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i am looking for a little assistance with my boats floor plan. The boat is a 1652. Live well (driver and passenger seats), 2 seat mounts, gas tank in the rear. thats about it. no storage on this boat.

here is what i'm thinking. My original thoughts were to convert the current live well into a dry storage/gun box. This will not work because the guns are a too long.

I'll post up a few pictures (excuse the wet leaves all over + the troll motor will be removed and all wires)

I'm looking for a Gun box and dry storage.

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Pic 5 (this is an early picture of thr blind being built. so keep that in mind)

I wouldn't put it in the riiver for sure!

I would look for a truck tool box that would fit longways between console and bow in the center of the boat. It may limit walk around room, but if you put a pad on it you would have a good bench seat to hunt from. Pull those pedestal mounts out. You should still have room to pile dekes and junk on either side of the box.

You could also mount a couple of swivel style boat seats on top of the box if you wanted something a little more comfy. They may get in the way open/closing box though.

You could just mount some of those gun holders(like the ones that go in back glass of truck) to the side of the boat on the same side as the console. and still not take up any floor space. Then just get you a small dry box or convert the livewell into your dry box(shells, groceries and more groceries.) Just a thought.

I'd build a gun bow right in front of the driver console. From console to the front deck. How is your blind setup? Facing passenger side or facing drive side? That could determine gun box too as you could use it for shell storage, shelf space when hunting, etc.

MudHog wrote:I'd build a gun bow right in front of the driver console. From console to the front deck. How is your blind setup? Facing passenger side or facing drive side? That could determine gun box too as you could use it for shell storage, shelf space when hunting, etc.

Side on the passenger side facing the driver side. This is my thoughts as well. use this as shelf space for shells during the hunt.

KWAKHED wrote:You could just mount some of those gun holders(like the ones that go in back glass of truck) to the side of the boat on the same side as the console. and still not take up any floor space. Then just get you a small dry box or convert the livewell into your dry box(shells, groceries and more groceries.) Just a thought.

The live well as a dry storage for shells and such isnt a bad idea. I currently use this space for my 4 life jackets (2 per side of the live well).

As far as mounting the guns to the side of the boat. I just feel like they would get damaged some how. between guys throwing gear around or a slip and fall. I'd like the guns to be in a "box" to ensure their (and my) safety.

another thing, i was thinking putting the gun box on the passenger side and using it as a bench seat instead of using buckets and chairs. this would open up the space behind he console for deeks and gear..

I'd be glad to come offer my advice and labor. Of course I'm gonna have to go hunting in it just to check usability etc.

Have you thought about the gun bag and storage bags MudBuddy sales?

duckkiller wrote:Have you thought about the gun bag and storage bags MudBuddy sales?

thought about it, yes.. but its not what im looking for. the gun box will be another source of dry storage.

Yeah, I got you. Ive seen guys build a box out of marine plywood but every gun box I ever had ended up being dry storage and guns in cases on the floor. I'll keep thinking and get back to you.

duckkiller wrote:Yeah, I got you. Ive seen guys build a box out of marine plywood but every gun box I ever had ended up being dry storage and guns in cases on the floor. I'll keep thinking and get back to you.

That is what happened with us, we have a built in gun box from the manufacturer. I think it may have been used once or twice. We just started putting them in cases and putting them in the floor on one side or the other. Bout the only thing in ours is running lights and a paddle. But it is a handy seat.

For what it's worth, I'd flip your blind to the other side. Put a gun box on the console side of the boat from the front of the console to the lower front deck. That'll be room for guns/gear storage and seating for maybe 2 shooters. I cant' really tell what's behind the bench seat, but if you know a good aluminum man, I would take the bench out and put a pod seat on each side of the boat (with floatation). You put a swivel base on the pod behind the console so you can drive. It becomes the seat for the third shooter and you can sit facing the port side of the boat (blind is flipped to shoot off the port side). Belle sits on a dog stand hanging off the transom.

I'd try to leave one side of the floor open so you can walk from the stern to bow without climbing over or around everything or everybody.

Decoys go on the front deck in transport. Space behind the bench (if it's not already full of fuel tanks and batteries) is for blind bags and portable gear (strapped-down, of course) until you get to where your going.

what about this. put the gun box between the console and front deck. this will serve as storage and also as a shelf while hunting. Then build a seat on hinges against the passenger side gunnel. the seat would fold flat against the side when not in use and would fold out when being used?

Anatidae wrote:For what it's worth, I'd flip your blind to the other side. Put a gun box on the console side of the boat from the front of the console to the lower front deck. That'll be room for guns/gear storage and seating for maybe 2 shooters. I cant' really tell what's behind the bench seat, but if you know a good aluminum man, I would take the bench out and put a pod seat on each side of the boat (with floatation). You put a swivel base on the pod behind the console so you can drive. It becomes the seat for the third shooter and you can sit facing the port side of the boat (blind is flipped to shoot off the port side). Belle sits on a dog stand hanging off the transom.

I'd try to leave one side of the floor open so you can walk from the stern to bow without climbing over or around everything or everybody.

Decoys go on the front deck in transport. Space behind the bench (if it's not already full of fuel tanks and batteries) is for blind bags and portable gear (strapped-down, of course) until you get to where your going.

behind the bench is the fuel and batteries. but only in the middle. i'd like to cut open the other 2 sides and use them for storage as well. this would free up other places.

Turning the blind is a thought but the current way is the best way for the most space (imo). i am looking for more space for storage.