CONTINUOUSWAVE

Oldslowandugly

Butch, I used to carry a huge tool box as well as a tackle box the size of a dog house. No more. I only take what I actually need learned through experience. It only took 40 years to figure that out. I don't waste money on stainless tools because if you get salt water on them and don't clean them- t...

Oldslowandugly

I have pared down my on-board tool set. I used to carry way too much. The only thing I have really ever needed was fresh spark plugs and a plug wrench. So I carry several sets of plugs and the wrench in a sealed baggie. The plug wrench also fits my thermostat housing so I carry a spare thermostat to...

Oldslowandugly

I have a small console, a flip-back cooler-seat, as well as three Tempress fold-down swivel seats on my 15 footer. I first tried the Taylor-Made seat covers and they barely lasted a season before cracking and tearing. I tried some polyester covers that did not tear but they let too much water throug...

Oldslowandugly

Thanks guys. I am a rabid DIY'er and always look for a way to get things done fast and cheap. I used to use big 1' x 1' timbers but they got old and I can't find new ones around here. Yes, I really need to take the 34 year old bottom down to bare fiberglass. I should have when I first got it but so ...

Oldslowandugly

Now that I am in my mid 60's it is not as easy to get the boat off the trailer by myself. I fabricated some cradles that let me raise the boat with just a bottle jack, some cement blocks, and wood blocks. I scrounged up some good strong stop sign poles that the drunks knock over on a regular basis. ...

Oldslowandugly

Since the engine cover is fiberglass, it is pretty easy to recondition. You can sand, fill, and paint just like on a car. Any good brand of paint will work but in a spray can you only have a couple of choices, enamel or lacquer. I used Dupli-Color brand lacquer auto touch-up paint. I chose a dark bl...

Oldslowandugly

Old drag race saying- "You snooze you lose". I missed a lot of good deals by not jumping right away. Just keep looking and you will find the right one.

Oldslowandugly

Winterized AND stored indoors? You can't ask for better than that. But if you are really in doubt try and get a demonstration. If you convince the seller you are very serious they should have no problem waking it up for you.

Oldslowandugly

Of the eight I had that were on the recall list all eight replacements were sent via FedUp. Almost every box was smooshed. One was discharged in the box because FedUp handled them like they do everything- like gorillas. The flimsy yellow tie wrap they used to hold the grenade type pin in breaks if y...

Oldslowandugly

I procrastinated because I wanted to get through this season with my extinguishers in place. I did not realize they sent new ones then took the old ones back. Anyway I have 9 altogether and all 9 were recalled. Thank God I had no need for an extinguisher all these years!!! YIKES!

Oldslowandugly

I believe OMC and BRP use a standard sender for their gauges to keep inventory low. Any dealer should be able to supply the right one. I used Teleflex gauges and they did not include the sender so I used the standard OMC sender. On my 48-HP the sender screwed right in to the boss on the head. On my ...

Oldslowandugly

Jefecino- I ETS'd in 1975. The Army had given me an all expense paid vacation in Germany where I was far from any water. As soon as I got home I was back at it fishing and by '78 I had my first boat of my own. It has been 40 years now of getting ready for the fishing/boating season. Aside from a few...

Oldslowandugly

My 48 Evinrude had a spot for the sender in the head. It was a threaded boss directly below the spot for the overheat warning sender. Look for a blind hole that doesn't seem needed. I wired it through the harness all the way to the console where I mounted a gauge.

Oldslowandugly

Great info Jim. A lot of good lessons to be learned here. When ordering new equipment I make sure to immediately inspect for completeness and correctness. Lots of mistakes occur and waiting too long can cause more problems. My trailer is only used twice a year to launch and recover. I remove the tir...

Oldslowandugly

I'm pretty sure there is a hillbilly shade tree mechanic somewhere thinking a few gallons of fiberglass would do the trick. The only thing stopping him is the asking price--even though the motor and trailer alone are probably worth the asking price.

Oldslowandugly

I saw [a cut-in-half 13-footer listed for sale]. [Putting it back together] would be quite a task. I guess anything is fixable if you are determined enough.

Oldslowandugly

Ssssh. Don't tell my Doctors but after 3 weeks recovery I snuck the boat into the water. I did bring a friend along to help. I even brought a step ladder to climb in while it was on the trailer. All went well. I even caught a keeper Summer Flounder the next day. Mission accomplished.

