Converting aluminum hull to layout boat?

[Cory Jackson]

Hey folks,

First post here and wanted to say "Hey" from Atikokan, Ontario, Canada. I've been duck hunting for about 12 years or so and this seems like a place with a bunch of like minded individuals.

Last summer I bought a 12' tinner for $100 with the intent to use it as a solo ducking rig. I built up a blind for it and then never ended up actually taking it out to hunt (always seemed to go with someone else).

I was doing some reading up on layout boats and thought they would be perfect for a couple spots where the bottom just isn't safe to stand on and the cover is all pretty low. I like a project as much as anyone and was thinking if I could convert this hull into a "layout" boat it would be like killing two birds with one stone.

In my mind I envisioned myself decking over the front 8' or so of the boat and then leaning against the middle seat and shooting over the stern

Here's the problem though

That's a pretty uncomfortable position to lay in for any length of time. Does anyone have any experience with "splitting" the stern bench seat to put a gap in the middle for my feet to go, but still leave a seat to sit on? I did some reading and it seems like the middle seat is the most important structurally, but I thought I'd ask. Obviously if I did split the bench I'd have to reinforce it somehow, but also not sure what the best way to go about that would be. Or any other suggestions?

Thank you,

Cory Jackson

 

[noweil Mike]

It shouldn't be that hard to remove a seat. Plenty of people have removed a seat in aluminum boats. I would take out the middle seat and deck the boat over like Zack Taylor talks about in his book.

Don't take out the middle seat if you want to run a longtail mud motor. Years ago my first mud boat was a 12' Lund V hull that I put a 9 hp Go-Devil on. It was a great set-up that got me into many spots. I would sit on the middle seat to run the mud motor and it worked great.

 

[roy brewington]

as mentioned previously zack taylors book describes his version of a aluminum v bow sneak box. just be aware of the extra weight you add on if you do it in plywood. top decking will provide side support you loose from removeing seats. doesnt look like they are but if seats were riveted to floor area can reinforced and reriveted with 1/8 " aluminum flatstock where previous seat box rivets went thru hull. converted a 1436 jon years ago to rounded deck layout boat with no ill effects with this method. and presently have a 12 jon with center seat removed i drag into a marsh and brush up around for woody season so 3 of us and dog has a dry place to stand

 

[Carl]

Dave Parks did it years ago with a Jon boat. Try searching

 

[gcs]

Beg ,borrow, or steal Zack Taylors book, "Successful waterfowling". good, common sense plans, and usage.

I did the same as you are asking on a 12' aluminum skiff. A modified "Zack Box"
Took out the center seat, cut the hull down, and added a crowned sneak box type top deck. space between the bow and cockpit was for decoys and had a hatch cover. decking was 1/4", and the whole thing was powered by a 9.9 outboard. It was seaworthy if you knew what you were doing, fast enough and hid pretty good, slickest duck killing rig I ever had, and I had them all. The aluminum around the rivets eventually "rotted" out due to electrolysis ( the boat was old when I got it) and that was the end of it.
Just so you know, anything you do to it is on you...safety is kinda important so if you don't have the skills to make it safe, you might want to keep looking.

 

[Jake S]

Dose anyone have pictures to show of one of these zack boxes? i also have an old 12 ft V hull, always looking for cool ideas for it.

 

[Jon Yenulonis]

I did this to a 14 footer about twenty years ago. I don't have it anymore, but I still have the pictures. Although it is quite a bit larger than the boat you are looking to modify, yours can certainly be done. A smaller boat like yours will have goods and bads. It will have less carrying capacity, yet with it's smaller size and weight, will be able to get into smaller water and hide a little better.


I was very fortunate, there just so happened to be one for sale here on Duckboats from a Bankes 14 foot Dominator. The Dominator has about the same dimensions as my boat. I had to fabricate the pole system, but the canvas fit like a proverbial glove.

I pretty much built her up from scratch, so if you have any more questions, you can always get ahold of me and I'll try to answer them for you.


Jon