How to Customize an Alumacraft V-hull Boat

Fishing is more enjoyable with the right amenities on your boat.

Customizing an Alumacraft V-hull boat to suit your particular needs is one of the great joys of owning boats like these. Whether your interest is in fishing or just tooling around the lake, customizing an Alumacraft boat can make it more useful and enjoyable. Some customizations can even help get you out of trouble in the event of a storm that rises up quickly.

Things You'll Need

• Marine GPS unit
• Bimini convertible top
• Trolling motor
• Stereo system

Instructions

1. Install a marine GPS unit in the Alumacraft boat. These can be installed with minimal wiring because they are self-contained units. It is best to mount it just above the steering wheel on the pilot's console so that it can be seen easily during poor boating conditions. Not only can a GPS unit help you navigate treacherous water during foggy conditions, it can also get you back to shore in the event that you lose your bearings.

2. Install a bimini convertible top onto your Alumacraft boat. A bimini top may not be a necessity for an Alumacraft boat when you're fishing, but there are times that you will find it to be indispensable. Not only does a bimini top provide you with protection from rain and sun, but it can be removed easily to provide open-air boating when you want. Alumacraft offers its own bimini tops as options on new boats, as well as kits that can be installed onto older boats.

3. Install a trolling motor onto the bow of your boat. A small trolling motor is a necessity when you are fishing because it allows you to effectively sneak up on fish with the silence of an electric motor. They are easy to install, as well. All you have to do is tighten the clamps for the trolling motor's mounting bracket over the side of the bow of the boat, and then route the electrical cables to the boat's battery. Once attached, the motor is ready to go.

4. Mount a stereo system into the console of your Alumacraft boat if it isn't already equipped with one. The benefit of doing this with an Alumacraft boat is that they already have the necessary mounting spaces in place. All you'll have to do is connect the stereo to the wiring harness located underneath the pilot's console, and then route the wires through the hull to the speaker locations.

References

• "Power Boating For Dummies"; Randy Vance; 2009
• "Boater101: A Full-Reference Guide to Boating Basics"; Marine University; 2007
• "Getting Started in Powerboating"; Robert Armstrong; 2005