[Hawkeye]

I bought a boat. I took a chance and bought one on Ebay... so, all I have to go on is the seller's word that I got what I want... It's a Ranger Bass Boat... with a 175 Mercury OB on the back... trolling motor... fishfinder... needs the carpet replaced on the floor... other than that, it's supposed (emphasis on supposed) to be in great shape. The motor has 40 hours since a rebuild, uses pre-mix gas which I like better than oil injection (don't trust those oil injection pumps), and it's on a relatively new trailer. I'm going to upload some pictures (I hope) and do a lot of praying that the seller is an honest man... here she is...

 

[Hawkeye]

I wanted to add a couple of things... First, thanks to everyone for their advice and comments. I was fairly well sold on the idea of a bigger boat (cuddy cabin or pontoon) until Mrs. T convinced me that she isn't likely to join me. I fished out of NightTrain's Bass boat, and I liked everything about it... room for three men, storage, ride... and this boat fit into my small budget... I got it for 500$ less than the guy's "buy it now" (asking) price.. It's important to me that you all know that your input had a great amount of influence on the entire decision making process. I don't want anyone to get the idea that I didn't listen (or read) their words and take them to heart... Thank You All... I decided on a smaller boat because it is much more portable and I believe I'll fish more than if I had a 24' pontoon, cabin boat or a bow rider to haul around. I know I can't fish in the lower James, but I still have my beater boat that can handle rougher water if i want to go that way... plus my neighbor (the guy who's boat I fixed a few weeks ago) and my Pastor, both have bigger boats that I can probably fish in the Bay and ocean in when they go...

So.... there she is... I hope she's as good a ride as I have been lead to believe....

Tom

 

[Hawkeye]

It's a V-6. I don't know the model number. Yeah, I'm thinking the modified tri-hull will be a slightly more stable platform than a deep-Vee. I have no clue how well it will handle the water. I also don't have any plans to become a tournament fisherman... Racing to the fishing hole isn't my idea of relaxation or fun. I might race to the ramp if the weather looks like it might turn bad on me, but that's about all the racing I have in mind... the kids might want to learn to waterski, or they might want me to pull them on an innertube, and I can live with that... I hope it is a dependable boat... something my current boat surely is not.
I added two more pictures. One of the motor....

 

[Hawkeye]

I think that it is the predecessor to the XR6. It will definitely be enough to pull a tube or skis.

BTW, I was browsing through some of my old magazines last night and found a couple of articles on the James river that you might be interested in, if the wife didn't throw them out when she cleaned up today.

It could be... Like I said, I don't know that much about outboards in general, and even less as far as specific models and stuff... I have a friend who used to sell Mercs, and he told me it was a 200hp motor that is de-tuned (smaller carbs) to 175 horse power. I like the thought of having a more powerful motor tuned down to a lower horsepower rather than taking a small motor and trying to max out performance from it...

I would like to read any articles on The James, especially if they have references to catfishing in them. There isn't much in the way of expertise that I can't access locally... there are guides that willl share information, and there are a lot of local catmen that will also share... but other opinions are always welcome...

 

[Hawkeye]

One of the guy's names was Jimmy Weir, I believe out of Williamsburg. I got these articles out of back issues of Catfish In-Sider He magazine. He suggests LARGE cut shad for big fish. I will try to photocopy a couple of articles next week.

Yeah... up here we try ti give them a quarter pounder without the cheese... I've used chunks as big as a pound... you don't have to worry about the dinks messin with the bait when you put a piece on that big, but it can sure slow down the bite That big blue NightTrain and I caught took a shade (cut in half, both pieces on an 8/0 circle hook) that was about 6" long... so it doesn't always take a big bait to catch a big fish.

 

[Hawkeye]

good deal,bud...lookin' forward to a''bote wide"!!:ac550:

If things work according to plan, and you know how that goes, you'll probably be the first human I take out in the boat... I'm thinking about getting a temp. registration and putting the boat in Gaston on the way home... just to see how she floats.

 

[Hawkeye]

So, are you supposed to name converted Bassboats (Catboats)? I've been wondering about that... how about "Hawk's Nest"

I'm saving "Susan B" for when I get a real boat...

