How Bad Do You Want To Go Boating??

[Instigator]

Or, how big of hill billy are you??
Or, what's wrong with this picture??:eek:

[Techno]

I'm putting a trolling motor on the cavitation plate.
I've tried to picture it and seems to be rated up there for posting as a look at this.
On the trailer it's a no-no but in the water you won't see it.
Added to that is both the electric motor and mid-section are polished and Kandied.

I've got my reasons!

Dare to be different.

[Instigator]

patched a hole in the nose of the starboard housing with glass left over from the Vector project:D
I tried nose cones on this boat anbd it slowed it downed and required 3 times the amount odf positive trim to carry the bow so I knocked the damn things off!
I then tried one of my old "X-Racer" tricks and "re-contoured" the stock cases.
I went a little deep into this one and broke through the casting.
Ended up with a weakoned area about the size of a silver dollar. I shaped a pc of aluminum and "marine Tex'd" it on as aptch.
It did'nt work:p
So I figure, the things toast anyhow so why not experiment??
I think I've got about 5 layers of 1 1/2 oz (I think) mat with standard polyester resin and it's lasted through three weekend trips and about 6 Hrs of use:D

The miss matched props in the above shot are due to my continuing gear case problems.
Sattered the L.H. case this Spring and thought I had one coming from South Side Outbaords in Florida, but Mike Marshall there decided to **** me out of my $1700. dollars!!
After I cooled down a bit I decided to go boating while I wait on my charge card company to go after that ass hole!
The one with the patch I cobbed together from some junk i had layin around and the painterd one was another "take one up the pooper" gear case!!
This screw job from Alex at "Only Outboards". Sent me what was supposed to be a current era two tab carrier unit.
WRONG! Sows up with no packing in the box, damaged skeg, damaged cavatation plate, no shift shaft and the wrong drive shaft!!
The first ten phone calss he said he would take care of it. Then he stopped answering the phone!!
Both places in Florida.

Anyhow, so all my wheels for the Sonic are pairs of counter rotators:eek: One pair of Choppers, and one pair of Rakers!
I take a R.H. of each,wait till I'm at the ramp to bolt em on so no one laughs at me an go for a ride!!

[Techno]

Just put one of the props sets on backwards to make the other hand direction.:D

[Charlie M]

Gator if your needing a counter rotating lower unit, i have a few of the PRE-Ocean runner lowers,

[MODVP22]

I bet the hole shot with those different props is interesting.

[Sleekster]

6 month old new style 25" LH case with shift shaft! An empty, well almost needs part of the lower drive shaft cut-out!, '96 case...painted Blue just like my Vindicator.

Prices can't be beat! Just tell me how to package them! Stock cases dude!

What are your Rakers? Have a 24" with double cupp laying around? I still have the 28 virgin Raker, but its RH too.

The 6 month old LH case was agoing to remain stock and I was going to experiment....but as is now.....I am just lucky to get the boat out.

Don't forget my stock-pile of parts...I even have another set of LH gears out off an IO lower! But of the other cases I have I think one is good. Do you need a prop carrier too? I have a '96 in the pile. I have a couple 20" n 25" shafts too.

Shoot for $1700 you'd get the LH, an extra case for the right, I'd even throw in a spare block and crank maybe! Want more? And you pay after you see the crap! Or, just put a towel over the props you have!

[Instigator]

Charlie, trying to stay with the new style crap.

Gregg, we should talk:eek: Thought you got rid of most of that stuff??

[Sleekster]

I'm a mess. No garage means no workie on the motors..... My darn kids don't like the engine stuff on the kitchen table. Stay tuned, it might change! I might be moving ....

Hey good talking, we'll see what I can get out this week.

[Instigator]

I do have a virgin two tap housing ifyou want it?? not the new style water p/u but the current style carrier.
If you want to get rid of the cone on the sleek, send me that unit and I'll swap out the guts and send you a complete unit back with the coned housing as a spare for on your kitchen table.
Bet you a case of beer the boat will improive with the change.

[sho305]

I think you need to put them cool SS exhaust tips on the mid, like the kids put on the import cars:D lol

Hopefully a real man here on S&F can help you out and not rip you on a good LU.

Need to figure out how to get a LWP and still have the bow lift for these type boats. I want to investigate transom pickups. Can you put them in front of the LU to reduce the drag, or will that squirrel things up? How about a grate pickup like a miniture of a jet boat...would that be less drag than a tube type? I never seen a flat one, the ones I see are like big speedo tubes that poke down into the water a ways. Dumb idea?

