Team_Dougherty

Here are some heavy duty electric outboards. Prices are not to bad either. http://www.outboardelectric.org Paul

You could probably get a nice boat for 5K. I bought my Crestliner Angler 16 Brand new in 2001 for $3900 including a load right trailer. I already had a 25 HP outboard to put on it. It was very stable with the three "big" boys I have had on it. I would say we were around 700lbs total. The only option I bought was an extra seat. Here is the current year of the same model. New Angler 16 The only problem I see is your motor. 9.9 HP is not a lot. A short shaft outboard will limit you to the kind of boat you can get. I would recommend you get at least a 16~17' boat with deep hull to carry the weight you want to. As far as brands goes I think they are all the same wether its tracker, crestliner, lowe or lund. The only problem I had when I shopped for my boat was the tracker sales person claimed he could not sell me a boat without the motor. I was ready to buy one of their pro guide v 16t boats. I was in the show room and had cold hard cash. I said I want this one with out the motor. Where do I back my truck?. He said he could not do it. I explaind I already had a motor and did not want the 9.9 it had on it. He said sorry could not do it. I left went to the crestliner dealer, now I have a nice boat. Paul

What is your budget? Paul

I have a question for all you guys who fish with electric motors only. I have a small boat that I use on an electric motor lake. But that is not my primary fishing boat. Do you think some thing like this 12 V Generator would work to run a trolling motor? I would think something like that and a couple of batteries your time on the water can be greatly increased. There is a different kit and more detail, here. What do you guys think? Paul

jb, I would use 3M 5200. Paul

fishinfool, It should be stamped onto the prop somewhere on the hub. It is usually part of the part number. Just do a google search on the part number and manufacture name. You should find the pitch somewhere. Paul

A lot of people ask, "How fast would/should my boat go with this prop?" Of course this is a tough question to answer. It all depends on motor HP, boat weight, boat type and load. I have made this excel spread sheet that will give you a good guess as to what to expect. You will need IE to view it. http://home.comcast.net/~team_dougherty/prop.htm Just enter your prop pitch, engine rpm and gear ratio. Enter 2.5 for 2.5:1, enter 2 for 2:1 etc... You will then get the approximate boat speed with that prop. But do not think that just upgrading to a bigger prop you will gain speed. Your motor might not have enough power to turn the bigger prop at it's max RPM. For example, my boat goes faster with an 11 than a 13 with my wife and son on board. If I am by myself the 13 one gives a better top end speed but a slower hole shot. If any one has any suggestions to improve this let me know. Paul

I think your engine will work harder if the tranny is in OD going up a hill as opposed to D. The only thing I would do it keep it in D manually until you crest the hill. The difference in my vehicles is around 1000, it maybe less. I never really looked at it closely, rpms between OD and D. So at 65MPH in OD it turns around 2000 rpms and D it is around 3000 rpms. So you engine maybe turning faster but working less. Paul

preach4bass, I see you have been there. Paul

I have seen this question debated to no end on various other news groups and Bulletin Boards. The discussions always turn into a big flame fest. The same always happens to the talks about towing in over drive. Want some entertaining reading? Go to rec.boats at google and search on this subject. This board seems more mature so I do not see that happening here. Now after saying all of the above here is what I do. I use cruise control and tow in over drive. The only thing I do when towing in OD is down shift manually to Drive when going up long hills so the transmission does not keep shifting form OD and D on its own. I then return to OD when going down the hill and on flat sections. I do not have to manually downshift as much in my Grand Cherokee with a V8 as I do my S10 with a V6. I guess the V8 and perhaps different rear it can stay in drive better. The things to remember are use a transmission cooler. The bigger the better. If you do use cruise in OD do not let the tranny shift from OD to D a lot. The shifting is what develops the heat and wears the tranny out. My S10 Blazer has 180,000 miles on it and I only rebuilt the tranny once at 120,000. But that may have been caused by getting stuck in mud more than a few times up to the bumpers. I drive this car like I stole it, a lot. My Grand Cherokee has 50,000 miles and still going strong. But, it is a Chrysler product and we know how their trannies are. It actually has a transmission over temp light. It has never come on while driving. This is my wife's ride so it gets treated with kid gloves. It has never been off road. Let alone in the mud. I did race it a couple of times at the local drag strip when the have grudge night. This is my opinion. Your mileage may very, literally. Others will have theirs. Paul

BassBird, Sorry for the confusion. That is not my boat. It is one I just found to use as an example. To show what could be had for a good deal. It belongs to TDG. Paul

Kevin, This is my opinion. Please do not be insulted. Free is not always a good thing. By the time you fix that boat get a motor and trailer for it. I do not think it would make a good fishing boat. There is not alot of open space in the boat between the motor well and helm. A trailer will cost at least $350.00 and motor at least $500.00 for a used one. It looks like it needs controls, seats and who knows what else. You could put a couple of grand in to just the boat before it is even ready for the water let alone fish. Save your money and get a good used boat. $4k IS a great deal for this one. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1140114113/0#0 it is in FL though Good luck Paul

I just found these http://www.smalloutboardengines.com Paul

try these guys. the have several http://smalloutboards.com/ here is one http://smalloutboards.com/e365.htm Paul

Try here http://www.smalloutboards.com/

Here is the hour meter that I have on my boat. It is very easy to hook up and functions well. Paul

I would recomend one of these batteries and one of these to charge it charger Paul

At a 38 amp draw one of your batteries will run your motor for 1.8 hours at full throttle. If you wire them in parallel they will last 3.6 hours. At the average trolling motor speed of 5~6 MPH this gives you a range of 15~20 miles. If these batteries are new, I would wire them in parallel and treat them as one battery for use and charging. Just make sure you get heavy enough wire to connect them together. I would think 4 gauge should to it. Any auto parts store will have that needed cables. A 10 amp charger will take 14 hours to charge these batteries, wired in parallel, to full charge from dead. Make sure you keep the batteries full of distilled water before you charge them. Oh!, Make sure you keep oars handy. Here is a good read for everyone about boat batteries. http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/

I have a hydrofoil on my boat and it makes a big difference in the hole shot. The bow settles down quicker and it can stay on plane at a lower speed. I did notice a ½-1 mph drop in top speed. My outboard is only 25HP. I mounted it myself it is not that tough. Just make sure it is square on the motor clamp it in place and use transfer punches to mark the holes before you drill. When you do drill use very sharp drill bits so it does not walk and the holes stay round. Transfer punches http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3577 Paul

I always unplug my trailer lights before backing into the water. It saves on bulbs. As far as your problem goes I would think a short somewhere on the trailer would cause that converter to blow. You should start looking for one. I have not had a vehicle that needed on of those in a while. But I know when they go bad they do crazy things. Paul

I have a 2000 Crestliner Angler 16 That I bought brand new. http://home.comcast.net/%7Eteam_dougherty/boat.jpg I like it it very much as it has served me well. The quality of the boat is great. It is very stable and dry while under way or just fishing. The only issue I had when I bought it, It was only an issue because I can be anal about some things, was there was aluminium shavings left in the bilge area. I feel thay should have been cleaned out before the decking was added. Other than that "issue" it is a great boat and I'll have it for along time as it fits my fishing style quite nicely. As far as boat partnerships. I would not do it. There will always be an issue as to who pays for what who will use it when who will pay for it if it breaks, etc.... Unless you really can not afford the boat on your own not do it. Save longer to get the boat or buy a less exspensive boat. If you do, do it. Write a contract that will cover every aspect of the boat. I mean everything insurance, maintainence, usage etc... Now having said that. I have a small boat that I let my friends use whenever they want. I have my own motor and battery for it they have their own. All they have to do is pay the storage fee at the lake where I keep it, ask me before they go to make sure that I or the guy is not using it that weekend and they can use it anytime. That works well for all of us. But it is still my boat and it is worth about $100.00. Paul

SMD70, What was your decision? Did you buy the trailer? Paul

I tow my 16' Crestliner Angler 16 with a 1991 S-10 Blazer.

Here are two national tow companies that offer franchise opritunities. http://www.seatow.com/opportunities/index.html http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/some.asp Paul

Sorry, I have never used one of those. I did see them at the local Cabela's though. I think they might be great for small ponds and stuff. I would be worried that I would drop all my stuff in the water or falling out and not being able to get back in. Plus where do you put your stuff? I like taking a cooler with drinks and snacks and my tackle box. I would feel restricted on what I could bring with me. I would also think the wind would blow that around like a kite. Paul