Lake trial on new boat ----

[goggleye57]

Pretty much finished the boat today at about 4:00 pm - Put it in on Big Turkey Lake. 1st backed it down the ramp and put the motor in the water - cranked it up - started right away - checked out all the controls - tilt- power jack lift shifter - all ok put her in the water . putted out from the ramp and got out onto the main lake and sped up slowly - then finally hammered it and there was no hesitation in the 50 horse merc. it flew down the lake.We slowed down for the submerged railroad trestle and then picked up speed again onto a fast plane - then we started lifting up the jack plate - the whole boat rose up with the plate and we were skimming across the water - Just a bump-bump-bump - every thing seemed balanced and secure and we had a great pea stream with the CMC plate all the way up. I don't think there was more than 8 inches of boat and motor in the water!
- a friend of mine- a marine mechanic helped me set up the mechanicals- he's laid off right now - give me a pm and I will give you his info.
I am excited about the way the new boat is turning out.:biggrin:
Got to install led lighting on the front and back of the center console and get the new nav light installed when I get it (on the way from Cabelas)

I try to post some pics of the boat on the water

[seabee]

Awesome Mark, sounds like a fun ride!

[Hoosier_Steelheader]

Yeah yeah yeah, that's all fine and well... But does she catch fish?

Seriously, glad you are finally getting her in the water. Congrats!

[tmarsh83]

thats awesome....

We have had pretty good luck with a CMC Plate ourselves...

Good stuff Mark

[ccavacini]

Sounds neat, but does she catch fish. My boat lately has refused to catch any bass. Maybe I don't have enough rods in the boat.

[QuailDancer]

Mark, sounds like one fine machine there! You've put a lot of thought into it and it shows.

I actually got my boat wet yesterday. Walleyes were biting, but we just were not getting good hook sets. Boated one 17 incher, lost several others. (Tuck caught the 17", I did more of the loosing)

[crookedlake92]

Right on Mark! It sounds like the front of the boat is a little light to me..... I would gladly help hold it down for you the next time you hit Big Turkey.......;)

[goggleye57]

Went back to Big Turkey and had problems with the tilt hydraulic hoses- when we put the motor on the jack plate it pushed the hoses up and the steering arm was rubbing on them. We had some rainbows on the water:rolleyes:
Getting some woven stainless 1/4 inch brake line to replace them - will re-route - Don't they call it bulletproofing? finding the weak spots? I'd rather it happen now than 3 or 4 miles downstream from a ramp on the Big Manistee:)