Bowfishing Boat - Work In Progress

A nice little gift from the brother-in-law (Free), an old hunting and fishing Jon boat. It needed a lot of TLC since it had been stored outside in the elements for the past three years. The lower unit was damaged and with the new love for bowfishing the major decision was made to go with a surface drive outboard engine.

On are family adventure to getting on the water we had to start somewhere. We stripped out all the old wood floors and screws. Removed the center console.Trying to achieve a lighter vessel. With all the debris removed we had a clean slate to work with.

All the time bowfishing was in our veins waiting with anticipation. We removed the old outboard motor that was of no use to us. Took off the boat and put alot of time removing rust from the trailer. My two sons put some time in with the sanders running and the dust flying. Trying to save money I turned the boys loose with about 15 cans of spray paint to add a little rust protection to the boat trailer. More memories for the boys as they grow older also.

My father-in-law dropped by to help with the lights and get a free dinner while we where working. I'm totally illiterate when it comes to electrical (white, green, brown, and yellow). Made it all a little simpler for me when he brought over his ohm meter. We had it wired in about an hour.

On with the boat. It had a old camoflauge paint job but I added my own touch over the top of the old one. With several different stencils that I cut out with my own imagination the boys and I placed are camoflauge paint on as we saw fit. With a few drips here and there.

Then off to Pro-Drive Outboard to get the motor installed. I chose the 27hp Kohl er due to it reliability. Also with the low gas consumption of about 1 gal. per hour while running wide open.
We Still haven't put a bowfishing deck on yet but it's a work in progress. Since the kids are out of school we have found a new fun activity for the fishing boat. The kids have been enjoying knee-boarding in between are fishing trips. And with the misses of the house enjoying pole fishing we have been cat fishing about twice a week.

The bowfishing has been slow but we still take are bows along for when the fish aren't biting.

Pole Fishing for Catfish and Freshwater Drum

Setting out to catch catfish!
So we finally got the whole family together to go on a fishing trip. Loaded up the fishing boat the night before and enjoyed my time spent with the boys while messing around in the shed with our tackle and making sure our gear was ready for the morning. With the radio on extra loud and spending time with my oldest son learning the ins and outs of his girl troubles. Giving him guidance when ever possible. Seems like only yest er year I was with my father doing these same things before a fishing trip.

The wife and daughter are inside getting the sunblock, hats, water and food together. I can only imagine of the girl talk going inside between a mother and daughter.

We set out for are fishing trip before sunrise to hit are hot spot. When all of us are together the kids go for the number of fish we catch over the quality. But hey, it's funner to be catching then sitting around and waiting to catch.

As they day progresses we caught 31 Catfish, 9 Freshwater Drum, and 1 Bream. Not to bad for six hours of memories. My daughter tried to feed a drum to my youngest and let the fish war begin. Now of coarse they all play with there food before they eat it. They through there drum at the ice chest in hopes to slap someone else with fish slime. Catfish on the other hand is a little different with the poison fins. They still handle the catfish with care so they don't get anyone stung.

41 catfish,drum and bream not two bad for a family of five. The best is when the kids are catching and seeing there smiles.

Getting the kids outdoors and away from the video's games is what it is really about. New experiance and even sight seeing as we go down the bayou. We saw Bald eagles, Aligators, Aligator Gar, and the occassional water snake. Not bad for a day out on the boat. Plus the kids know have some pictures to brag about on there Myspace and what they did for fun this summer.