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Reader Boat Profile: The Metal Man - Jim
Day
What kind of person
converts a 14 foot aluminum skiff to an offshore fishing machine?
Background
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Overview
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Neat Stuff-Part 1
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Neat Stuff-Part 2
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Parting Shot
Hull
We've already mentioned the additional freeboard, so let's look some
of the other features on the hull:
 Check out the
transom bracket (right). The Western hull had a tendency to ride bow
down, so Jim was extra-careful not to add to this problem. The
bracket is canted up towards the rear about 1 degree, to allow the
hull to rock back a bit.
 Jim cut out the
thwart seats, and added more aluminum below decks to add back the
required rigidity (left).
 Aluminum hulls
need to be carefully designed to avoid electrolysis. Part of this
process is to make sure that salt water can freely drain and/or be
flushed out. In the picture to the right, notice that this
reinforcing rib is not sealed on the end, to permit water to drain
out.
These gunnel trays (left) were added to
stiffen the hull.  They also act as
convenient tackle trays. Jim built a custom center console from
1/8" aluminum. More on this in a second.
Jim added a fixed 17 gallon tank in the
bow (right). He also built a removable 23 gallon tank for those
extra-long trips. The built-in tank is under the lighter colored
panel
 Anchoring a
small boat in deep water can be problematic. Rode management is
a big issue, as is stowing the anchor. Jim added an anchor bracket
to the raised bow, and an anchor rode locker to the
front.
  The front of the
console is a fishbox (far left). The front seat cushion can be
removed and replaced with a milk crate for additional storage
(left). Note the rod racks on the front face of the console. The
small black object on the front of the console is the
autopilot fluxgate compass.
Jim also built this small instrument
tower around the console. Jim laughingly refers to it
as an  "I-Top" (as
opposed to a Tee-top). The purpose of the tower is to provide
a safe mounting position for the boat's radome, and also raise the
antenna height for better reception..
Jim added these custom rails around the
stern. The height was chosen to provide anglers working the
back of the boat with mid-thigh support.
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