Turning a boat into a glass bottom boat is not the easiest of nautical projects, but it does bring the purpose of the boat to a higher level than a simple fishing boat. A glass bottom gives a boat many uses. Watching the fish under the boat travel through the water is not only fascinating but also tranquil and relaxing. While fishing, the glass bottom boat will aide in finding schools of fish without the need for purchasing a sonic reader.
Lay a 3-foot-by-3-foot picture frame on a flat surface. The picture frames must be flat wood picture frames for the project to work. Each picture frame will have a 1/2-inch ledge where the picture and glass would normally sit.
Set a 3-foot-by-3-foot pane of safety glass on top of the picture frame. Draw a line on the glass to have a 1/2-inch overlap with the inside of the picture frame with a permanent marker.
Cut the glass with the glass cutter along the line drawn with the permanent marker.
Measure and draw a square area on the bottom of the boat that is 2 feet, 11 inches by 2 feet, 11 inches. Drill holes at the four corners of the square.
Cut the boards from the bottom of the boat along the square using the jig saw.
Place a line of waterproof caulk along the edge of the hole. Set the first of the picture frames onto the line of caulk with the side containing the 1/2-inch ledge facing up. As the picture frame should be 1 inch in width, the inside measurements should be 2 feet, 11 inches by 2 feet, 11 inches. Make sure to line the picture frame perfectly with the hole in the boat bottom.
Screw this picture frame into the boat hull with 1-inch screws and the drill. The screws should be spaced 4 inches from each other all along the picture frame. Mark, on the deck of the boat, a small dot where the screws are placed.
Place waterproof caulk along the ledge where the glass will go. Then set the glass onto the ledge and press firmly allowing the caulk to bulge up around the glass. As the glass is thicker than normal picture frame glass, it will rise slightly above the picture frame.
Place waterproof caulk on the glass and picture frame. Set the second picture frame, with the ledge facing down, on top of the glass. Drill 1-inch screws into the picture frame in between the spaces where the earlier frame was drilled and the deck was marked. The glass bottom boat is now operational.
