Got out this weekend, all went eerily well.

[nola mike]

Normally I need to do SOMETHING in the spring before I get on the water. This weekend wasn't planning on taking it out, but it was too damn nice. Charged it a few days before. Started on muffs, ran rough for a minute but started right up. Got on the water, went about 30 miles. Beautiful. Only problem(s) were the radio (loose wire at the amp), and a trailer bearing disintegrated on the drive home from the ramp (only 1/2 mile). Also, my lawnmower and string trimmer both started right up after sitting for the winter. Very strange.

 

[gm280]

Wow, the stars much be aligned just prefect for you to experience all that. Can't remember the last time everything started without working on them...

 

[nola mike]

Right? I mean, the wheel DID almost fall off the trailer, and I've got 30-60 min of work to replace that. Changed gear lube when I got back, and actually cleaned the boat! Usually I'm weeks in before I've got everything sorted enough to work on cosmetics.

 

[Scott06]

If I recalll you had more than your fair share of outdrive or ujoint work last year? Just evening out I think.

 

[harringtondav]

Our Mississippi river place is on a slough just off the channel and a long 1/4 mile upstream from the boat ramp. Spring is a hoot. Most boats go upstream past us. Smart. The no-wake ends about 00 yds below us. They throttle up. Then many stutter, surge, and die. Out comes the paddle and the float back to the ramp. Old fuel, brother in law's boat, etc. I ain't normally smug or cocky, but all of this show is preventable.

 

[nola mike]

If I recalll you had more than your fair share of outdrive or ujoint work last year? Just evening out I think.

Yup, new lower seals, water pump, cooling hose, trim/limit switches, u-joints, drive shaft seal (i think), boots, shift cable. I think that's all?

 

[Mechmagcn]

If everything went that well for me in the spring I think I'd have to buy a lottery ticket.

 

[its_shaun12]

With having a bearing go out on you were you already home when this took place or were you able to change it on the road?

 

[garbageguy]

Good to hear stars aligned for you, for a number of things (3?).

 

[nola mike]

its_shaun12 , noticed it pulling the boat out of the water, then watched the wheel wobble for the 1/2 mile home hoping it wouldn't fall off

 

[JimS123]

With my routine Fall maintenance and winterizing, plus the Spring recommissioning duties, I would be surprised if something DID go wrong. I would consider a blown bearing a catastrophe since they would have been repacked in the fall.

 

[nola mike]

Yeah, come back and talk to us when your boat has another 30 years on it. :sleeping:

 

[JimS123]

Yeah, come back and talk to us when your boat has another 30 years on it. :sleeping:

Our current boat only has 35 minutes on the clock, so I can't speak to the quality of recent manufacture. We traded in a 35 year old boat last year and other than 2 warranty issues in the first 2 years we had 33 years of trouble-free service. Two of my other boats are 49 and 67 years old and they have also been trouble free.

Its not age that matters, it's the level of PMs. But of course, engine hours are a factor as well.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I sanded thru my new gel in 4 places....... would rather have your weekend.

 

[nola mike]

I sanded thru my new gel in 4 places....... would rather have your weekend.

Doh! Been following your resto (but the threads are all over the place)...Last I saw you were still sanding down the old stuff. This weekend I'm working, so I bet I'd trade this one with you.