Pole platform: good or bad addition to 15'??

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Author Topic:   Pole platform: good or bad addition to 15'??

Russ 13 posted 08-20-2012 11:45 PM ET (US)
Working on a Classic 15'.
Thinking about adding a custom aluminum poling platform
to the stern.
Close in form & function to what is on a flats skiff.
Total weight is only 10 LBS.
Will this add value to or remove value from the boat??
CW members thoughts on this idea....Good or Bad.
Thanks.
pcrussell50 posted 08-21-2012 12:41 AM ET (US)
No expert on flats boats here, but I see a fair few of them (and their cousins, bass boats), over on the fast outboard boat forum. Purpose-built flats boats look like they might have more lateral stability, (like bass boats, where you fish anywhere off the deck), than the narrow, v-hull classic 15. I wouldn't be surprised if even the classic 13, which is VERY laterally stable, is actually more laterally stable than the classic 15.
Nonetheless, I am intrigued by your idea. And if you are young and athletic or surf and have good balance, it might be kind of fun to stand elevated on the back of a wobbly classic 15, and pole your way along.
-Peter
contender posted 08-21-2012 08:00 AM ET (US)
Russ: my friend built one on an old 13 once, also if you have one built have it made so that it can be slide into its supports, so when not in use it can be removed easily...Should not be a problem...Good luck
Buckda posted 08-21-2012 07:15 PM ET (US)
For resale, probably bad - limits the market, etc.
For personal use if you don't really care about resale, I think it can be a good modification if done well and attractively. I like customized Whalers when it's done well - almost as much as I like a well restored OEM classic.
Dave
Binkster posted 08-21-2012 07:23 PM ET (US)
I agree with Dave, it really limits your market if/when you sell it. Of course the new owner could remove it but then he would have to patch the screw holes, not a job for everyone.
If you do, don't forget to provide a way to get back on board, its probably going to be real tippy. It will look cool though.
rich
Russ 13 posted 08-22-2012 07:32 PM ET (US)
Yes I added one to a 13 Classic, it worked & looked good.
The new owner of the 13' really liked it....
..
My main thought would be how it would affect the resale
of the Classic 15'.
Just because I like it & use it, makes me curious how many others would feel the same??
..
So far it seems the average Whaler buyer, would rather not
have one, as poling is a shallow water experiance....
contender posted 08-22-2012 09:42 PM ET (US)
Bink: did you built/customize your boat for someone else or for you?...Russ: you never did anything to your whaler other than something factory? This is utter nonsense, I custom my boats to my use and my likings, If I sell them this is what you get, do not like it, go somewhere else...If the modification is done correctly and nice you will not have a problem with a resale of your whaler. Keeping it clean and nice is the key...Anyway how do you not know that the next person looking for a whaler wants one with a polling platform?
Russ 13 posted 08-22-2012 11:24 PM ET (US)
Contender.....what?
The only close to factory "mod" was the use of two part epoxy for the interior in "Desert Tan"....on the 13'.
...
I got the 15' with the idea to add a nice custom poling platform, but have changed to a Action Craft flats
skiff, due to the added storage & hull performance....
..
Since I will be reconditioning the 15' now for selling,
I was debating going with the platform or not....
..
I agree the most important "mod" is to do a professional job, and use quality hardware & materials.
...
The question is: to add the platform, or not??
And the effect on reselling.
contender posted 08-23-2012 07:41 AM ET (US)
Russ what I'm trying to say is that you have never done any modifications to your whaler other than factory equipment?..(did not add a rod holder, Bimini Top, added a compass or some other electronics?) All of the for mention are not factory options but add resale to your whaler (well some do). So now if you have a whaler and want to put a polling platform on the whaler and are worried about resale? If your polling platform is designed nicely and correctly and make it removable this will (should) only add to your resale of your whaler...Another way to look at it, say you want to purchase a whaler, you have found two of them same years, same engine, same trailer, same boat. One of them is a plain Jane looks the same as it came out of the factory, nothing added. The other one has a Bimini Top, boat cover, casting and polling platform, electronics and comes with Coast Guard equipment and is asking $1000. more. Both boats are in the same shape...Which boat would you purchase?
Peter posted 08-23-2012 07:46 AM ET (US)
Not stable enough for a poling platform.
poker13 posted 08-23-2012 11:42 AM ET (US)
Russ, if you do as nice a job as you did with the 13 you just sold, to me it could only increase in value. However, the question is how stable or tippy this boat is for poling. I know nothing about flats fishing or the stability of the classic 15 (never been on one). However, they use classic 15s a lot on the Texas coast to fish the flats, but poling is not that common here, so I don't know.
