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Author Topic:   Just Bought 11-footer

Antrieb posted 09-09-2014 08:24 AM ET (US)
I found this great website today and am learning all about my just-purchased 1976 11-footer. I believe it is a Standard model. Has a 1982 Mercury 9.8-HP engine and nice swivel seats that came with the boat. Purchased the boat, motor, and trailer from an estate for $500 this morning which I believe to be a good deal. Of course I had to clear it with my wife first, since it means I will be in the garage more often this fall.
I plan on refinishing the mahogany or at least trying. If the wood is too far gone I will buy some lumber and cut up the new pieces. I will also replace the rub rail which looks like it was originally the desert tan color. The hull was painted red (top) and green (bottom) and I'll leave it that way for now. I don't want to go too crazy with this boat but I do want to make it nice to cruise around Saratoga Lake and the outlet Fish Creek. I have a 55lb Minn Kota transom motor which I plan on mounting on the back somehow for backup. If you have any thoughts on that let me know
Pictures on my SmugMug site http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-4jDhh/

Let me know what you think and if you have any tips or advice for me. Thanks for looking :).
jimh posted 09-09-2014 08:53 AM ET (US)
That is an estate sale I wish I had gone to. Your $500 purchase was a fantastic deal.
cvyarb posted 09-09-2014 11:20 AM ET (US)
Congrats. I echo JimH's comment that you got a great deal.
The 11 is a great little boat. Our family had one w a 9.9 Yamaha and as a kid I use to run the heck out of it.
Antrieb posted 09-09-2014 08:56 PM ET (US)
Thanks! Today I finished cleaning it off and it looks much better. I also installed the swivel seats which I think are a nice touch. I wasn't too sure how old the gas was so I drained the tank and checked the spark plug. The motor ran great and started up on the [seco]nd pull when I was inspecting the boat the other day.
There are two holes about 1/3-inch on each gunwale. What these are for? I was thinking perhaps oars, but no that wouldn't make sense. Are they for a bimini top? If so, what would fit in there?
PeteB88 posted 09-09-2014 11:03 PM ET (US)
It is not hard to "save" the wood - take plenty of time searching the archives and you will find method for restoring the wood components of your boat. Take some time - figure it out - it's very rewarding. And not hard.
jimh posted 09-10-2014 11:28 AM ET (US)
The two hole you describe in the gunwale are probably oarlocks. I am not sure why you deduced that using oars with an 11-foot boat intended for use as a yacht tender would not make sense. It makes sense to me, and particularly so if you consider the time of its construction, 1976. Many small yacht tenders were rowed in 1976, perhaps more than had outboard engines powering them.
Antrieb posted 09-10-2014 04:05 PM ET (US)
Thanks, Jim. I didn't think they were oar locks due to the fact that the metal side rails would make inserting and using oars restrictive. At least from what I can tell. Thanks for letting me know what they were for.
Antrieb posted 09-14-2014 06:15 PM ET (US)
I took the 11er out for a spin today with my wife. We went up the creek for about an hour then came back. It was really nice! I do wish there was more power. The boat had a hard time getting up on plane with the 2 of us on board plus a 60lb battery and trolling motor (for backup).
When we were out on the water we spotted a 15ft center console whaler and it got us thinking, maybe next year :).
Here is a little video of us motoring up the creek. Wish I could post html :).
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-4jDhh/i-TpxF4nn
cvyarb posted 09-14-2014 07:46 PM ET (US)
OP,
I was always able to get up on plane pretty easily with a 9.9hp Yamaha and another guy aboard. I don't know exactly, but I think it topped out probably in the low 20's.
I noticed that your engine looks to be a longer shaft length than ours was. Others can probably tell you exactly just by looking, but if it is, maybe that creates more drag? Again, others with more knowledge can chime in.
As for power, it is usually pretty easy to change a few things around (I think the carb jets or something) and change 9.9's into 15's. You can also repower with a 20 or 25 to get more power.
If you ever want to sell let me know! Good luck.
Teak Oil posted 09-14-2014 09:15 PM ET (US)
The 9.8 Mercury is a turd of a motor, it has nowhere near the power of the 9.9 OMC's of the day. The 9.9 OMC has 13 or 14 cubic inches of displacement and is easily turned into a 15. The Merc 9.8 is not the same block as a 15.
Ditch the Merc and use the money to buy a 15hp OMC engine from anytime in the 80's and you will have plenty of power for getting on plane.
Antrieb posted 09-14-2014 09:21 PM ET (US)
Thanks guys. I downloaded a speedometer app while on the water and the fastest it clocked was 7.2mph. Pretty weak.
Tollyfamily posted 09-22-2014 10:05 AM ET (US)
The 11' really needs a 20hp to perform with 2 people.
Dan
Tollyfamily posted 09-22-2014 10:12 AM ET (US)
I just looked at the pics and as mentioned your motor is a long shaft and needs to be a 15" short shaft. Sell the Merc and you will have enough money to buy a nice clean pull start short shaft 2 stroke 20 hp Johnson or Evinrude. The newer 4 stroke 20s are too heavy. Don't bother with a 15 hp. I have a 30 hp with a steering wheel and run 30 mph.
Dan
Binkster posted 09-22-2014 10:46 AM ET (US)
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-4jDhh/i-TpxF4nn
rich