 

[Hawkeye]

If I can get off work Friday, I'll go then. I can't go this Saturday 'cause the kids are coming home from camp and I have to be there to unload the bus and pick them up. Sunday's out.... so if I can't go this Friday, I'll have to wait a week. It's not a big deal... I waited this long, another week won't kill me, but I have to admit to being a little bit excited.

 

[Hawkeye]

I got the boat today. She's a monster... I took NightTrain out for a boat ride, and I have to tell you that I'm not sure I'll ever open it all the way up... There was a little bit of old gas in the tanks, and I put fresh in on top of what was in there... was told it wasn't that old.. anyway... all I could get her to do was 4200 rpms... I think the prop is too big @25" pitch.. anyhow.... at 4200 rpms we were FLAT OUT FLYING down the lake. She ran a little rough because of the old gas and I Think I put too much oil in there... 28 oz in 9 gallons of fuel... it smoked a lot.... There are a few other things, like the bilge, livewell, and lights don't work, but all in all I'm pleased. I had to put trailer lights on to get home from Lake Gaston... Beavis and Butthead rewired the trailer in the dark.... and on the way home, the alternator crapped out in my old car, so I drove home on the battery.. it got DARK the last few miles.... She's going to make a fine catboat when I get her rigged for fishin....
I Bought two gallons of quicksilver oil from the guy who put the steering cable and water pump on for me yesterday. I told him that if he lived closer I could keep him so busy his head would spin... I called yesterday at two to ask him to put a waterpump in it for me so it would be right to put in the water today. He had it done by 4... one of the steering cables was bad and he changed that for me too... same deal, in by two and done by four... I don't know of any outboard shop that can turn work out like that around here...
Last thing... and I'm going to bed... He put the lower unit on a dynamometer and turned the engine up to 6000 rpms it scared the heck out of me, but that motor is solid as a rock...

 

[Hawkeye]

NIghtTrain's hip was bothering him pretty bad. He was going to fish with one of his neighbors, and all we were supposed to do was ride 'til dark. He canceled his fishing due to the hip, and I couldn't talk him into going out (I bought battery powered night lights "just in case" for the boat at Walmart) to catch even one fish to Christen the boat... he didn't feel good at all, but was a great sport when we went on the water and the boat kept dying.... I Think you're right about gas/oil and I'm not sure about the prop. I don't know enough about that stuff... I can size a prop if i have a properly running engine... and lots of props to choose from... that's about it.
I just checked the alternator in the car... it's smoked... now I get to work on the car.

 

[Hawkeye]

Update.... I took the boat, motor & trailer BACK to Basset, Virginia... 440 miles round trip, twice now... to let the mechanic that "rebuilt" the motor have a look at it. I knew something BAD was wrong with it when the flywheel was wobbly, but I guess I was in denial, hoping it was something less severe than the broken crankshaft I suspected it to be... well, no good news appears to be in my immediate future... as suspected the crank is broken... Now for the really great news...the seller and mechanic both met me at the shop... they both just stood there and told me "crankshafts break sometimes"... you could have knocked me over with a feather.... I asked them what they could do to help me out, since I PAID FOR A REBUILT MOTOR, and I expected it to run longer than THIRTY MINUTES before I had to replace it... they didn't say a word... the mechanic offered to put a crankshaft in it for 1000$ I just said I'd have to think about it... thanked them for meeting me at the shop on a Sunday, and drove home. It's a good thing that time has mellowed me a lot.... It's also a good thing, for them, that Virginia has the death penalty for capital murder...

So, here I sit, completely disgusted with boats and human beings in general... If the guy had at LEAST offered to do SOMETHING for me, I don't think I'd be so disgusted....

I'll be shopping for a new motor, rebuilt powerhead or something to fish out of.... I just want to take my kids fishing... is THAT too much to ask?

