hearing my voice echo in here

[jebeebe]

Doesn't anyone ever come here? I would think there would be more intrest in this forum. Guess you just got to throw in your two cents and see if anyone comes back. Have a good day on the water................Jerry

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

Re: hearing my voice echo in here

I'm here.

 

[Bob o' da Nort]

Re: hearing my voice echo in here

I check it most days, lurkin' and learnin'. I've only been boating a couple of years, so have far more to learn than answers to offer. I've found this whole iboats forum to be very valuable. I spent a chunk of my boating budget through iboats and their service has been great, too.

 

[jebeebe]

Re: hearing my voice echo in here

Hi,
I spend most of my time on the "mercury repair" forum but that gets old sometimes. I have learned a lot from it though. Got lots of help while rebuilding my 60hp merc. I had never overhauled a boat motor before and didn't have much confidence in it working, but it purrs like a kitten so far.
I rebuilt a tracker dl pontoon from the aluminum floor braces up and built the console and all the furniture and carpeted everything. Had the seats apolstered but I did all the rest. New marine plywood deck and carpet and the whole bit. New tires all the way around on the trailer, all new berrings, new lights and bunks. I gave $800 for it and have got around $4,000 in it now, but it is virtualy new. Had it out once and it responds quickly and rides smooth and am very happy with it. Had some minor problems, but nothing serious. Goes faster than I expected. Now I have my shoulders messed up with rotator cuff surgery and can't take it out. I think most of this summer is going to be a bust. When my left arm heals up (5 mo), I have to have the other one done. Will be kinder to my body from now on. Well have a good time on the water............................Jerry

 

[Bob o' da Nort]

Re: hearing my voice echo in here

Hey Jerry,
Sounds like you did an awesome job on the motor rebuild and on the boat restoration. I understand about not getting out on the water with a significant shoulder injury. There are times when boating when one suddenly needs a lot of strength, and fast. With a bad rotator cuff, it could be taking a chance if an emergency pops up. Try recruiting some young assistant...they benefit from the experienced training, and you have a paddler if your motor dies. We bought our Targa in pretty great shape for about $7,500. Stored indoors and not really used a whole lot. Of course, I managed to quickly add $2,700 to the bill by grenading the lower unit on the Merc 1115 during my first solo start-up (rookie mistake, plenty of witnesses who never let me hear the end of it). Then I spent another $2,000 on misc. maintenance, equipment and accessories to get it set-up and running the way I want. Now I'm dealing with a 4" crack on the watersplitter, starting from the boweye and heading north: trailer damage. A welder is coming to check it over today. It's a great handling, fast boat, a nice dry hull and a real stable fishing platform.

 

[jebeebe]

Re: hearing my voice echo in here

Hi Bob,
Sounds like you are keeping with the old saying " a boat is a hole in the water to throw money into." There is always somthing to spend money on. I still need two fold down fishing seats. Got one for the helm and am using lawn chairs in the front. Has a seat across the back and two in front of the console. Didn't want too much furniture so there would be more walking around room.
What part of Wisconsin do you live in? We used to go to Hayward every summer and stay on Cheif Lake. Beautifull lakes and forrest country.
Don't feel bad . I ran the boat over a reef in Canada and took a couple of inches off the skeg. Thought I knew where it was and move up the lake a safe distance before cutting across (I thought) hit it dead center. Very luck I didn't do more damage or get us hurt. 45 minutes from the cabin and not a boat in site.
I had a Lund pro-v with a 150 hp motor then and could have been running 55 mph but I wasn't.

Well they dropped the river way down now so I don't have to long to get out on the river with the potoon. I couldn't anyway. Problem is now the fishing will be great and I can't cast. I walked down to the river this morning and talked to a man who was wadeing with a fly rod and caught two smallies and some wipers below a long reef that goes all the way across the river. Like a waterfall of about 15" and the small mouth bass wait below it for shad to come over. Well better go . Have fun on the water............Jerry