Xxx

Yea, I only use the V8 to get to and fro. I wish I could swing a 4cycle kicker but OUCH $$$ I have a 15hp 2cycle long shaft which works great, just the extra gas tank is a pain, but we manage. It certainly cut cost on fuel, instead of 40gallons a day it's like 3 to 4 gallons or out on the kicker, and 10gallons to and from. We have a camper in the Black River Camp Grounds, so I trailer out to Henderson Harbor to where I like to fish, I made the run once and according to my gps. it's a 13 mile run over the water, not to mention a storm come up.

I asked my uncle about the thermostat thing and from what I gathered from a long song and dance is, the colder you can keep the engine, therefore the engine compartment, the cooler the air will be, cooler air is more dense than hot air, therefore you are actually putting more air into the fuel mixture which makes more power up to 15hp. he said. But he did mention that this theory only works on carb. motors, fuel injected motors are a hole different ball game. I hope I got all that right??? I know I'm leaving some info. out but that's really all I gathered. (cold air is more dense which = more air and cold air mixed with fuel will explode faster then hot air mixed with the same fuel) but the motor will not be as efficient on fuel consumption over a long trip, such as trolling.

Sorry for the mix up fellas, I'm headed for back surgery for the second time in a year, this coming Thurs. their going to rebuild my back with lots of new goodies, they tried to just fix it earlier this year so I only got to get up one time, my twin daughters begged me to take them up, we managed a few smallies and a couple walleye, not bad for a few hours. I didn't bring my boat up I used my uncles 16fter not quite used to the little boat but we manage, and now they are hooked on Lake O. God was on our side and let us go anywhere on the lake we wanted so I took advantage of the opportunity which abled us to seek walleye territory and were able to latch on to a few. The pain gets so bad and I get messed up in the head my fault for the wrong name title. Now back to the engines, I also was told by my uncle who also builds motors for modified dirt track cars, mega horse motors, which is why I was able to do what I did, the machine work and all the pressure checks didn't cost me a dime. I also had cracked heads, exhaust manifolds it was a mess, he even had a set of .30 over flat top pistons someone didn't want so I lucked out there also, the guy was going to build a 358 flat top motor buy decided to build a 320 which uses high dome pistons so I was in luck there, I still ended up just a little under 2Gs in the motor, the exhaust manifolds and the stuff I didn't have any connections to cost a lot. I was also told not to run a thermostat, that I would get more performance out of the big engine but not that efficient on fuel, I don't use my main engine to troll so I told my uncle that would be fine, I was nervous about that but now that I know your not using one either makes me feel a lot better, you being a veteran at the boating scene, I'm just a rookie at the big motor type boats, Thanks guys it means a lot to me to be a part of this great site!! PAP.

rolmops looking good, I went through the same process last year, had to go .30 on the bore and new exhaust chambers the hole ball of wax. Put the motor in took it to a local lake for a shake down test, only to be disappointed it ran like crap, pulled motor out again and had water in the cylinders again, everything was pressure checked what the hells up, I had water in all 8 cylinders so pulled the whole thing down again and went over everything and all checked out??? come to find out that the intake had a pin hole in the water jacket where the piece that holds the thermostat, your motor looks identical to mine, so check that out. just food for thought, I'd hate for you to go through what I did for something like that, mine is a 1982 merc. 350 was a 260hp but I'm guessing closer to 300hp with the heads I went with and .30 bore puts me at 355 cubes and a 650cfm 2 barrel carb off my uncles 358 mod. It used to top out at 25mph and now I have no problem getting 30mph and throttle to go yet, I know it's not how fast you can go when fishing, but it's nice to be able to get off the lake in a hurry. Good luck it's a lot of work but when she purrs like kitten there's nothing like the sense of accomplishment.

Yea, lime barrel shoals is there but one time through with the gps. and you will have no problems, after I get up into Henderson towards the islands I run 18-20mph all the way. Take your time the first time and then it's no problem.

WOW they look great, those are some mean looking hatchet blades, when are you going to be taking orders!! LOL. This might be off beat but Fat Nancy's has E chip flasher blanks and dodgers, how I know this we lost all our what is called Fire Works flashers and couldn't find any anywhere so we went there and the young fellow made them for us, it was the hottest flasher I ever used, and lost some to dumbness and some to fish I wish we could of at least seen, just food for thought. Very nice work!!!

Hey buddy, congrats on the new vessel. I go out of Henderson a lot and with my smaller 18fter I can make it, but with my 22fter I don't take any chances and I go around the islands, the channel to the bridge gets narrow and shallow. I've seen big boats nav. through there but all the charters run around the top side of the island. The time it takes to crawl through the channel you can sail around and still make better time, with lots of depth, worry free boating!! I doubt with rockets you will fit under the bridge!!

HEY myne2, there are lots of guys willing to help here!! how about a reply it's been 2 days now!!! we will help you out, lets us know what you want to do???

count me in!!!!

Very nicely done Guidewayno, I'm sure we all could figure something out. Like I said I'm going for back surgery the 2nd of JAN. or I would come up and tear it out, he says its blown but what came apart, I probably have what every he needs or can get what ever is broken, my cousin works in a very elite scrap yard where they take all the car and trucks apart by hand and store all the parts, If I knew what motor it was I could see what they have and get a low mileage motor at a little over cost for him or the parts to repair his motor, the last motor I got for my brothers girlfriend was a V8 for a Nissan and that was $2500.00 with 25,000 miles on it. Let's see what we can do prevent this guy from loosing his boat for a work truck!!! YUCK

Isn't there another avenue you could take instead of your prize and possession. The boat is a steal!! But man, all the work and time one puts into a boat to make it fit YOUR personal needs is countless. I mean small block Chevys are a dime a dozen, why give away your boat for an engine. If I wasn't going into surgery for the second time this year, I'd help you out, we would fix!!! There isn't one square inch of a small block I don't know, if someone told you need 7g to fix your truck your being hosed!!

I don't think that Larry and Jeff would steer me wrong about the timing for Dunkirk? Time will tell!! I'll let you know how we did, Merry Christmas everybody and a fishy New Year!!!

Way to go FleetTracker, I'm so jealous I thought I might lay the smack down on you with 3ftrs or better, but now you will be right there with us!! CONGRATS MAN & Merry Christmas to you WOW what a deal and a ride well worth it PAP

Adk1, I think lowrance realized that the elite 7 in the beginning was a big problem, that's why they are coming out with the lower end unit with all the bells and whistles and also to compete with Garmin and Raymarine, those 2 are closing the door on the weekend fisherman who can only spend $750.00 or less and I've seen these units for as low as $550.00 on sale.

I don't know how far away Dunkirk is away from you, if it is doable get a hold of Jeff Whipple 716 -517-5990 he is a charter captain out of Dunkirk new York. I'm going out with him the weekend after the 4th of July, one day with Jeff and the other 4 days on our own. Look up fishing out of Dunkirk NY and his web site is on there about 5/6 charters down, he came highly recommended by Mostly Muskies charter captain Larry Jones, who also belongs to this site. Hope this helps. PAP

MERRY CHRISTMAS King Slammin, and to all the LOU members and their families. And don't forget to water the tree for the up coming goodies we will need that SANTA forgot to bring us