The day has come.. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Tandem Assassin · 06-24-2020, 02:30 PM

Well we survived a year in Texas and while we have had great success for LMB, WB and hybrids you need a boat to be lethal in the summer.

My son bought a new 15' tracker jon boat and trailer and I am giving her a face lift and it's going to be a bass boat conversion.

We will have about $ 4,000 into it with dual fish finders, trolling motor, full electronics, bilge pump, batteries, ect.

Then we will have to save and wait for Trump's 2nd stimulus check to come late next month before we throw a new 20hp 4-stroke outboard on her.
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SoCalEDC · 06-26-2020, 08:14 AM

in to follow this build

Tandem Assassin · 06-27-2020, 12:21 PM

Took Friday off and worked in the garage during a 100 degree day and was toast after 8 hours. Hit it again this morning to finish up the hatches and get the seat post components. Next will be mounting the front trolling motor, fishfinder, transducer, front battery and run wires to console.

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Tandem Assassin · 06-28-2020, 08:43 AM

The heat and humidity zapped me so I spend about 3 hours on her then have to cool down and get a second wind. Making progress..
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Tandem Assassin · 06-28-2020, 10:47 AM

Soldered all the wiring and brought it back to the battery terminal. Next is to mount the 7" HD fish finder and attached the transducer to the trolling motor.
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DanaPT · 06-28-2020, 10:58 AM

Great job. But I guess your not worried about being swamped by wind waves or boat wake?

I'm not familiar with that boat.

Tandem Assassin · 06-28-2020, 01:35 PM

It's a lake boat and I am putting additional 1" foam under everything. I believe I will still be under the maximum weight (by 20-30 pounds) and I am putting in a bilge pump..

Tandem Assassin · 06-28-2020, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaPT

Great job. But I guess your not worried about being swamped by wind waves or boat wake?

I'm not familiar with that boat.

I am use to taking my old 16' boat 35 miles offshore when I lived in Cali so this is nothing compared to that..
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Tandem Assassin · 07-01-2020, 09:56 AM

Going to cut 4" off the front seat post to get it down to 17" and can extend to 24". All seat post just pull out so you can configure the boat however you want on a trip by trip basis. $ hours of wiring and 6-8 hours of finish work and I am done..
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Tandem Assassin · 07-02-2020, 02:31 PM

Heat has been brutal and I can't put in the time without paying the price. She is almost done. 3 hrs of wiring and 6 hours of finish work and I can stare at her until we get an engine..
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Tandem Assassin · 07-03-2020, 04:00 PM

Total investment so far is $4,000. That for a new 15" Jon boat and trailer and everything I have done. The only item not accounted for is the 7HDS Lowrance fishfinder that I had in a box from my last boat.
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blitzburgh · 07-03-2020, 08:58 PM

This may be one of the coolest things I’ve seen.

Tandem Assassin · 07-05-2020, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitzburgh

This may be one of the coolest things I’ve seen.

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TCS · 07-06-2020, 06:58 AM

Nice build. Can you tell me where you got the seats?

Tandem Assassin · 07-06-2020, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCS

Nice build. Can you tell me where you got the seats?

A sporting goods store called Academy Sports. They are based in Texas but ship nationwide. Seats were $55 each.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/mar...dCatid=4111051
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SoCalEDC · 07-10-2020, 12:16 PM

coming along beautifully. How many water ways are near where you are in TX? You guys anywhere near the gulf coast?

Edit: Just saw location = Austin

Tandem Assassin · 07-12-2020, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalEDC

coming along beautifully. How many water ways are near where you are in TX? You guys anywhere near the gulf coast?

Edit: Just saw location = Austin

2 hrs. from the gulf( Corpus or Galveston). We have a lot of big lakes with stripers & hybrids along with LMB, WB and crappie.

Going to expand our zone dramatically.

Will be ready for the water in 2 weeks - putting on finishing touches and just ordered a new 20 hp Suzuki outboard in white.
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tyunk29 · 07-15-2020, 09:13 AM

Quality of work looks amazing

blitzburgh · 08-25-2020, 10:19 PM

Have you broke her in yet?