Oldslowandugly

Rather than harp on the failures of regulation, why not focus on the successes? Look at the millions of drivers and operators who don't get into accidents. Not even a ticket. They take their privileges seriously, obey the laws, and act responsibly, and we are all safer for it. Yet there will always ...

Oldslowandugly

I did as you mentioned. I made a mahogany base for the console and used stainless wood screws to attach it to the deck. I further fortified it by using 3M 5200 to glue the wood to the deck. The console was then attached to the wood with pan headed stainless wood screws and fender washers. So far it ...

Oldslowandugly

I agree, no amount of legislation will prevent drunks from causing mayhem. The 6 O'clock news everywhere is testament to that. But the amount of boneheaded ignorant amateurish behavior out there is mind boggling. How exactly does one manage to get to a station in life where you can afford an expensi...

Oldslowandugly

Update: this law was the result of a 13 year battle by the Mother of an 11 year old girl who died as a result of a boat collision caused by a drunken operator. To add insult to injury the operator refused a sobriety test even though he "reeked" of alcohol. Police got a court ordered blood ...

Oldslowandugly

OK- I found it. It is known as "Brianna's Law". It was on the State Assembly website. It is actually an amendment to an older law. Now, you must be at least 10 years old and the holder of an approved Boater Education course card, or certificate, or have the Safe Boating icon on your driver...

Oldslowandugly

Yes, I remember when I heard it that it was part of the budget bill they were battling over, so small potatoes as news goes. I will investigate further but if you know anything about NY it will be a nightmare. I do know that Suffolk County has the same requirements for their residents only. I believ...

Oldslowandugly

I know BoatUS was going crazy opposing New York bills SB 9092 and AB 9806a on the grounds that not enough time was available for all NY boaters to comply. It will be mandatory for ALL operators to have the New York-approved Boating Safety Course card on hand when operating anywhere in New York State...

Oldslowandugly

OK- I'm repaired. Hurts a lot but not as bad as I imagined. Now to rest up and get that boat moving.

Oldslowandugly

WhatKnot- thanks for the advice. Tried fishing from shore today- I really miss the boat. SOON!!

Oldslowandugly

WhatKnot- how long was your recovery? How soon were you able to go out in the boat? I have about a week left to get it in before I get cut.

Oldslowandugly

Dutchman- turning 65 was like a magical door opening. "OH, you have Medicare? Come on in!". What used to take endless referrals and paperwork now just happens. I'll see how the billing goes and if my regular insurance covers the rest. I was tempted to just get the boat in before the surger...

Oldslowandugly

My boat has been ready, my tow vehicle has been ready, and..... a month of Grand Jury duty. I get through that, and a hernia I've been ignoring for 10 years decided to bite me in the, well, you get the idea. Now I am scheduled for surgery and after recovery maybe then I'll get to the water. At least...

Oldslowandugly

OK- dry it is. Thanks. I was unsure because It took a lot of pressure to find the leak. I guess the residual oil helped the seal resist leaking. When I drained the oil last Fall I got butterscotch looking gunk. Letting it set in a jar allowed the water to settle out and I knew I had a leak. At first...

Oldslowandugly

As I got older my boats got smaller. I'm down to a 15 foot Whaler. It's a lot easier for an old fart to manage. Keep the Whaler!

Oldslowandugly

When you change seals in a gear case you then test the seals with air pressure and vacuum. Should you put in oil and drain it- or test the case dry?

Oldslowandugly

El Rollo- I forgot about being able to lay AGM batteries on their side. And no gassing. I should have known that because I used one in the Wife's trunk-mounted Chevy Cobalt. One bad feature of them is that they are prone to sudden failure with no warning. I got 8 years of use before that happened. B...

Oldslowandugly

El Rollo- I went to the Lifeline site and looked up [the Lifeline GPL-U1T AGM Batteries]. I like the size and weight. They seem to sell for around $150 which is in line with most AGM batteries like Odyssey. It looks like two [the Lifeline GPL-U1T AGM Batteries] wired for 24-Volts are the same weight...

Oldslowandugly

Jim- what a great read. Thanks! By converting to electronic ignition, those motors sound pretty competitive. And high performance camshafts? Wow! The only thing I would not like is the pin-drive prop shaft. If they were anything like the old OMC pin drives, hitting anything harder than a fish would ...

Oldslowandugly

[This discussion has been separated from a thread in MARKETPLACE in which a notice of FOR SALE was made for a Bearcat 85-HP engine.--jimh] I believe the Bearcat engines were originally offered by the Fischer-Pierce company to complement the new Boston Whalers. I remember seeing ads for them in ancie...

Oldslowandugly

Hmmmm. So if I go to 24 volts the trolling motor will not only run longer but the system would be more efficient? I would love to add two dedicated deep cycle batteries just for the trolling motor and keep my starting battery separate. But if I add any another battery the only place it could go is a...

Oldslowandugly

That [advice] makes a lot of sense. Top speed is not a concern. I shoot around using the 48-HP main engine. When I see a likely spot or breaking fish, I would want to sneak up quietly. Locating a second battery, if needed, is a concern. My center console is located forward and I uses the space betwe...

Oldslowandugly

Rich--excellent info. My most likely use would be to stem the tide so I could cast to weedy shore lines without having to anchor. I also haunt secluded back bay coves and channels casting for Bass and Blues. Dropping a noisy anchor is always a problem. But I'm rarely out doing that more than an hour...

Oldslowandugly

How much thrust is recommended for a bow mounted electric trolling motor on a 15-footer?

[The 15-footer] would be used inshore on Long Island back bays and channels. Tide and wind are major concerns. I would prefer to stay with a 12-Volt motor if at all possible.

Oldslowandugly

Surfhunter--how big is the boat's engine? I have an Evinrude 48-HP on my 15-footer. I use the simple, original, Safe-T Teleflex steering. I can take my hands off the steering wheel at WOT, the wheel stays put, and boat tracks straight. The reason: I have carefully adjusted the trim tab on the engine...

Oldslowandugly

Phil is correct: I did it. The reason was simple. I researched how to replace the brass drain tubes and tool needed to flare the ends. I realized that my hull was in pretty bad condition on both the inner and outer surfaces where the flare and O-ring sealed. Up inside the foam was pretty chopped up,...

Oldslowandugly

Vance--are those oil baths the same concept I see on tractor trailers? I always thought that was a very good idea. But my bearings are 28 years old and looked like new when I cleaned them. As I said, I was getting grease leaking out but not water leaking in. The old grease I cleaned out was in so go...

Oldslowandugly

I used the Matterhorn White on my 15 footer's interior. It is a very bright white shade- nowhere near the original color. I have some Interlux 401/402 Epoxy Primer that I used as a base. Epoxy paint dulls and changes color from ultraviolet light exposure. Strangely, when allowed to age, this primer ...

Oldslowandugly

Jim- the "best" beer is always the one in your hand at the moment! I'm sure it is the same with grease. While I used the Lubriplate brand successfully for many years I always felt the light green color made it difficult to tell when water emulsified with it. The OMC grease is a bright tran...

Oldslowandugly

If you have the room then placing the tach right in front of you is best. Lacking room then anywhere that you have a clear unobstructed view is fine. I too operate with one eye on the tach as it is essential to proper motor performance.

Oldslowandugly

I am about to rebuild my trailer bearings with the Bearing Buddy Spindle Seal Kit. I have used Bearing Buddies and Lubriplate brand trailer bearing grease for 28 years with no problems. Since the spindles and bearings are clean I can switch greases now if I choose. I was leaning towards the OMC high...

Oldslowandugly

I am in the same situation. I could have used an old hot rodder trick to build up the axle seal contact surface with Marine Tex and then sand it down flush. That way it fills the pits and the seal has a nice smooth surface to ride on. But I also wanted the better double spring loaded seals recommend...

Oldslowandugly

Dutchman- you are a fine person to do that. That's all it takes to introduce someone to the wonderful world of boating. As for kids- when the fish won't bite and they get antsy- I move to a different spot and let them run the boat to get there. Works every time!

Oldslowandugly

Jim- yes I did, as well as the Perko chocks. I don't rely on the cleats for secure docking as they are just screwed/glued in place. I run the dock lines through the chocks to the stock Whaler stern and bow inner eyes. The lines stay on the dock and I clip the dock lines to the eyes securely with big...

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