03-22-2022, 01:51 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2022, 01:54 PM by SkunkedAgain.)
So the ice finally cleared from the boat ramp, so I took the boat out for a shake down cruise... Turns out it launches a lot easier than my old boat and when I backed it down the ramp it decided to unload on it's own and well, I had forgotten to tie a new rope onto the front so I ended up taking a little fast wade to grab the boat before it got out too deep, only a little over my knees before I caught it... Should have had hip boots instead of knee boots...
But when I went to start it, it fired right up and after a little warm up it ran great... In fact I had to see how fast it would go, so I opened it up, 38 mph on the gps and it gets there really fast... So I was really happy with that, seems the old boat topped out about 28 mph, and 17 the last few trips... The hull design seems to make for a really smooth ride, I think I'm really going to like this boat... I was worried about the running it in shallow water on Cutler since its a much bigger boat, I was afraid it would really churn up the mud, but I didn't see any during all those deep digging starts and I was trying with the motor full down just to see if it would have issues... So far so good, I think it sits a lot higher in the water than my old boat did...
One issue, the tilt on the motor decided to quit lowering when I got it out, anyone know any tips on tilt motors when they don't start one direction? It still goes up, but didn't kick in to go down, after working fine while I was on the water... I also had about a gallon or two of water come out the drain plug when I got it on the trailer... I had my transducer red neck rigged on back and it splashed a lot of water in the back area by the motors, I forget what that bay is called, but it does have a screw in access plug to the lower hull area in that bay that may not be water tight... So I'm hoping the water came from there, not rivets or some other leak in the hull...
Trolling motor was having issues, think it may have set too long with gas left in it, so I'll have to look at that... It has always been a really easy running motor, so I must have let the carbs get crap built up in them... Anyway a lot left to do, but I'm getting more excited about it for sure.. Later J
But when I went to start it, it fired right up and after a little warm up it ran great... In fact I had to see how fast it would go, so I opened it up, 38 mph on the gps and it gets there really fast... So I was really happy with that, seems the old boat topped out about 28 mph, and 17 the last few trips... The hull design seems to make for a really smooth ride, I think I'm really going to like this boat... I was worried about the running it in shallow water on Cutler since its a much bigger boat, I was afraid it would really churn up the mud, but I didn't see any during all those deep digging starts and I was trying with the motor full down just to see if it would have issues... So far so good, I think it sits a lot higher in the water than my old boat did...
One issue, the tilt on the motor decided to quit lowering when I got it out, anyone know any tips on tilt motors when they don't start one direction? It still goes up, but didn't kick in to go down, after working fine while I was on the water... I also had about a gallon or two of water come out the drain plug when I got it on the trailer... I had my transducer red neck rigged on back and it splashed a lot of water in the back area by the motors, I forget what that bay is called, but it does have a screw in access plug to the lower hull area in that bay that may not be water tight... So I'm hoping the water came from there, not rivets or some other leak in the hull...
Trolling motor was having issues, think it may have set too long with gas left in it, so I'll have to look at that... It has always been a really easy running motor, so I must have let the carbs get crap built up in them... Anyway a lot left to do, but I'm getting more excited about it for sure.. Later J
When things get stressful think I'll go fish'en and worry about it tomorrow!