Northwest Fishing Reports

Hi Guys, Im new on here. My name is Steve and I am from Maple Valley. I bought this old Smoker Craft from a friend for a couple hundred and decided to clean it up.I started this project so that I could take my 9 year old daughter out in it. Its has a flat aluminum floor that I have never seen before. The boat was in great shape, just faded from decades of chasing Fish.The trailer was a little iffy so I built a new one from scratch and added a bunch of goodies to it. On to the Pics:albino:

Finally on the trailer. New Jack, tires, wheels, winch, Led's, ready for some tabs and numbers

Time for some Vinyl. I called a friend and he made me some killer Vinyl stickers.




Coming out of the printer

Going on the boat.

Nice job on the clean up and repaint! Looking forward to on the water and fish pics soon!

Dude that is an outstanding job. Have fun with the family and stay safe!

Definately looks great! What kind of paint did you use? Now for the full stringer inside the boat pic!

looks great, good job.

Might want to put some pvc or something softer around your guide posts.
Also, the lights and plate location. Are they street legal in it's current configuration? I thought I remember reading something about height restrictions/requirements and such.

That came out looking very nice!

A total labor of love, it looks to me, with the whole family. Memories made even before the fish bite! Way to go!

Wow thanks guys, had out on the water today. rides real nice and stable. The paint is Rustolium, I used there etching primer and then rolled a couple coats on everything. My 9.9 has been stored for 5 years and started on the second pull with only a fresh tank of fuel. I threw in some Scotty pole holders and I am starting to wire in some interior lights, bilge pump and the old humminbird.

FishingFool wrote:looks great, good job.

Might want to put some pvc or something softer around your guide posts.
Also, the lights and plate location. Are they street legal in it's current configuration? I thought I remember reading something about height restrictions/requirements and such.

Lights are legal but I should technically have 3 clearance markers in the center. Were do you find the rub strips? I would like to put something on there.

edge540 wrote:

FishingFool wrote:looks great, good job.

Might want to put some pvc or something softer around your guide posts.
Also, the lights and plate location. Are they street legal in it's current configuration? I thought I remember reading something about height restrictions/requirements and such.

Lights are legal but I should technically have 3 clearance markers in the center. Were do you find the rub strips? I would like to put something on there.

I know with the guide kits, people have used pipe insulation, with pvc on the outside over the posts.

Dont know what you can use on yours.

I would take a trip over to Home Depot or Lowes and check out what they have that will fit.
Another idea is going down to the local boat shops and check out their trailers and see how it's outfitted.

that's one sweet ride you have there. great job!

Looking for some advise, I want to add a bow mount trolling motor: I plan to remove the front bench and build a flat deck/ storage locker. What do you guys recommend for a good bow mount. I would like to be able to run it from the rear seat or center seat but most the motors I see have a very short foot pedal lead. I have never used one and know very little about them. Id like to be in the under $600 range....

I run a Minn Kota Power Drive V2 55lb thrust bow mount on my 16' Starcraft. I postition the footswitch midship near the steering console and still have plenty of cable to spare. If you're looking to spend <$600, keep your eyes open for deals on clean one-owners. A new PD V2 with digital maximizer (for extended battery usage) and Auto Pilot may run you $700 or more.

edge540 wrote:Looking for some advise, I want to add a bow mount trolling motor: I plan to remove the front bench and build a flat deck/ storage locker. What do you guys recommend for a good bow mount. I would like to be able to run it from the rear seat or center seat but most the motors I see have a very short foot pedal lead. I have never used one and know very little about them. Id like to be in the under $600 range....

Foot pedals is 15-20' for the motorized turning kind.

Now if you buy the cable type, not much option there.

wow, that is one sweet make-over! nice job. =d>

FishingFool wrote:

edge540 wrote:Looking for some advise, I want to add a bow mount trolling motor: I plan to remove the front bench and build a flat deck/ storage locker. What do you guys recommend for a good bow mount. I would like to be able to run it from the rear seat or center seat but most the motors I see have a very short foot pedal lead. I have never used one and know very little about them. Id like to be in the under $600 range....

Foot pedals is 15-20' for the motorized turning kind.

Now if you buy the cable type, not much option there.

Thanks for clearing that up, that sounds like what I need. I am trying to keep the Girls in the front and me in the back so I can run the outboard with out having to swap seats. I am considering the remote control and auto pilot cool factor.... Alot of money to spend on such a little boat though.


Thanks Mike Im happy with it, Now Im planing out the new interior/ Storage and Live well.

We this weather is not helping anything and im tired of this thing sitting in the shop while the whaler and the truck are out in the rain so its time for a boat house. I started erecting a 13' X 21' tin roof next to the garage for this thing to live under. To much work into it to park it out in the rain. I will set up some pulleys to hang the pontoon and the toneau cover for my pickup in the rafters once its done. Just a casual observation but I think were getting hosed on summer again