TT<><

 

[Hawkeye]

I'm thinking about my options... Ebay is the SORRIEST business in the world for resolving troubled transactions... they basically tell you to work it out yourselves... you can't get ahold of a real person there... I've replied to their "automailer" with really stupid stuff that doesn't make any sense at all to experiment and you get the same answer no matter what you write. I bought a marine radio from a guy on Ebay. He took money for HUNDREDS of radios he never had... I figure about 16,000$ worth... Ebay did NOTHING.... PayPal refunded my money AFTER I contacted the FBI Internet FRAUD division and explained what happened... two weeks later, I get a call from the Sheriff in the town where the guy lived... he went to prison recently... I Don't know if I'll follow up on this in the same way. His mechanic would probably testify that "crankshafts break sometimes" and my case would be shot in the hips... I need them to decide it is in their best interest to help me. I just have to figure out how to accomplish my objective without making anyone mad... How do you get people to do the right thing, when the very fiber of their being is telling them that they have nothing left to do for you?

I'll figure it out... anyone know someone with a Merc upper half for sale? Or a complete motor 90-115 HP for sale? Let me know... I want to FISH with my kids

 

[Hawkeye]

It's possible that a crank will be enough to fix what's wrong with it. I do not have the time, tools or patience (right now) to replace the crankshaft. There's a guy a few miles from me who works on motors at home, as well as for his job. I hear he's good, and works reasonably... I'll phone him if I get time tomorrow... He replaced a powerhead for a friend of mine two years ago... a couple of weeks later, the lower unit went out in the motor... he tooks it back and the guy replaced the lower unit.... total cost for powerhead and lower unit... $1500.00 The motor's running fine... that was an 85 hp Merc... so maybe he can replace the crank in my motor for a decent price. I don't need a NEW one, I just need one that isn't broke in two...

Let me know what you can do. Anything is appreciated... if it isn't a merc, I'll need controls too.... that's why I'm shopping mercs... I already have the controls... I'd put anything on there right now.. even a Chinese motor, if it runs... I'll also consider a small tiller motor, maybe 20 horse, to get me out and back until I get another "main" motor.... I can always use a trolling motor for stripers and walleyes...

Thank you sir.....

 

[Hawkeye]

I got to see it run... I took NightTrain for a boat ride... I don't know what happened.... maybe crankshafts do, just break... dern if I know. What makes me angry isn't that the motor is broken... it was that the guy I paid to buy the boat just stood there with his hands in his pockets and didn't say anything... if he'd offered to pay 100$ to help me, at least it wouldn't sting as much... I have to go to bed... tomorrow is an early day... getting up at three am.... thanks for letting me rant a bit... I'll get it worked out, maybe in the morning things will be a little more clear... 'night all.....

 

[Hawkeye]

Nikonos ... <Cough> There are good sellers on ebay ---- Like this guy for instance --

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=catfishsupplyco&completed=0&sort=3&since=-1

Hawkeye -- Man that stinks -- I got an old 50hp Merc that needs some attention ... However I do not think that would od you much good ..

I've bought from that guy before (Catfish Supply Co.) and always got a decent deal...

How much "attention" does this 50 horse need? I have thought about buying a "small" outboard to get by until I get the bigger motor fixed or replaced.... Will it run at all? You can email me if you want to tell me the details... Forward Air ships into Richmond, so I could pick it up there if you'd be willing to ship to me... I just want to go fishing..... BAD

 

[Hawkeye]

Shipping generally runs 100-125$ from what I've been told for Forward Air... they only do airport to airport deliveries, I think... it depends on weight and dimensions of the shipment... I don't know whether my wiring and cotrols would work on a 50 or not, but I'd certainly find out if your serious about selling. Mudd_cat asked me to call him tonight about the possibility of him finding me a motor, so I'm trying to keep as many options (including a tiller steer recoil start motor if I find one reasonably priced) open as I can... If you want to talk about selling your outboard, I'd be happy to discuss it on the phone later tonight.... through email, or right here if you don't mind the rest of the planet knowing your business

Tom.... on his way to the house in ten minutes....

