Dam Yankee

Got the boat back together and ran it weekend before last. Gonna hit the water Sunday and Monday. Still hunting that elusive double digit wallhanger. From what I hear this is the best time of the year to do it. I don't fish tournaments or anything I just like to fish. I don't have a clue as to what to do or where to go. Haven't been fishing on the Bend since the first week or so of December and I did well in a couple spots in Housen. I got the rest of the week to go back through this thread and get myself in the ballpark. I hope this thread never gets deleted!! Thanks to all who have contributed here. Hopefully I can do the same.

Got everything back together and I couldn't be more pleased. Took the boat out yesterday to run about 25 gals of a certain ratio mix and I was VERY impressed! I was at 68mph @5600 RPM. Lake was like glass. Cary Ogden "the boat doctor" did a very good job. New Caney Tx. just north of Houston. Anyone in this area that needs a reputable quality outboard tech I highly reccomend him. fishfordollars (Jack, RIP) recomended him to me and it worked out great. Complete rebuilt powerhead, Injectors and ECU sent off and checked, New reeds, