CAPT. HOOP
Member
Registered: 11/02/02
Posts: 7540
Loc: Empire / Venice, La
After spending 2 years in all divisions of the parrish running my offshore boat in shallow waters I decided to get an inshore boat. I still have the Our Freedom but this gives me another option and hopefully more work. This one is 22'6" x 8'6" with a great hull that gives you a very good ride.
This is just the boat and trailor. I had them take the 2006 225 Suzuki with 180 hours on it. That year motor had issues and there is nobody nearby that I would want to work on it. I will be putting a new 250 Yamaha with new controls and gages. Adding trim tabs also. The boat had a lot more use than the motor did and the 2004 boat usage condition did not match the 2006 motor usage condition. Something told me to run from that motor. I have to have something dependable. I already have 625 hours on my Glacyer Bay motors in 8 months.
This boat was under some trees for a very long time. The boat was black and full of mold inside and out. The couling on the motor did not even look like a new motor. The first thing I did was take out the anchor and black anchor line. The line was as hard as steel. When I cut it off the rusted chain the line was actually white anchor line. As I moved the line I noticed a roach running for cover. I got 2 bug bombs and put one in the anchor locker and the other in the back bilge hatch. As I worked on the outside of the boat about 15-20 roaches abandoned ship only to die on the driveway or on the deck of the boat.
I vacumed the entire boat as best I could with the shop vac and pressure washed it under the lights of my shed. Man it looked good untill I looked at it in the daylight.
I spent a good amount of time powerwashing it today and I will just hand clean it from here on. I already put on a new antenna. The one they had the cord went from the antenna to the radio. It was cut to length, About a foot total and the antenna itself was smashed at the base and bent. You always coil the extra antenna wire, never cut it to size.
The boat is wide and has plenty of room to fish 4 people. After cleaning things up I tryed the trolling motor. It did not work. Kind of expected that. I cleaned the batteries and found the charger plug. After a charge I once again gave the motor a try. That is one thing I do not have to buy. Runs good.
The hole to the right in the picture above is where the fish net is stowed. Nice feature. Hope to have it ready to run in about 2 weeks. This boat has no electronics at all. Only need a GPS, compass, radio, and depth finder. Will use a cajun anchor till I can find enough extra to add a power pole. Excited, Apprehensive, A littled worried. Oh well; What do they say about the one with the most toys?
Life is Good!
Fishing is not a matter of life or death. It's more important than that.
#1357105 - 10/09/1111:09 AM
Re: What next?
[Re: CAPT. HOOP]
Paul D.
Lifetime Member
Registered: 04/15/02
Posts: 13035
Loc: South Central, CT
Nice Hoop. Looks like a great project6 boat.
Are there a lot of similar neglected hulls like that down there? Seen a few boats that were well laid out with no frills (read $hit to break) that have made their way up here from your corner of the world.
#1357209 - 10/09/1109:49 PM
Re: What next?
[Re: CAPT. HOOP]
OHMYGOD
Member
Registered: 06/23/04
Posts: 20754
Loc: Suffield Ct
Good luck with it. I can't wait to see it when it's done.
WAVEWALK DEMO AGENT: Send me a message if you want to try the W500,W700 and soon the S4.
You can take what you want from life......As long as you give a little Back. "We never get over the fishing fever, it's a delightful disease and thank the lord there is no cure". "CTF, is a lure I can not afford to NOT have in my pocket"
Don’t argue with Idiots.. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Our freedoms are being choked, big brother's grip is getting tighter.
#1357453 - 10/10/1103:02 PM
Re: What next?
[Re: CAPT. HOOP]
Crazy Ivan
Registered: 08/26/02
Posts: 17933
Loc: New Milford, and Anywhere Salt...
Hoop,
Didn't you have a different boat in the works??
At least you will have enough garage room!
I'm not fat, I'm fluffy!
Judge Smails:
"Its easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat. But the man worth while is the man that can smile with his shorts too tight in the seat."
#1357653 - 10/11/1112:27 AM
Re: What next?
[Re: CAPT. HOOP]
Albiemanmike
Member
Registered: 11/19/02
Posts: 2499
Loc: South Meriden, CT
When cleaning it breakout some Tilex the stff for the bathroom. I have been using it on the boat buying big gallon jugs of it from the local Lowes. The stuff works wonders on my boat and it is designed for fiberglass shower stalls so it shouldn't harm the boat. All I have to do is spray it on and let it sit for 10-15 min. and wash it off and the boat is back to being clean and white again.
That is a sweet shallow water boat and with the 250 Yammie it should fly across the flats like nobodies business. I think you will have a bunch of fun with that little rocket ship.