5 hrs on my new rig. adds charactor

Looks Great!

Thanks guys. It's nice to see the hard work pay off.

an 18 inch pipe wrench works great on cav plates, fyi.

any gps speeds? DETAILS MAN!

I still need to buy a gps. I imagine atleast 18 with my gf and I with a collet and tackle.

Cooler*

Looks like the hard work paid off. Good job on the boat.

K new problem. Now the boat shuts off after awhile like it stop getting fuel. I shortened the line a little and played with it until it got fuel again and then it ran. Could this be bc everytime I stop to fish I close the vent on the fuel tank and open it when I'm ready to move?