[Forkin' Crazy]

very, very, very bad!:(

[Instigator]

Sho, I've thought have that and it has been done.
With stock housings (plug top two holes on and old style OMC case) the wheels start to slip at about the same time as the water pressue drops.
I thnk those ugly ass stock cases are more fluid dynamic than we think!

Paul, can I borrow it:D I know just the motor for it:eek:

[Sleekster]

, one w/ the new style p/u...just have to remove some broken stuff....

Adding a torpedo cone (w/o LWP) gave the 'Stream huge bowlift on the old 235. I wonder why they aren't used. Tons of downforce I'm sure.

[LaserModVee]

We've been wanting to go explore the Gulf so bad lately, but the Gulf-going vessel is experiencing the same problems your Sonic is....

So we improvised and took the Laser's out there!
That's how bad we want to go boating.


This pic is looking towards Mexico, across the Gulf, standing on North Captiva Island.

I have more of these pics if you can stomach them :D :D ;)

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/urinalcake/Lasersgulf2.jpg

[Forkin' Crazy]

Originally posted by Instigator
Paul, can I borrow it:D I know just the motor for it:eek:

You know.......it will be rigged for an OMC.......We need a 30' Cleaver for a top speed run, though......I would think high 120's.:eek:

[Instigator]

Bri, that's just not even nice!! Have'nt made resvervations/plans yet. Still looking at finances and the calender.
Seeing the picture of yours and your dads boat reminds me of a discussion I had with some one about cockpit/dash placement. I said yours was quite a bit farther aft, they said I was wrong.
Very aparent in that picture.

Paul, I'd say your right. Take a break pull it up here and lets try it:eek:

Sleek, on your broken shaft/housing. Here's my hillbilly trick I use.
Assuming you still have enough of the drive shaft left that it has the flat are for the impeller key.
Put a 3/4" open end on the atht flat and another one but I think 13/16" or 7/8" on the pinion nut and back it off. It is right hand threads.
Use a rag to wedge/hold the wrench up against the pinion so it doesn't slip off as it's a very thin nut and recessed into a recess in the gear itself. Works every time if your carefull on the nut end.
And not sure on the lift on the Stream. I know every sub 80 MPH boat I've installed one on has slowed down and required 300% more trtim to fly the bow.
Another thing I'd be looking at on the Sleek if it were my boat would be stuffing the tunnels.
They're there for lift but yours are too big/open for the speeds yopu're running.
I'd duct tape some 2" X 4" wedges up in the top/rear of the tunnel to reduce the opening sive at the end of the boat which will force the hull to build more lift at the same speed.
Need to be very carefull though as this will cahnge with boat speed and wind speed and direction.
Gary

[LaserModVee]

I knew that wasn't nice, but you need those images fresh in your mind.
Kinda keeping the fire hot.

The deck is 11" longer on Laser LTV's from the beginning, (83), to 1988. It's also more rounded.

1989 to present has the new style angular deck.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/urinalcake/Lasersgulf4.jpg

[Instigator]

leave me alone:D
You have the ocean but I did go to Buckeye Lake last weekend:eek:
Woo Hoo!
My plans are leaning more towards figuring out a schedule so i can bring the little boat down with us:)

[Sleekster]

Lower 1/2 broke at thickest part! Below the top of the case. Outboard mechanic tried for 45 minutes....needs something welded to it then the nut can be removed. I know how to break stuff right...

Other lower seized the top bearing, dismantled teeth on the gears ... broke right....

Other lower blew a seal after 3rd time out....dimpled the side of the case...uh, not good, eh?

Now I will replace complete seals on a used case. Gears are expensive. Plus I have the Tarzan elephant burial ground of lowers in my shed.......

As for stuffing the tunnels, are you talking about attaching material to the top of the tunnels or the sides?If I add tunnel extensions, I could run material, (starboard) up the tunnels and attach the front face and have the extensions as the rearward attachment.

I still think setback is needed. But how much? 5.5 is nothing, I have another 5.5 I could attach, but I need to switch to the hydraulic steering that has been sitting in my closet for the past 1 year + ! Steering cables are at the max now.

[Instigator]

Lloyd just had the same problem with a broken shaft. Send him an e and ask what he did?? (I don't know)
I'd go everything you have/can get apart, **** can the junk and start from scratch!
Remember, I have a set of gears for you and we can get a seal kit for $30 - $50.

