ozbee
26-06-2008, 01:50 PM
:-/After owning my dream boat for 7 months its doesn't
take long for the want to change things and i don't think it matter what size they are we fisherman will find something.In this case i ripped out the seating arrangement in my haines 680 patriot taking the two pedestal seats out and installing a bench seat. this gives straight access to the cabin as well as giving me a 315 litre esky under neath.
With getting rid of the 200 litre esky i use to have in the back it sure gives you so much more room also far easier access to the kill tanks etc as people can move around freely .
With the price of fuel i feel having that extra room means i can take up to my capacity of people without crawling over each other.
I have raised my seat to the same height as i would be standing and driving,this has given me far better view etc for seeing around bommies, the downsize is i will have to use my clears more often.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk123/ozbee_photos/FishingPhoto006.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk123/ozbee_photos/FishingPhoto005.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk123/ozbee_photos/FishingPhoto003.jpg
the esky is very strong and sits on a half inch solid fiberglass base which is glassed to the floor.
i changed the bait board to a piece of polished hardwood timber to give it some character also attaching a knife sharpener.
i was lucky to be able to get large 316 stainless hinges at a enginering shop also the bolts are attached to a sheet of metal sandwiched in the fiberglass lid to give strength and spread of load from the bench seat. i hope this had added value to a boat as it sure has made it a far better fishing rig. Maybe i should add a fold out table attached to that rear face of the ice box any suggestion welcome.
take long for the want to change things and i don't think it matter what size they are we fisherman will find something.In this case i ripped out the seating arrangement in my haines 680 patriot taking the two pedestal seats out and installing a bench seat. this gives straight access to the cabin as well as giving me a 315 litre esky under neath.
With getting rid of the 200 litre esky i use to have in the back it sure gives you so much more room also far easier access to the kill tanks etc as people can move around freely .
With the price of fuel i feel having that extra room means i can take up to my capacity of people without crawling over each other.
I have raised my seat to the same height as i would be standing and driving,this has given me far better view etc for seeing around bommies, the downsize is i will have to use my clears more often.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk123/ozbee_photos/FishingPhoto006.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk123/ozbee_photos/FishingPhoto005.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk123/ozbee_photos/FishingPhoto003.jpg
the esky is very strong and sits on a half inch solid fiberglass base which is glassed to the floor.
i changed the bait board to a piece of polished hardwood timber to give it some character also attaching a knife sharpener.
i was lucky to be able to get large 316 stainless hinges at a enginering shop also the bolts are attached to a sheet of metal sandwiched in the fiberglass lid to give strength and spread of load from the bench seat. i hope this had added value to a boat as it sure has made it a far better fishing rig. Maybe i should add a fold out table attached to that rear face of the ice box any suggestion welcome.