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Author	Topic: Just Bought 11-footer
Antrieb	posted 09-09-2014 08:24 AM ET (US) I found this great website today and am learning all about my just-purchased 1976 11-footer. I believe it is a Standard model. Has a 1982 Mercury 9.8-HP engine and nice swivel seats that came with the boat. Purchased the boat, motor, and trailer from an estate for $500 this morning which I believe to be a good deal. Of course I had to clear it with my wife first, since it means I will be in the garage more often this fall. I plan on refinishing the mahogany or at least trying. If the wood is too far gone I will buy some lumber and cut up the new pieces. I will also replace the rub rail which looks like it was originally the desert tan color. The hull was painted red (top) and green (bottom) and I'll leave it that way for now. I don't want to go too crazy with this boat but I do want to make it nice to cruise around Saratoga Lake and the outlet Fish Creek. I have a 55lb Minn Kota transom motor which I plan on mounting on the back somehow for backup. If you have any thoughts on that let me know Pictures on my SmugMug site http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-4jDhh/ Let me know what you think and if you have any tips or advice for me. Thanks for looking :).
jimh	posted 09-09-2014 08:53 AM ET (US) That is an estate sale I wish I had gone to. Your $500 purchase was a fantastic deal.
cvyarb	posted 09-09-2014 11:20 AM ET (US) Congrats. I echo JimH's comment that you got a great deal. The 11 is a great little boat. Our family had one w a 9.9 Yamaha and as a kid I use to run the heck out of it.
Antrieb	posted 09-09-2014 08:56 PM ET (US) Thanks! Today I finished cleaning it off and it looks much better. I also installed the swivel seats which I think are a nice touch. I wasn't too sure how old the gas was so I drained the tank and checked the spark plug. The motor ran great and started up on the [seco]nd pull when I was inspecting the boat the other day. There are two holes about 1/3-inch on each gunwale. What these are for? I was thinking perhaps oars, but no that wouldn't make sense. Are they for a bimini top? If so, what would fit in there?
PeteB88	posted 09-09-2014 11:03 PM ET (US) It is not hard to "save" the wood - take plenty of time searching the archives and you will find method for restoring the wood components of your boat. Take some time - figure it out - it's very rewarding. And not hard.
jimh	posted 09-10-2014 11:28 AM ET (US) The two hole you describe in the gunwale are probably oarlocks. I am not sure why you deduced that using oars with an 11-foot boat intended for use as a yacht tender would not make sense. It makes sense to me, and particularly so if you consider the time of its construction, 1976. Many small yacht tenders were rowed in 1976, perhaps more than had outboard engines powering them.
Antrieb	posted 09-10-2014 04:05 PM ET (US) Thanks, Jim. I didn't think they were oar locks due to the fact that the metal side rails would make inserting and using oars restrictive. At least from what I can tell. Thanks for letting me know what they were for.
Antrieb	posted 09-14-2014 06:15 PM ET (US) I took the 11er out for a spin today with my wife. We went up the creek for about an hour then came back. It was really nice! I do wish there was more power. The boat had a hard time getting up on plane with the 2 of us on board plus a 60lb battery and trolling motor (for backup). When we were out on the water we spotted a 15ft center console whaler and it got us thinking, maybe next year :). Here is a little video of us motoring up the creek. Wish I could post html :). http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-4jDhh/i-TpxF4nn
cvyarb	posted 09-14-2014 07:46 PM ET (US) OP, I was always able to get up on plane pretty easily with a 9.9hp Yamaha and another guy aboard. I don't know exactly, but I think it topped out probably in the low 20's. I noticed that your engine looks to be a longer shaft length than ours was. Others can probably tell you exactly just by looking, but if it is, maybe that creates more drag? Again, others with more knowledge can chime in. As for power, it is usually pretty easy to change a few things around (I think the carb jets or something) and change 9.9's into 15's. You can also repower with a 20 or 25 to get more power. If you ever want to sell let me know! Good luck.
Teak Oil	posted 09-14-2014 09:15 PM ET (US) The 9.8 Mercury is a turd of a motor, it has nowhere near the power of the 9.9 OMC's of the day. The 9.9 OMC has 13 or 14 cubic inches of displacement and is easily turned into a 15. The Merc 9.8 is not the same block as a 15. Ditch the Merc and use the money to buy a 15hp OMC engine from anytime in the 80's and you will have plenty of power for getting on plane.
Antrieb	posted 09-14-2014 09:21 PM ET (US) Thanks guys. I downloaded a speedometer app while on the water and the fastest it clocked was 7.2mph. Pretty weak.
Tollyfamily	posted 09-22-2014 10:05 AM ET (US) The 11' really needs a 20hp to perform with 2 people. Dan
Tollyfamily	posted 09-22-2014 10:12 AM ET (US) I just looked at the pics and as mentioned your motor is a long shaft and needs to be a 15" short shaft. Sell the Merc and you will have enough money to buy a nice clean pull start short shaft 2 stroke 20 hp Johnson or Evinrude. The newer 4 stroke 20s are too heavy. Don't bother with a 15 hp. I have a 30 hp with a steering wheel and run 30 mph. Dan
Binkster	posted 09-22-2014 10:46 AM ET (US) http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-4jDhh/i-TpxF4nn rich