Tunnel ext's would help too but require much more work. And yes, I'm talking about top or side of the tunnels them selves.
If it were me, I'd probably try both, as that boat needs all the lift it can get!
I'd probably start w/a couple of 2X4's a couple of feet long and taper one end (45% etc) and put that end forward.
Remember, the longer they are the more it also reduces volum in the tunnel itself which = lift if you leave the opening at bow the same size.
I'd go all the way up in the corner so it's not dragging in the water at slower speeds.
As far as + set back, absolutely! I'd something in the range of 18" if it were me. But it goes back to the intergrity of the hull/transom??
I saw a chart in a mag somewhere that they showed the increase in torque with increased set back and it was freagin scary!!
I think 8" to 12" al;most doubled it!!
If you try the tunell stuffers, don't worry about using duct tape for testing. We used to make lifting pads that we actually duct taped to the bottoms of the kneel down boats at point that the pads were the only thing in/on the water and we never had one come loose and were running around 70 MPH.

[sho305]

Have you posted the latest on your vector? I'll have to look.

Man, you need to get something setup with the LUs there. No fun busting that many:( Sure the props are not out of balance or something? That can't be normal is it? Are you running Nitropropane...:D :D lol

[Instigator]

going to spend all Winter styock piling L.U. parts for the Sonic and modifying both p.heads.

Latest on the Vector is an ignition gremlin that I'm still trying to track down (trying to get out this week) but best #'s so far are 24" @ 8500 = 95.2 GPS
Have seen low 100's several times on the speedo tattle tale (only aboput 2 mph happy) but not GPS-----yet:D

[sho305]

I was thinking of lexan for a floor in there:) Nice rides.

Is heat a problem in the LU that high? I saw a deal someone made with a lube bottle hosed in the boat so it could circulate some. I know I/Os pump the lube in/out one hose with expansion I think, and wondered about OBs being sealed. Ok for normal operation, but that is not the case on S&F:) if they are real high.

[Instigator]

most of my l/u probelms have been self inflicted.
Cones then no cones. Then I ground 5 lbs of aluminum off of both housings.
I am surfacing the props but not the full units/torpedos.
I think my shafts are still about 2" bellow but that is at neutral trim.
I need to pin (bolt) the carriers to the housings on the new/replacemnt units. That is the biggest weakness of the OMC Housings.
Height wise I am right at the limit for still being able to get the heavy pig on plane and still run good WFO.

[LaserModVee]

Hey Gary,

Here's another picture from Sunday.
Taken on the south end of Cayo Costa Island, looking across Redfish Pass to the north end of North Captiva Island.

Just thought you were due for another pic. :D ;)
Are you showing these to Donna?
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/urinalcake/Redfishpass.jpg

[Instigator]

LEVAVE ME ALONE DAMNIT!!
And no she hasn't seen them;)
She has already sent one resume South this week:eek:
I think she's sold!
Check out the last couple pages of Skips post about Rev. Pounder.
We are leaning towards pulling the Stream down now and probably staying on East coast. (if we can find a similar set up to the condo we had in Ft.Myers Beach)
Just looking at a map and can't believe how close all you guys are together!!
Not all of you but there's a **** pile within 150 miles and hell I pull the Sonic that far every weekend!! (when it's running)
Looks like maybe 120 from Jupiter area that we like to your side of the state!!
Heck, I have a bunch of 300 mile days for work!
Hummmmhhhhh?
Sun all year round, water freagin every where, boating friends every where, Bahama's 60 miles from Lauderdale, Cuba 90 from the Keys
eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Hiflyer]

Hey Gary,
Suppose Brian has take'n over my role of pester'n with the Water/ Weather Wonderland , but just in case Ya missed it thought I'd send this along for your Winter Screen Saver. Yep, thats the Action 18, with Bobby Jr & me chill'n at the sandbar in the Keys.. Life is Good...

Thanks for the Photo RRRevinDude

[LaserModVee]

I'm not taking over, I am just adding to the pestering!!! :D :D :D

We caught ourselves bitching between each other about a marina charging us a fee to put in at their ramp. Then we realized how much we used to spend in gas just to GET to the mud puddle back in Ohio!
Reality check! We're in boater's paradise, the fee is part of the deal!

My thoughts exactly on being semi-close to everyone.

Hell, I have many, many hours/days/weeks/years of exploring the islands, bays, and inlets within 30 nautical miles of me before I can see a good reason to tow elsewhere!

This place rocks!


Oh yeah, here's the Laser pointed towards Mexico, anchored off North Captiva Island on the Gulf side.


http://mywebpages.comcast.net/urinalcake/Lasergulf1.jpg

[Instigator]

Lloydster, you'd be proud of the job Brian has been doing this Spring/Summer. He misses no opportunity to attack/ridicule :D
I told him while he was staying with us that I had no more damn defenses/arguments cause I use em all on you already;)
Looking at week beginning I think Oct. 13 (??). Leave the weekend before and try and stop and spend a day or so with the boys up North (Skip, Bobby, Pounder and crew) and then head for the Jupiter/Stuart area and hole up in hotel/condo close to or on water if affordable. If not, hotel/motel w/pool and close to a ramp.
Want to explore the water and the land/housing/jobs area.
Not in concrete yet but looking/sounding way better than whats here.
Course our ramps are free, we can have basements, see the change of the seasons/colors, buy snow tires and parka's among many, many other things--- well actually that's the full list of positives for staying here :confused:
Gary

[Sleekster]

Won't do its magic on a picture I have of a sunset at the ramp next to the bridge to Captiva ...Somethings you need to see in real time anyway.

