Convert older “tri hull” into fishing machine?

Has anyone out there ever tweaked an older tri hull runabout so it is better suited for fishing (i.e. casting platform, livewell etc.)???

No reason you can’t, I would think you could find a decent location up front to put a pedistal mount, I suppose you could build in a casting deck, all depend on your style of fishing. I pretty much have an open bow set-up on my boat, I have a rather large area in the middle of my bow that is lower than the rest of it, personally I find I have enough room to cast, otherwise I could build (or buy) a piece that goes across the open area for more casting room, I don’t find the need myself. If you want a bow mount trolling motor that will probably take a bit of thinking and some work, but you should be able to figure out a good way to put one up there. Minn Kota makes a ton of different adaptors, and there are others on the market.

Livewell wise there are options out there, never really looked into it, just make sure you consider the location and the weight you’ll be adding to it. Water weighs about 8#’s a gallon so it adds up fast. Personally I’d probably look at a cooler type livewell, which wouldn’t require a lot of cutting and running pipe. Maybe one that fit nicely in the open part of the bow, that you could stand on. Not sure how reasonable that is, but it could solve 2 issues.

I see plenty of trihulls out fishing, most of them do not have trolling motors and if the do they are usually transom mounted. Seem to be more than enough fishing machine already.

i did, hardhitter baught it from me, I put a platfrom on the front, cut the holes out and made doors for the storage places, also a pull door for inbetween the counsels for boxes and stuff like that, added a trolling motor. I didn’t get as far as the live well, but that was my next project. let me know, I can send you some picturs of what I have done to it.

shane

Thanks for the advise, If it’s not to much trouble I’d like to see those pictures…I’m pretty handy but still like to get good ideas from others who have already done it and were successful! No rush on the pics – you can email them to [email protected] or post them right here!

Thanks,
Matt

I did that once but was drinking heavily at the time. After it was all over and the dust settled, I got rid of the boat and bought a 16′ Jon boat with a built in deck and a 60hp Mercury.

My advice to you is to buy what you want.

fzpete

Welcome to In-Depth Outdoors fzpete!!!

here you go

shane

here is a close up of the front deck.

shane

the jalope

shane

Thanks Shane

you cant see it, but between the counsoles, there is another flip door that goes inbetween them. it flips up and I used to store tackle boxes and other stuff like that under that, the stuff that you didn’t have to use all of the time.

shane