Tandem Assassin · 08-26-2020, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitzburgh

Have you broke her in yet?

Outboards have been on back order from Japan but we pick up the Suzuki this Friday and will be fishing on Saturday. Post & piics to follow....

06-24-2020, 02:30 PM	#1
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	The day has come.. Well we survived a year in Texas and while we have had great success for LMB, WB and hybrids you need a boat to be lethal in the summer. My son bought a new 15' tracker jon boat and trailer and I am giving her a face lift and it's going to be a bass boat conversion. We will have about $ 4,000 into it with dual fish finders, trolling motor, full electronics, bilge pump, batteries, ect. Then we will have to save and wait for Trump's 2nd stimulus check to come late next month before we throw a new 20hp 4-stroke outboard on her. 222.jpg 22.jpg s.jpg s2.jpg s5.jpg Last edited by Tandem Assassin; 07-05-2020 at 03:59 AM.

06-26-2020, 08:14 AM	#2
SoCalEDC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 609	in to follow this build __________________ IG: @blackflag_fishing Youtube: Blackflag Fishing 2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD 2020 Hobie Outback SOLD 2021 Stealth Fisha 500 #StealthTribe

06-27-2020, 12:21 PM	#3
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	More work.. Took Friday off and worked in the garage during a 100 degree day and was toast after 8 hours. Hit it again this morning to finish up the hatches and get the seat post components. Next will be mounting the front trolling motor, fishfinder, transducer, front battery and run wires to console. 6.jpg 8.jpg 7.jpg 9.jpg 10.jpg

06-28-2020, 08:43 AM	#4
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	Sunday Update The heat and humidity zapped me so I spend about 3 hours on her then have to cool down and get a second wind. Making progress.. 16.jpg 15.jpg

07-02-2020, 02:31 PM	#10
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	Almost There Heat has been brutal and I can't put in the time without paying the price. She is almost done. 3 hrs of wiring and 6 hours of finish work and I can stare at her until we get an engine.. 25.jpg 24.jpg 23.jpg 22.jpg 21.jpg

06-28-2020, 10:47 AM	#5
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	Soldered all the wiring and brought it back to the battery terminal. Next is to mount the 7" HD fish finder and attached the transducer to the trolling motor. 18.jpg 17.jpg

06-28-2020, 10:58 AM	#6
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	Great job. But I guess your not worried about being swamped by wind waves or boat wake? I'm not familiar with that boat.

06-28-2020, 01:35 PM	#7
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	It's a lake boat and I am putting additional 1" foam under everything. I believe I will still be under the maximum weight (by 20-30 pounds) and I am putting in a bilge pump..

07-01-2020, 09:56 AM	#9
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	Going to cut 4" off the front seat post to get it down to 17" and can extend to 24". All seat post just pull out so you can configure the boat however you want on a trip by trip basis. $ hours of wiring and 6-8 hours of finish work and I am done.. 19.jpg 20.jpg

07-03-2020, 04:00 PM	#11
Tandem Assassin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 290	JUST WIRING LEFT TO DO. Total investment so far is $4,000. That for a new 15" Jon boat and trailer and everything I have done. The only item not accounted for is the 7HDS Lowrance fishfinder that I had in a box from my last boat. 28.jpg 27.jpg 26.jpg 29.jpg

07-03-2020, 08:58 PM	#12
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	This may be one of the coolest things I’ve seen. __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

07-06-2020, 06:58 AM	#14
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	Nice build. Can you tell me where you got the seats?

07-10-2020, 12:16 PM	#16
SoCalEDC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 609	coming along beautifully. How many water ways are near where you are in TX? You guys anywhere near the gulf coast? Edit: Just saw location = Austin __________________ IG: @blackflag_fishing Youtube: Blackflag Fishing 2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD 2020 Hobie Outback SOLD 2021 Stealth Fisha 500 #StealthTribe

07-15-2020, 09:13 AM	#18
tyunk29 Junior Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 4	Quality of work looks amazing

08-25-2020, 10:19 PM	#19
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Have you broke her in yet? __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe