My dad has a 16' fiberglass boat (Bonita?) that's open, with a small side console. It floats in about 2" of water, I've always thought it could be re-rigged and make a great shallow water reds/marsh boat.

He finally said I could have it if I wanted it. If I take it I'd want to remove the side console and put in a center console. Floor/deck is solid, no soft spots.

How big of a job/bad of an idea is this?

ETA: On further review, its a 15.5' boat. Now I'm thinking I've seen some flats boats/technical poling skiffs with tiller drives, so maybe it'd be best to just repower with a tiller, cut out the side console and get that re-gel coated. It'd be a wide open middle, deck up front, and deck on back. Maybe could even build/mount a poling platform on back.

This post was edited on 5/29/19 at 2:01 pm

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Posted by Sao

East Texas Piney Woods

Member since Jun 2009

65706 posts

Posted on 5/29/19 at 1:16 pm to TheCurmudgeon

2 inches?

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Posted by Cypressknee

Member since Jul 2017

1195 posts

Posted on 5/29/19 at 1:42 pm to TheCurmudgeon

It can surely be done. If you’re looking to do it yourself there are some walk through/DIY threads across the Internet. Keep in mind you’ll also have to move electronics and cables.

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Posted by The Last Coco

On the water

Member since Mar 2009

6840 posts

Posted on 5/29/19 at 2:38 pm to TheCurmudgeon

quote:
ETA: On further review, its a 15.5' boat. Now I'm thinking I've seen some flats boats/technical poling skiffs with tiller drives, so maybe it'd be best to just repower with a tiller, cut out the side console and get that re-gel coated. It'd be a wide open middle, deck up front, and deck on back. Maybe could even build/mount a poling platform on back.

Yeah on a small boat, floor space is at a premium. I would go with a back bench seat and a tiller and remove the steering all together. Less stuff to break too.

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Posted by baldona

Florida

Member since Feb 2016

20449 posts

Posted on 5/29/19 at 4:27 pm to TheCurmudgeon

Why don't you like the side console? I wouldn't go center on that small of a boat it will eat up your deck space. Many high end skiff's like Hell's Bay are side console mostly.

Tiller's are great for short runs. Tiller's are not fun if you routinely make 20+ minute runs.

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Posted by Tigerhead

Member since Aug 2004

1176 posts

Posted on 5/29/19 at 7:55 pm to TheCurmudgeon

I converted a 16ft Carolina Skiff, but the console was just screwed to the floor, not built into the side of the boat. I had to move it back about a foot or so to make up for the lateral distance. That way I could use the same steering and control cables, instead of buying longer ones. You could still move around the boat fine and it was balanced better when I was alone in the boat. Never regretted the mod.

Is your console built in? Is the cabling routed under the floor?

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