Poor Man's 8ft Hopper

Cliff

Cliff

Steelhead
Looking for advice. I bought this little plastic boat several years ago as an inexpensive flyfishing pram, but Ive only used it a few times over the years. Now that I'm retired I'm thinking about using it more often. The thing is "naked" except for the oars. The seat is hard and hurts my old flat butt. If you were to fish this boat off, without spending an arm and a leg, how would you do it? A swivel, padded seat? Anchors and pulleys fore and aft? Scotty rod holders? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Cliff
 

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I’d add some type of seat with a back. You’ll appreciate being able to lean back.
Also note that seat height is something to look at as to how the oars will work while rowing.
SF
 
I really like my Scotty accessories on my small boat: A couple rod holders, one with an integrated cup holder, and an anchor pulley.
 
What @Stonedfish says about seat height (in relation to your oars/oarlocks) - my pram is 8' long, the seat is a padded Fish on seat mounted on a swivel. I can't tell from your pictures where the oarlocks are in relation to where you'd fasten a seat. I use Scotty mounts for my anchors (centered at the bow and port side on the stern). As you can see on the bow, the Scotty mount is on the outside of the bow (same for the stern). I've never figured out a good location for rod holders so, living dangerously, I hang the reel on the bow side of the wood bench my seat is mounted to when "trolling" (I have "V" notched rod holders that fit in hand grips on the outside of the stern), otherwise it's in my hand unless I'm desperate enough to "2-pole" fish.

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Have fun setting it up!!
 
They make extension oar-locks to raise your oars. If you get a rotating seat, recommend, you’ll be sitting higher and will need to get the oars up above your thighs. The oars angle will change the higher up they are..two anchors? yes..A big bow one to set you in and a smaller stern one to keep the rear from swinging..Rod holders? Meh..you’ll figure something out..keep it simple at first, and then you can customize it as you gain experience..
 
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Step 1, name it.
Step 2, dial in oars and trolling motor and battery (LiFePO4 would be my choice). Might be worth cutting a battery compartment into the back bench
Step 3, sitting arrangement. I'd go low back, but you do you. Bonus if you can get it to swivel, but with a bench, you're only getting like 100 - 120 degrees of rotation (your legs will hit the bench) and the swivel will raise you up a bit (might be an oar issue).
Step 4, rod holders
Step 5, electronics. Get a solid fish finder
Step 6, storage and built in stripping basket. Create some places to store what you're going to be bringing regularly out of the way so you have a clean area where line tangles aren't encouraged.
 
My buddy had one of those. If I remember correctly the bench is a little far forward. He cantilevered the seat towards the stern and raised the oar locks. I think he used starboard or something similar. I would move the Scotty mount on the bench up to match the other one on the transom. If you add another to the bow then you just need two Scotty anchor pulleys.
 
-locking swivel mount with high back seat
-oar raisers once the seat is mounted and needs measured
-Scotty anchor mount
-if going for a depth finder, just get one of the inexpensive gel wheelchair batteries, I used two tied together for three years to drive my 50# Minn Kota before switching to a LiPo
-looks like the bow has a small compartment area, might consider building a simple thin ply slide box to fit, can never have enough storage for odds and ends
 
Wow, guys, that's an incredible wealth of information! You all gave me a lot to think about. The issue with the bench/seat height and oars will be my first concern. I really appreciate all your advice.

Cliff
 
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