Greybeards Gripes

On Friday we rode with the neighbors to take their big SeaRay back down to Bay City for winter storage.  The forcast was 2 t0 3 feet waves early, rising to 3 to 5,  then 4 to 6 feet,  coming out of the north east.   We ran down in following waves that probably averaged out to be around 4 to 5 footers,  cruising at 22 to 25 mph.   It wasn’t a bad trip,  that big SeaRay handled the waves very nicely.  I did make note though,  that on the entire trip (maybe 20 miles),  we didn’t see another boat on the water until we got near the Saginaw River,  and gave silent thanks that we weren’t in my 25 footer.

We had lunch at O’Hare’s Bar and Grill in Bay City,   walking distance from the docks.    I’ll put O’hare’s down as highly recommended,   just be sure you’re hungry,  they don’t skimp on portions. :-)

This afternoon we decided to try a quick troll of the river to see if any Salmon had started showing up (No).   In the process we ran across a good sized cruiser stalled on the corner of the river.  (around 26-27 ft)

The fellows in the cruiser called me over and asked for a tow back to their dock.   Being somewhat of a decent pirate,  I agreed to try.   NOTE:  my river trolling boat is the 17ft aluminum “Alaskan”.   We tied on a rope and quickly learned that a small light boat,  doesn’t have much luck towing a large heavy boat.  (They had about 10 people on the cruiser)   As soon as the rope tightened, my boat would quickly slew sideways toward the bank.  We tried rigging it a couple of ways,  but the river just wasn’t wide enough.

We untied and offered a ride for help,  but they all stayed on the boat.   A little later I saw them being towed by a boat of nearly the same size.   We had suggested they call BoatUS,  but I guess none of them were members.   BoatUS offers a great deal on towing in the Great Lakes,   for about 59 bucks,  your covered for a year.    Seems pretty cheap,  if you’re the guy with the dead boat.

   I’m writing this as a minor lesson in the possible consequences of buying a “very nice” used boat.   This boat,  my 1996 SportCraft Fishmaster,  was purchased by me in the fall of 2008,  from it’s original owner, (through a broker).   It came “highly recommended” by the broker,  (a trusted source).  It had never been stored in the water,  always on a boat lift,  and was stored indoors in the winter.   It looks nearly new.

Now for the breakdown:   After taking the boat out the first time, fall 2008, I noticed that the Lowrance GPS system had multiple buttons that didn’t work,  making it very hard to use, usefully.  1. GPS system replaced with a new color GPS system.   Next trip out,  I started noticing that the Fish Finder didn’t seem to be showing a lot of fish,  and couldn’t hold it’s lock on the bottom very well.  2.  Replaced Fishfinder with new color Fishfinder.  When the boat was pulled in the fall of 2008,  while washing it,  I noticed a hairline crack on one of the blades of the prop.   3.  New prop installed   I also noticed the anchor pulpit was a bit loose.  4.  Anchor pulpit bolts replaced with new larger stainless steel bolts.   When I launched the boat in spring of 2009,  I noticed that multiple snaps on the cabin enclosure,  wouldn’t stay snapped in a breeze.  5.  Replaced multiple snaps.  And that my Washdown pumps pressure switch didn’t seem to work.  6. Replaced washdown pump pressure switch.   About mid-summer,  the Washdown pump itself,  froze up.  7.  Replaced Washdown pump.

Right now,  near “out of water time” fall 2009,  it’s running like a top,  and nothing seems to be broken or near worn out.  But,  back to 2008 and early 2009 for a moment,  there were also the 8. two PROOS downriggers,  (out of four) that were broken,  and the 9. FishHawk downrigger sensing transceiver,  that didn’t work.   I didn’t replace the 2 broken downriggers, or the FishHawk,  so that wasn’t an immediate expense.

Now understand,  I’m very happy with the boat,  I’d more than likely purchase it again, if I had it to do over,   but I might bargain a bit harder in the do over.   My purpose for writing this is just to try to help out some of the many people out there looking for a used boat.   Be in the right frame of mind when shopping.  Don’t be fooled by the boats history,  or how good it looks,   a ten year old boat,  truck, plane, etc., is still a ten year old boat, truck plane, etc.!  Hopefully,  the rest of my boat,  will be up to the way it looks,  slightly used.  And hopefully your used boat,  will be a good one,  and save you’ll a lot of cash over the cost of a new boat, like I did. (a new SportCraft 25.5 Fishmaster,  costs over twice what I paid for mine,  and doesn’t include -any- electronics)

Shop well!

Uhhhhh,  what else can I say?

“ME TOO!”

“I’m a Shooter” from “Home on the Range”.

Brigid’s work should be required reading for politicians,  new and old. 

After reading Glenn’s article about the CVA black powder derringer he once put together,  I decided I had to post a picture of mine.   Coincidently enough,  built during about the same time period as Glenn’s.  The top photo is by light of my computer monitor,  on the bottom photo, I used the flash to get a more realistic image.

  In case your wondering,  it’s a CVA .45 cal. Philadelphia Derringer.  A  kit/copy of a piece that was supposedly popular with card sharks in early Philly.  I put it together back in the early 80’s.  I alway’s meant to put together a cap and ball revolver too,  but  I guess I never got around to it.

I installed a new JABSCO , 4GPM, washdown pump in the SportCraft today.  It was about 1/2 the cost of replacing it with the original Flojet pump,  and was almost a direct swap.   I say almost, because I did have to drill 4 new mounting holes,  since the mounting base on the new pump was different.  Being this late in the year,  with the date to pull the boat getting so near,  I suppose I could have waited and let the SportCenter replace the pump when they winterized the boat,  BUT,  I -am- a retired mechanic,  and there are still a few things I can handle myself.  And on that note,  I can definately say,  I’m glad I don’t still have to do that kind of work on a daily basis.