 

[Hawkeye]

Mudd_cat,
You can "wobble" the flywheel all around, like it's mounted to rubber or something... I'm pretty well convinced the crank's broken... the outboard guy never even hesitated when he said it was broken... My good friend Jerry, who works on engines all day long told me it was broken without even looking at it... just from the way I described it to him... and no, I don't really feel up to a ride to MS... No offense
I've spent more quality time alone in the car the past two weeks picking up and going back up to the mountains for this boat than I care to repeat right now... I may change my mind tomorrow, but for now I'm brousing the classifieds in the paper... checking our "Trading Post" (a local classifieds rag that comes out once a week, full of anything you want under the sun for sale) and checking with a few friends that have "connections" locally...
The boat is rated for 115 horsepower... it was greatly overpowered with the 175 on it, but it doesn't sit too low in the back, nor is the transom showing any sign of weakness as a result of having a mega-motor on it... I'll probably get a smaller motor if I don't fix this one... I don't know what I'm doing right now other than waiting and exploring options.... nothing concrete in the works as of yet...

 

[Hawkeye]

I should have changed the title of the thread to "My New Boat SUX"
YES I DO need to go fishin' and I need to do it in MY BOAT... I'm thinking about hauling the other boat out this weekend for some catfishing... I can hook her back up and be fishin' ready in two hours... if I run solo... which is probably the best thing I can do to relax.... unless you feel like night fishin the James wit me...

 

[Hawkeye]

Hawkeye, got some insight from my man with the plan. He gave me a couple of things to do and try. The best news of all is that the probability is greater that the crankshaft is NOT broke, than it is. More likely, without him looking at it of course, is that the bearings have gone out. Especially since it will run at idle (you did say it would idle didn't you?)
There are a couple of things try before tearing it apart.

1. Take the spark plugs out. With someone turnin the flywheel BY HAND, use a long rod or screwdriver to feel each piston and see if it is moving in and out. Be careful not to get the screwdriver on the side of the cylinder walls.

2. Take the flywheel off, take the stator off, and inspect the bearings at the top of the motor, move the shaft side to side, up and down. There should be virtually no play any way.

Also, What horsepower is your boat rated for?
Do you feel like driving to MS?

SOmething I have never considered in this, and I don't think it was possible for me to think about in my previous anger-clouded state of mind, was pointed out to me by a friend this afternoon.... Maybe the same thing your mechanic friend was getting at... Yeah, I can wobble the FLYWHEEL around like the crankshaft is broken, but it doesn't make any sense that I can still start the boat if the crank is broke... he suggested that the flywheel may have come partially loose and the noise/vibration from the loose flywheel is the source of the problem... It won't cost me a dime to pull it and check, so I'm heading home to think about it. One of the members of our church passed away Sunday, and the visitation (wake for Yankees) is tonight. I have to attend, so I probably won't get the boat looked at this evening. This could be extremely good news.

Mudd_cat.... my sincerst apology for blowing you off like I did last night on the suggestion the crank might not be broken... I am VERY sorry I didn't pay closer attention to what you wrote... I'm thinking the mechanic I took it to might have known all along the crank wasn't broke... if it isn't of course... he might have been trying to hit me for another $1000... they could have left the dern flywheel loose KNOWING this would happen... who knows.

 

[Hawkeye]

We just got in from the "wake" and while I was there, I saw a couple of folks who probably have build as many motors as any other two people I've ever met... I asked them about what they think could be wrong, based on the description of the way the motor ran... Here's what we decided... I need to pull the flywheel (which I planned to do as soon as I get time... probably Thursday) and see if the crank is "loose" of if it's *just* the flywheel nut has backed off... If it's the flywheel nut, then the joke has been on me, and I'm a DOPE for getting all bent out of shape over nuthin... I hope, but do not expect this is the case... If the crank is loose, then it's obviously broken... then we go to plan "B"... Jerry, my good friend and fellow fisherman, told me that he has another friend who just picked up a 90 or 100 horse Mercury motor for cheap... it is supposed to be in running condition... and he told me the guy is willing to sell it to me *IF* I need it... for what he paid for it, a whopping $130.. can you believe the blessing in that If I don't need it, then I'm not even going to think about imposing on his hospitality... So, it appears that I may be okay either way I need to turn here. Being another Merc, all my controls, cables etc. will bolt right up... If it needs some work, then at least I won't have a ton of money tied up in the motor before having to sink more into it... It is an inline 6, which I was told was not the best motor MErcury ever made, but it's a motor... and it's local... and it's not going to put me in debt up to my ears to get back on the H2O... thank God.