How about taking it out for a ride and standing on the edge of the transom and the corners and rocking it to get a taste for it?
Binkster posted 08-23-2012 12:17 PM ET (US)
Russ, so you now have an Action Craft, great flats boat, and built right in Cape Coral too. I always wanted one but it never happened. Will this be a restoration job, if so no trouble getting parts. I remember when they first started up back in the eighties. Cape Coral Industrial Park is/was a great boatbuilding area back in the day, '70's and 80's, second only to Miami/Ft. Laud., and I knew a lot of the builders. I drove through there about 4 years ago and it looked like a ghost town. has there been any improvements.
rich
Russ 13 posted 08-23-2012 06:14 PM ET (US)
Contender good point made.
Poker 13. As to the stability, not sure if it would make it too tender.
Although the 15' is not as stable as the 13' it is still
pretty forgiving.
Binkster- The Action Craft is in good shape, with only a few items needed, and for now parts are available.
As to the condition of Cape Coral's boat building.
Action Craft just closed & sold, unsure how it will regrow?
The new owner wants to get it up & running again.
I think Shamrock boats is also closed, so not very good
in the boat building area of Cape Coral.
The economic down turn has really hurt the boat building industry.
Used to enjoy shopping @ Boaters World, they too are gone.
Striper15 posted 08-23-2012 07:30 PM ET (US)
I guess it could be a negative to some potential buyers but I think it looks great and adds to functionality of the boat. I fish off of it alot and it effectively adds additional room for fishing, 3rd person can fish from platform. Fowr shallow water fishing it provides great visibility and ability to navigate in sme very skinny water. I really like it.
http://s576.photobucket.com/albums/ss206/Whaler15/?action=view& current=IMG_0936.jpg
Striper
Jefecinco posted 08-24-2012 09:22 AM ET (US)
The answer is simple. It will reduce the size of the buyer pool to add a poling platform. The other question is how much will it narrow the market and that probably depends upon where you are.
Finally, to add the platform will take added time and expense. If you are preparing the 15 for sale why do it? If it's for your enjoyment get it done!
If you are selling the boat you can always offer to add a platform as an option for the buyer. If the buyer wants a platform you add it fr a price.
Butch
Russ 13 posted 08-26-2012 02:56 PM ET (US)
Good Point!!

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Author	Topic: Pole platform: good or bad addition to 15'??
Russ 13	posted 08-20-2012 11:45 PM ET (US) Working on a Classic 15'. Thinking about adding a custom aluminum poling platform to the stern. Close in form & function to what is on a flats skiff. Total weight is only 10 LBS. Will this add value to or remove value from the boat?? CW members thoughts on this idea....Good or Bad. Thanks.
pcrussell50	posted 08-21-2012 12:41 AM ET (US) No expert on flats boats here, but I see a fair few of them (and their cousins, bass boats), over on the fast outboard boat forum. Purpose-built flats boats look like they might have more lateral stability, (like bass boats, where you fish anywhere off the deck), than the narrow, v-hull classic 15. I wouldn't be surprised if even the classic 13, which is VERY laterally stable, is actually more laterally stable than the classic 15. Nonetheless, I am intrigued by your idea. And if you are young and athletic or surf and have good balance, it might be kind of fun to stand elevated on the back of a wobbly classic 15, and pole your way along. -Peter
contender	posted 08-21-2012 08:00 AM ET (US) Russ: my friend built one on an old 13 once, also if you have one built have it made so that it can be slide into its supports, so when not in use it can be removed easily...Should not be a problem...Good luck
Buckda	posted 08-21-2012 07:15 PM ET (US) For resale, probably bad - limits the market, etc. For personal use if you don't really care about resale, I think it can be a good modification if done well and attractively. I like customized Whalers when it's done well - almost as much as I like a well restored OEM classic. Dave
Binkster	posted 08-21-2012 07:23 PM ET (US) I agree with Dave, it really limits your market if/when you sell it. Of course the new owner could remove it but then he would have to patch the screw holes, not a job for everyone. If you do, don't forget to provide a way to get back on board, its probably going to be real tippy. It will look cool though. rich
Russ 13	posted 08-22-2012 07:32 PM ET (US) Yes I added one to a 13 Classic, it worked & looked good. The new owner of the 13' really liked it.... .. My main thought would be how it would affect the resale of the Classic 15'. Just because I like it & use it, makes me curious how many others would feel the same?? .. So far it seems the average Whaler buyer, would rather not have one, as poling is a shallow water experiance....
contender	posted 08-22-2012 09:42 PM ET (US) Bink: did you built/customize your boat for someone else or for you?...Russ: you never did anything to your whaler other than something factory? This is utter nonsense, I custom my boats to my use and my likings, If I sell them this is what you get, do not like it, go somewhere else...If the modification is done correctly and nice you will not have a problem with a resale of your whaler. Keeping it clean and nice is the key...Anyway how do you not know that the next person looking for a whaler wants one with a polling platform?
