side console advice

[Brian Story]

Finally picked up a used boat after kicking alot of tires. Went with a 1965 dlx carolina skiff with a 90 yamaha 2-stroke. Boat is just wide open with a rough center console. Looking for advice/pics of a side console "key west" style where the steering wheel is flat and the side console tops out at the height of the gunnel. Also, any ideas on the stern area. Right now it is just hull with front deck. Boat will be used for catfishing/striper fishing and duck tender.
Thanks.
Brian

 

[Dick Sargeant]

Brian - I owned a 16 shallow and a 17 deep a few years ago. The company makes a number of different consoles that simple bolt into the floor where you want them and maybe one of these could be modified as you need ? Be sure to use a good sealer though because the floor is a foam sandwich and you want to keep water out.
One thing that I have been told about the bigger boats is that they can flex some when pounding into rough water. Adding a rear seat or deck would tighten that up a little. Great boats for the money........Oh be careful turning at speed you can slide right into stuff unless you want to add more of a keel to get a bite on the water. You could make one hell of a blind with that hull with hot and cold running everything for the room you have !
sarge

 

[Ed L.]

Brian,

I seen that style of console on some older flats boats when I was in Florida but when looking at new boats I didn"t see any. You might try a couple of marine salvage yards I've bought parts from.

http://www.donsmarinesalvageyard.com/

http://hornesmarinesalvage.com/

I was looking for a different helm seat platform for my boat. What I wanted was a fliberglass platform I could put my gas tanks under. The only boat I knew that used this style is Boston Whaler. The chances of finding one and one I could afford was very slim. I went down to Don's Salvage and right there in the yard was my platform and I got out of there paying a "C" note. I had approached a custom fiberglass glass shop in Tampa and for a simple fiberglass box they wanted $400 bucks. Call Don's and tell him what you're looking for chances are he's got one. I've never seen a savalage yard this big before.

Another thought is this place.

http://boatconsole.net/