Here is a 17' bass tracker i just recently bought as a project boat to rig up for bowfishing...doesnt look to great now but its actually in really good shape and i think its going to make a pretty good rig when complete. Right now im planiing to remove all the front decking and flooring and add a raised deck and HPS lights.
here are the before pics will post more pics as i work on it.

Dan, are you going with a trolling motor or a fan??

going to start with a trolling motor on this one but thinking about putting a kicker motor on it later with the steering in the front. We're working on an 1860 also that we may put a fan on next year but i think we're going to stick with trolling motors on them this year.

Looks like a great start.

You will love the boat, the I have a Basstracker with a 50HP evinrude, and it has been a great boat with no problems.

good start if you need any help just ask I am sure we could guide you in the right direction

Here is a pic of my 15 footer that a currently have rigged up.

Turkeymansc,

Is that boat a mirrocraft? It looks just like mine without the rigging. I
would like to know more about your setup & what it would run me to set up like that.

My old rig is a Grumman 1542...I have around $80 in the steel 1" square tubing, the 150 watt hps lights came from econolight for 42.90 each (i have 6), i put a bigger trolling motor on it which was $400 and something for a factory refurbished model, i have little over $100 in the boxes and wiring for the lights, and one of the most expensive parts would have been the aluminum for the deck but i had a buddy that had some...looking for some more aluminum now for the new boat project and its a little pricey between 280-380 for a 5x10 sheet most places around here, but i found a place in Georgia with 4x8 sheets for $120 so it looks like im going to be taking a road trip soon lol.....the deck is 5ft wide by 5 1/2ft long and is raised 14" above the gunnels of the boat...if i had it to do over i would probably rase it just high enough to fit the lights under it...which i will probably be doing on the new project...

not presently a bowfisherman here, but you guys are getting my interest.

Me to i will have to use the tractor to dig my boat out of the snow.

Well be prepared to become addicted...lol....I love it i have been bowfishing for over five years just recenly starting shooting some tournaments last year...plan to shoot alot more tournaments this year...i usually end up taking somebody new every year and once you go on a good night your hooked you should givb e it a try you wont regret it...you make spend as little or as much as you want on it really...i started out with an old recurve a zebco 808 reel and mount a couple arrows and 3 500 watt halogen lights.....and have continuosly upgraded each year...To now a raised deck with 6 hps lights, new 3500 watt champion genny, custom built oneida built by Joe thats shoots AWESOME...ams retreiver...cajun and muzzy arrows....fixing to get a quick draw arrow rest to replace the cajun roller....and to top it off im working on rigging out another boat lol....an Osprey is probably going to be next on the list...

Ok this was my Bass Fishing boat till my partner got sick and could not fish any more then my brother got me back into bow fishing so I changed it all over. If I can fig out how to post them I will put some up I have a 42 ich 2 blade wood prop on my boat with a 27 kohler pushing her I love it.

Ok here is a couple of what mine looks like for you.

im going through the foam removing and original deck removing process now lol...did you take the bracing for the deck all the way out or just cut part of it out?