Russ 13	posted 08-22-2012 11:24 PM ET (US) Contender.....what? The only close to factory "mod" was the use of two part epoxy for the interior in "Desert Tan"....on the 13'. ... I got the 15' with the idea to add a nice custom poling platform, but have changed to a Action Craft flats skiff, due to the added storage & hull performance.... .. Since I will be reconditioning the 15' now for selling, I was debating going with the platform or not.... .. I agree the most important "mod" is to do a professional job, and use quality hardware & materials. ... The question is: to add the platform, or not?? And the effect on reselling.
contender	posted 08-23-2012 07:41 AM ET (US) Russ what I'm trying to say is that you have never done any modifications to your whaler other than factory equipment?..(did not add a rod holder, Bimini Top, added a compass or some other electronics?) All of the for mention are not factory options but add resale to your whaler (well some do). So now if you have a whaler and want to put a polling platform on the whaler and are worried about resale? If your polling platform is designed nicely and correctly and make it removable this will (should) only add to your resale of your whaler...Another way to look at it, say you want to purchase a whaler, you have found two of them same years, same engine, same trailer, same boat. One of them is a plain Jane looks the same as it came out of the factory, nothing added. The other one has a Bimini Top, boat cover, casting and polling platform, electronics and comes with Coast Guard equipment and is asking $1000. more. Both boats are in the same shape...Which boat would you purchase?
Peter	posted 08-23-2012 07:46 AM ET (US) Not stable enough for a poling platform.
poker13	posted 08-23-2012 11:42 AM ET (US) Russ, if you do as nice a job as you did with the 13 you just sold, to me it could only increase in value. However, the question is how stable or tippy this boat is for poling. I know nothing about flats fishing or the stability of the classic 15 (never been on one). However, they use classic 15s a lot on the Texas coast to fish the flats, but poling is not that common here, so I don't know. How about taking it out for a ride and standing on the edge of the transom and the corners and rocking it to get a taste for it?
Binkster	posted 08-23-2012 12:17 PM ET (US) Russ, so you now have an Action Craft, great flats boat, and built right in Cape Coral too. I always wanted one but it never happened. Will this be a restoration job, if so no trouble getting parts. I remember when they first started up back in the eighties. Cape Coral Industrial Park is/was a great boatbuilding area back in the day, '70's and 80's, second only to Miami/Ft. Laud., and I knew a lot of the builders. I drove through there about 4 years ago and it looked like a ghost town. has there been any improvements. rich
Russ 13	posted 08-23-2012 06:14 PM ET (US) Contender good point made. Poker 13. As to the stability, not sure if it would make it too tender. Although the 15' is not as stable as the 13' it is still pretty forgiving. Binkster- The Action Craft is in good shape, with only a few items needed, and for now parts are available. As to the condition of Cape Coral's boat building. Action Craft just closed & sold, unsure how it will regrow? The new owner wants to get it up & running again. I think Shamrock boats is also closed, so not very good in the boat building area of Cape Coral. The economic down turn has really hurt the boat building industry. Used to enjoy shopping @ Boaters World, they too are gone.
Striper15	posted 08-23-2012 07:30 PM ET (US) I guess it could be a negative to some potential buyers but I think it looks great and adds to functionality of the boat. I fish off of it alot and it effectively adds additional room for fishing, 3rd person can fish from platform. Fowr shallow water fishing it provides great visibility and ability to navigate in sme very skinny water. I really like it. http://s576.photobucket.com/albums/ss206/Whaler15/?action=view& current=IMG_0936.jpg Striper
Jefecinco	posted 08-24-2012 09:22 AM ET (US) The answer is simple. It will reduce the size of the buyer pool to add a poling platform. The other question is how much will it narrow the market and that probably depends upon where you are. Finally, to add the platform will take added time and expense. If you are preparing the 15 for sale why do it? If it's for your enjoyment get it done! If you are selling the boat you can always offer to add a platform as an option for the buyer. If the buyer wants a platform you add it fr a price. Butch
Russ 13	posted 08-26-2012 02:56 PM ET (US) Good Point!!