I owned a mid 1980s Crawdad (bought new) until 2 years ago when I sold it to my oldest and dearest friend for about 100 bucks. You don't have to treat that hull with kid gloves, trust me. My boat had been rammed into and dragged up so many concrete boat ramps that it had hundreds of 6 inch long scratches on the front and bottom and still doesn't leak. You can hit it as hard as you can with a hammer and it will just rebound. I kept mine stock except for replacing the plastic seats with plywood rectangles to allow me to mount a couple of quick release padded swivel seats. If I was loading it ON my Suburban, instead of in it, I could take the seats off to make it lighter. For my anchor lines, I just clipped a caribiner into one of the front and rear carry handles and snapped the rope through them. I screwed two of those zigzag type rope cleats to the gunnel on each side of the rear seat (my seat) and I could drop or raise both anchors from that position and quickly tie the rope off by weaving it into the cleats. Was very quick and didn't add much weight to the boat. Rarely fished lakes that allowed gas motors so I had no idea that they could go that fast with a 6 HP outboard. That's very cool to learn and may have made me rethink selling it to my buddy. LOL
Wow that’s a fantastic complement. Thanks so much. But there are so many guys out there doing great things. I’ll have to get some videos of us in the water.
@@SideGigSquid I was gonna go buy the same boat from some guy for 650$ CAD with a 4hp and build it like yours but I ended up getting a 9foot allu Jon boat with a 3hp
did mounting the decks on and back make more stable, I have a Coleman Crawdad mind not as stable as I would like it to be I was thinking the ply wood would help stable a little better. love the video thanks
I had a 1985ish one that I bought new and I remember seeing an ad that showed it loaded with 1200 pounds of concrete blocks and it still floated, if that helps. The actual rating is only 420 pounds of passengers and gear, including the motor. That is what the foam flotation will keep at the surface if the entire boat fills with water. Adding Styrofoam panels to the underside of your decks, if you add them, or the seats for instance, will increase that. Me, my wife (300# combined), a cooler full of ice and drinks, a 55 lb thrust trolling motor, a 105 amp/hour lead acid battery, and two 10 pound anchors never drafted more than 4 inches. My boat was stock except that I added padded swivel seats. No decking though. Hope that helps.
I owned a mid 1980s Crawdad (bought new) until 2 years ago when I sold it to my oldest and dearest friend for about 100 bucks. You don't have to treat that hull with kid gloves, trust me. My boat had been rammed into and dragged up so many concrete boat ramps that it had hundreds of 6 inch long scratches on the front and bottom and still doesn't leak. You can hit it as hard as you can with a hammer and it will just rebound. I kept mine stock except for replacing the plastic seats with plywood rectangles to allow me to mount a couple of quick release padded swivel seats. If I was loading it ON my Suburban, instead of in it, I could take the seats off to make it lighter. For my anchor lines, I just clipped a caribiner into one of the front and rear carry handles and snapped the rope through them. I screwed two of those zigzag type rope cleats to the gunnel on each side of the rear seat (my seat) and I could drop or raise both anchors from that position and quickly tie the rope off by weaving it into the cleats. Was very quick and didn't add much weight to the boat. Rarely fished lakes that allowed gas motors so I had no idea that they could go that fast with a 6 HP outboard. That's very cool to learn and may have made me rethink selling it to my buddy. LOL
I know I’m late but this is the sickest, sickest Jon boat I’ve ever seen holy shit
Wow that’s a fantastic complement. Thanks so much. But there are so many guys out there doing great things. I’ll have to get some videos of us in the water.
@@SideGigSquid I was gonna go buy the same boat from some guy for 650$ CAD with a 4hp and build it like yours but I ended up getting a 9foot allu Jon boat with a 3hp
Got mine 110 dollars at a yard sale. Great job
I love this little boat gets places some can’t and it’s easy to maintain.
I love that Coleman badge on the back, gonna have to get me one!!! Awesome vid!! Subbed!
Amazon bro. Hard to find the decals.
Sweet setup. Need to work on mines. :D
Wow looks really great now. Great work. Good luck with it.
Thanks we have had a lot of fun with it.
did mounting the decks on and back make more stable, I have a Coleman Crawdad mind not as stable as I would like it to be I was thinking the ply wood would help stable a little better. love the video thanks
I heard from another video saying building decks changes the balance point and throws off the balance and makes it tippier
I find it is less stable on the deck that why I left the center at a lower level. The boat is pretty narrow.
Man I’m gonna have to make a video on my crawdad! Great video just subbed!
I’d like to see it always nice to get new ideas.
You already have and commented on my video! Thanks for the view!
Very nice Civic.
Thanks so much. A long time owning it and a lot of love for the car. Sold it a few months ago for a new project. My daughters Datsun 620.
@@SideGigSquid I am looking for an EG hatch myself. What we have here in Maine is rust galore so I am still hoping to score a decent one.
@@Fajah69 I used to live in Brunswick, I know all about it.
FYI.... your AA battery powered lights are NOT Coast Guard approved and the local Warden WILL write a citation.....
Appreciated. But I’m only using this boat in my own pond at this point.
Hey just got me one off fb. You think it could carry 500lbs?
I had a 1985ish one that I bought new and I remember seeing an ad that showed it loaded with 1200 pounds of concrete blocks and it still floated, if that helps. The actual rating is only 420 pounds of passengers and gear, including the motor. That is what the foam flotation will keep at the surface if the entire boat fills with water. Adding Styrofoam panels to the underside of your decks, if you add them, or the seats for instance, will increase that. Me, my wife (300# combined), a cooler full of ice and drinks, a 55 lb thrust trolling motor, a 105 amp/hour lead acid battery, and two 10 pound anchors never drafted more than 4 inches. My boat was stock except that I added padded swivel seats. No decking though. Hope that helps.
Use a cell phone holder works fine
Appreciate your view.
I really want to find one of these boats and do this with it
You can find them sometimes on marketplace or Craigslist for a few hundred bucks usually.
What’s are the measurements of the wood you put on the front and the back? I wanna know so I can do this to mine
The back deck is roughly 41.5 X 38
The front deck is roughly 36.5 X 22
You will have to account for curves and cutouts as you see fit.
Man that boat looks great! I just got one with the same trailer. I have a bunch of questions for you, how can i get in touch with you?
Sorry I didn’t see your message. You can email me at robert.c.lockwood@navy.mil and I’ll answer what I can. Thanks for the view.