12' v-hull mod questions

[jakemcarroll]

My father has a 12' aluminum boat (v-hull, not a john boat) with a 5hp motor that we have had for probably 5 years now, we used it a couple times the first summer but college and jobs have gotten in the way of using it more. However thing have settled down now and I would like to spiff it up a bit to make it a little more comfortable for fishing for the upcoming summer now that we will have the time to use it. Right now it just has 3 wooden benches with floats under them and that is it. I would like to make some wooden flooring, add some pedestal seating and maybe a storage compartment. The only thing I'm wondering is this isn't a big boat, so will two pedestals and a low floor be stable enough, I thought I had seen some good projects on here but they are typically 14'+ boats. Just curious on some advice for how to mod it so we are ready for summer!

[delmuts]

My $.02 . The 12 footers i'm seen i wouldn't get to carried away. What you could do is mount some seats on say a 6" or 10" swivel to two of the bench seats, and put in some type of a floor to just level it out.

[jakemcarroll]

Yeah, I don't want to go overboard, but sitting on a wood bench for even a couple of hours gets pretty rough, and that metal can get hot on some bare feet in the sun in a hurry. I'm basically looking to get a little higher (so I can sit without my knees in my chin), and to get a little bit more comfortable floor situation. Just wanted to make sure some short (maybe 12"?) pedestals and a minimal floor weren't going overboard.

[Hory]

Just keep any weight as low as possible within the boat. I have seen some pretty basic things done to small 14' and 12' boats that really make them comfortable when done right.

[tunrevir]

I have a 12' that I put a floor in with carpet from the middle bench back to the transom. If I tried to add floor to the front it would have been a relatively small. I replaced the middle bench seat with a 2x8 for the seat which allowed for some under seat storage like for my trolling mortor battery. When the middle seat was removed it seemed that there was to much play in the gunwales so I put the plank in to shore it up. I have a seat in the back and a detachable seat that can be moved around on the bench in the middle and front bench areas if need be. Not much room in a 12' boat for more then 2 guys and gear. If my boat wasn't under 3 feet of snow I'd take a pic and show you.

Tunrevir~

[jakemcarroll]

That sounds pretty darn nice to me, sounds like it should be alright to give it a few creature comforts! I would love to see some pics if anyone else has some??