Merkins 222FB rebuild

[Early8]

Thank you for the explanation!  Good to know.

[merkin222]

Good transom work getting done this week...

[merkin222]

...

[merkin222]

Getting the console filled and ready for paint.
 

[FL.flatback]

Looks like it coming along good. Im just over a year into mine. A couple hours after work and weekends, make's for a slow project.

[merkin222]

Heck yeah, FL, I get what you mean.

I knew I'd be hard pressed to do it all alone, so I've been doing what I can, and farming out some too. I knew I wanted the transom and console pro-done, but I filled and faired the cap and I'll be getting into the flip/bottom paint removal/general paint prep soon; which I've heard is a job - specifically bottom paint - I shouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

I've had mine since September, so I guess that's not too bad. Hoping she'll be done in time to go chase the black drum in circles. My girlfriend is looking forward to the day when I don't spend every waking minute talking about/chasing down portabrackets, livewells, hardware, etc. etc... haha... but just wait 'til she gets a look through those windows!

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[HawgLeg]

Lookin good Merkin!

[merkin222]

 Thanks Hawg! Much appreciated.

[merkin222]

Picked up an aluminum trailer last night. Not a perfect fit out of the box, since the hull is near 8'ft wide, but I got a pretty good deal so pulled the trigger. Nicest trailer I've ever had and I liked the idea of skipping wooden bunks in favor of the rubber skids. - Anybody have experience using these rubber skids on a painted boat? I'm wondering if I might want to try and carpet the skids (or another soft solution), since I'm not gelcoating.

Hope everybody is having a good weekend.

[RickK]

Looks good.  Unique winch on it. 
The angle on the bunks are different than the deadrise of a FB though. Let us know how the rubber bunks work out.

[merkin222]

Hey Rick, thanks for the reply. - Yeah, the bunks are going to need attention to accommodate the Flatback. She's still sitting on the old Float-On for now. --- Coincidentally, that trailer I bought with the boat (same one that appears in my pics) has a Hialeah stamp on it, and yet I bought the rig in New Jersey, so I wondered if I bought the whole 'time capsule'...had half a mind to resto that trailer too... In any case, the old trailer is aluminum but needs most every one of the components replaced, (it runs four golf cart tires, to boot) so I wanted to pick up something more modern for about the same investment. Hoping this will be a nice and worry-free addition to the rig.

[RickK]

I have the 10x20 tires on my 170 and it really keeps the trailer low, which means you can launch in skinny water - at least here in central FL.
BTW, add your location to your profile so everyone knows what part of the country you're in.  It'll show up under your Avatar - city and state are fine.

[merkin222]

Ok, Rick, will do. Aaron was good enough to see my post and set up a call to talk through his trailer specs. Sounds like I may want to sell this one on and go see Owens about a better fit.

Girlfriend has me on a plane this minute to Vegas for work/valentines trip.

Wish us luck at the blackjack tables!

[CLM65]

Hope you win enough for a new trailer!  I'm going to need a trailer soon too.  Aaron's sure does look sweet.  Maybe we can get a "group buy" on trailers!

[merkin222]

Thanks, Craig. Great idea buddy!