I know about the transom forces...closing the box of the splashwell is an absolute. I have an 8 foot section of 1/2" ss rod to use there.

I'll look at adding duct taped 2x4's to the tunnels. Maybe if I go out REALLY early .......

First I want to get a decent prop. Rehubbing the 26 Trophy and a Raker might give decent numbers. Then I'd have a baseline to go from.

I do agree with you, the tunnels are ineffecient the way they are now.

[sho305]

Instigator, come on don't be forgetting s-n-o-w-m-o-b-i-l-e-s! And the rally car racing you can do on the way to work when it snows...:D How about the great excuse to get a 4WD/AWD vehicle? However, I agree the stuff is cold. At least it rarely goes to zero or even single digits here. What I hate the most is when it is between 32 and 50 degrees.:rolleyes:

I heard that about those LUs. I suspect you will be getting them bolted together nicely in anticipation of twin FrankenRudes....:D If it goes fast it is good.:cool:

And hey, you guys need to follow the rules....no bashing us snow rats until there really is snow up here:) Was 80 or something today so you still have to wait a little bit...lol:)

[LaserModVee]

Sho305-
The problem with having a snowmobile in Central Ohio is, you have to tow it 2-5 hours north to find snow in order to get any use out of it. That is, unless you drag race it competitively, where it's only an hour northwest to the grass drags.
Where Gary lives, it's cold enough, but they don't get the kind of snow like the Great Lakes area.

Hey. I'm new to this, "pestering the northern folks", so I'll be sure to lay off until you get some snow. (Next week) :D :D

[action17]

ive seen and heard stories of alot worse you'll have to wait untill garage party II for the details!!!

[sho305]

A lot of people here take their sleds up to the UP of MI to run as the snow is around longer there. Some years you only get a month here. It is better closer to the lake. Some have gone to 4wd quads as they work in the snow too and run year around. I like the boats better as I get 3 months minimum in them:) But they take up more room. That would suck down there; I like to see snow if it is cold, or have it warm. I'm just not going to drive 6 hours to the UP all the time to run a sled. If Lake MI did not temper the cold in the winter, I'd be out of here. You WI people that get the below zero temps all the time are a hardy bunch.:) Frozen tires...block heaters....:eek:

[Instigator]

SUCK!!!!

Sho, would rather live where you do than where I do and have thought seriouslly about that too. I love upper Michigan and then Canada on the other side of the Detroit River and Lake Huron.
Brina is right about the sleds too. Have considered them many times too but most people do tow from Columbus to the U.P. and now you're talking 8hrs plus.
I had a house 3 miles from the South shore of Lake Erie for a year but their Winter is just colder than ours.
Ours Winters are described like this: Everything turns gray and dies for 6 months! Usually no snow, our snow sking hills in thisa state are a joke too so once again your driving your ass off to do anything!!
I realy don't mind Winter if I'm some where with something to do!
But 5 degrees and nothing else??
F*&^ that!
Gary

[MODVP22]

Come on now. Don't this bring back some familiar memories:rolleyes:

[MODVP22]

and look at this beautiful white wintery field...wait, those look like pontoon boats..and that's not a field..its a frozen lake

[sho305]

I'll tell you, if you don't like big cities... I worked in Traverse City for close to a year, and if I moved it would be there. They are the industrial hub up there, they get snow off the lake, not much different weather/temps than here but a little more snow. The side closer to the lake gets more snow there even. The traffic gets bad, but then the other side of town is only 2 miles away. They are close to the UP if you need, have a major airport and major retail. Have job ads in our press all the time.

Outside of town is wide open save for the many lakes. You can sled all day all over the area, and you can't here anymore due to development. Also have lots of lakes and bays to boat in. Used to be people with money there and all others were poor, but it is not so much that way now. There is getting to be lots of business there now and they don't shut down much of anything all winter. It is flat out beautiful area up there on top of all that. There is also the hunting/fishing/etc. Guys would bring smoked salmon into the office all the time....:cool: ,venison jerky....:cool: :eek: :p I kinda miss it:( People seemed nice and the women were hot too, compared to GR anyway.