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Can you hear where the knocking sounds are coming from, such as the front of the motor, back meaning the flywheel (starter ring gear) or the out drive, sounds to me like a wrist pin knock, if from the engine which just happens, one day nothing the next what the hell is that knocking sounds, but without pin pointing the sound we are all guessing. PAP.

That's the way to fly an airline anyway, I have been in business for over 25 years now, and the only reason I got a credit card machine was I do work for Penn Dot and townships and they will only pay with a corporate card, and now I've found that a lot more people pay with plastic than cash one more headache and paper work, not to mention uncle Sam can track all your actions It will increase sales as no one has cash anymore, it's tough anymore as a small business man the good O'L days are gone, hope the best for you as sometimes down sizing is the right thing to do, run the show with your self as the only employee Good Luck PAP.

Thank you GAMBLER for your expertise in how to run the sea bags. Thanks again PAP.

Thanks GAMBLER I think I get the picture your info is what I've been looking for those numbers are perfect. And I will be certain to tie the bags front and back. thanks. PAP.

Pete that's a awesome looking laker, sounds like you had a good day despite the wind and getting circled like a bunch of sharks, years ago we used to jig for lakers up in Canada over 100FT of water with buck tail jigs, usually bright yellow jig with tinsel tail, blue & silver caught them up to 20#s like that, never gave it a thought for lake O. Keep up the good work and keep us posted with your catches, I find that very interesting. Thanks PAP

Do you guys think using only one bag will correct my wandering problem? Does it pull you to the side with only one bag? I was thinking about running 2 smaller bags? what do you guys think Sorry for all the questions but I want to get this right the first time, since it took me 2 years to get this hunk of $hit together and running right one more hurdle and I'll be ready to hook some fish!!!!

OK, now that I've decided to go with Sea Bags, to correct my steering/wandering around at troll speed what size bags should I get. I have a 22FT. Sea Ray Cudddy with a 350 Mercruiser and pre alpha1 outdrive. I would like to get down to 1.8mph and be able to reach 2.75.mph. right now I'm more interested in the salmon speeds so like 2.4mph and up. Thank you for all your help on my other post and any more help here. PAP!!

You are spot on with my problem, if adding sea bags doesn't solve the problem the Wander fin is going on in the spring!! Thanks for the heads up on the Wander Plate!!!!

As this thread grows I think I'm going to try the sea bags. I read in another thread that sea bags held the front down in wave conditions making the ride better when trolling, that tells me there is mucho lbs. in those bags. I don't mind the wandering in the no wake zone, like someone else said the constant counter steering gets to be a pain the a$$, and it becomes tiring when trolling for hours, as I have a troll plate on now but I'm going to go with the sea bags for in the spring any way. I'm tired of the piece of sh-t falling into the lock position when slowing down to take a look at a area that has good readings, then go to take off and can't get on plane right away, I know that damn plate fell down again, when I take this troll plate off that's the end of it. It worked fine on my smaller outboards but it's worthless on this boat, I might add it worked fine on my 140 horse I/O 4cyl. but the bigger horse I/O and bigger boats when slowing down quickly the wake that washes against the transom releases the plate and then your in the troll position whether you want to be or not, so pro's and con's to the troll plate. I know there are more people on here that don't like them as that do. One person added that putting out the planer boards also eliminates the wandering so it can't take much to rectify this problem. I will keep reading this thread as it continues to grow and maybe someone else will come up with another idea. I never had a boat this big so this is all new to me and I'm open to all suggestions. Thanks PAP

Thanks guys, I'll try the weight thing, how many pounds do you think I should add? That wandering plate sounds like an idea, but $189.00 I can add a lot of led. My led sled opps I mean my boat is a tank already adding more weight to the bow, I would assume a couple hundred pounds to make a difference? does it make a difference loading it on the trailer or no? because I load and unload every trip. Thanks to all the responded I'll figure it out, Pap.

I have a 22ft Sea Ray cuddy with a 350 Mercruiser and at trolling speed it wanders all over the place, someone told me that the torque plate behind the propeller should be slightly turned, this will eliminate that, mine is strait, which way should it be turned and how much?? could someone please shine some light on this for me thanks PAP.

WOW, sounds like you got the screws turned to you, where do they come up with $850.00 if they didn't even take the valve cover off, I'm not a certified boat mechanic but as I'm reading your story I was thinking bent push rod or valve or a burned valve, broken valve spring or timing or worst case scenario a wiped lobe on the cam, the valve covers have to be removed to determine what it might be, who in their right mind would change the oil and spark plugs if the motor is shot. No motor is a throw away anyway even if you go with a new one or a aftermarket such as a Jasper or whoever, you need it for a core, or rebuild the one you have, your totally in the right saying that outfit is a bunch of ass wipes, they totally took advantage of you!!! sorry to hear that, from what the other mech. is saying sounds like he is on the right track. I purchased a complete rebuild kit (gaskets, bearings, rings, cam, and oil pump, from a machine shop that did my heads and cooked my block and bored it 30thos. over and it was about what you paid for a oil change and plugs. I had a set of 30 over piston for a 350 so that saved me a bunch!! I don't remember what I paid for my cam, but I do remember the guy saying that the cam was a little more just because it was a marine cam, but I think it was less than a $125.00. All in all I think you will be happy with your choice of your new mech. GOOD LUCK and keep us posted with the end results.

There was a post on this a while back, I can't remember if it was weeks or months ago, the guys had every thing listed that one needs to have on board for the coast guard requirements it is very detailed, you might have to search a little. PAP

I spooled my rigger rods with Blood Run 30# sea flea, they say you can run it year round, going to give a whirl!!

Ray your answers never seas to amaze me, that cracks me up LOL.

A couple of years ago we had the same thing going on with blow back, so we where in the trench we left a 100ft of cable and trolled at 2.3mph on the gps. towards Stoney Isl and we didn't bump bottom until we hit 75ft so that's 25ft of blow back, so we went out and send the ball down 120ft fish were at 95-105 and then we caught 3 kings back to back, so any thing close to 100ft we knew we needed to let out 125ft on the riggers and if 50ft we divided 25 in half which would be 12.5 so at 50ft we sent the riggers down one at 65 and the other at 60 and we caught fish, we have 12# pancake weights, I didn't think that much blow back was normal because you hear of guys watching fish come in and hit their lure, there is no way my depth finder would show that, that far back. I just assumed I was doing something wrong but what, so I went to 12# torpedo weights, they are much better and I can see them on the finder, so that's what I'm using now. Well 2 years ago as I haven't been fishing since, but that's all going to change this weekend HOPEFULLY!!!! PAP.

Did you send the trolling motor without getting paid first? if so I learned the hard way also, never did see my money, since then money first then the Item gets sent!!