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Random Quote: fishin' is lake a box of chocolate.. u never no what your gonna catch.. and sometimes you catch nothing!
Ok, I am studying for boards and a little bored so I thought I would post some pictures of my 31 Contender that I finished rigging a while back. I ordered the boat with no wiring, no ttop, no leaning post, no motors, no pumps or plumbing. The only options I ordered from the factory were clear livewell lids, k-planes, 400 gallons of fuel, and aluminum plates fiberglassed under the floor as backing plates for the ttop. The reason I ordered the boat like this was two fold. I saved allot of money doing all of the work myself and I am very particular about the way I like things done (you would understand if you ever fished with me). The ttop was built by offshore towers in mobile, al. He builds the strongest and best looking canvas top in my opinion. The boat came back to my shop while I had a two week break between semesters and took 7 days working about 16-18 hours a day to rig completely. Enjoy!
On the way back from the factory south of Miami:
Coming home from Offshore Towers in Alabama:
Lots of Rodholders, I have added two on the outside of the second row down from the top since this pic:
Managed to hang and rig the motors completely on day 1:
This electronics panel is made by Chris Powers of Powers boat works in NC. He is the man and his panel blows away the factory one that you can get from contender. You can ride with the glass up or down and absolutely no rattling. The tolerances are so accurate on this panel, there is even no need for a gasket to prevent vibration!
C-120, sony marine radio, Icom VHF, this is prior to the TR-1 and Ipod installation
The mess that was the console:
Getting better:
Starting to look better, I built the battery box from 3/4 starboard and saved allot of room in the console as opposed to trying to mount 4 of the black battery boxes:
Lots and lots of rodholders, all with a specific purpose:
Nice job. I used to have tons of extra time to work on the boats and fish too when I was in dental school. Good thing you did this project while in school. Once you hit residency and then the real world... things change. Throw in wife and kids. Ouch. I still manage to tear my boats apart, but its usually at the expense of my sleep or a fishing trip.
Now the kicker... Did you use student loan money to pay for all this? I did (not that my boats are new), and its consolidated for 30 years at 1.9%. You may be looking at numbers like that the way interest rates are going right now.
Ringleader, what I did was a piece of cake compared to the project you are tackling right now. I wish I knew a fraction of what you do about fiberglass work. I am about to start my first fiberglass project in a few weeks, a fishbox that goes in front of my console for 3-5 day trips. I am also going to split the console door so that I can still get in the console without moving the box. I may need a few pointers and maybe a heads up as to where to get the materials for a decent price. Maybe you could trade some fiberglass tips for some fishing info. And yes, you were correct on your last comment; although I don't think my rates are quite that low
Good work JJ! Did you do anything unusual in the upper box? Could you post or pm close-up pictures of the battery setup? Offshore did the top on my 27 Contender although it doesn't have the rear legs. Chris Powers did some work for me several years ago and after seeing what he did for you I called him and I wanted the same. BTW, he is inventoring these units for Contender boat ownersand can be contacted at 910 762 3636.Thanks, Tommy
__________________ 23 Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman
Here's a zoomed in view of the same pic. I don't have any close ups of the inside of the console and the boat is at the dealership getting some gelcoat work done that was messed up when I picked up the boat from the factory. I can get you some better pics when I go to pick it up late next week. Upper box? I did not do anything to the upper box. I don't like electronics mounted up there because they are a pain to look at, and I use that area for random storage for extra clothes, maps, and small tackle bags. I'll keep looking to see if I have any other pics on my other camera.
I was looking to make a box forthree batteries. I like your's, I'mgonna have to makeit like that.
__________________ "Give me your hungry, your tired your poor I'll pee on em
Thats what the statue of bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses, lets club em to death
And get it over with and just dump em on the boulevard"
-L.Reed
"If you don't like it, go to Russia" -Homer Simpson.
JJ......in the third picture from the bottom what are those jack-looking fish with the big eyes to the left? Are those horseyes? It just hit me....are those barrel fish?
ps........why don't you leave some grouper for the rest of us!
Dam I'm jealous and very impressed; I took Step 1 last summer and was gonna shoot myself; this summer step 2 and electives....in addition to going to school in Dublin..tuition in Euros--you can do the math....guess the Navnet is gonna have to wait for my Buddy Davis
__________________ Homer no function beer well without.
Contender 31 Rigging Pictures 
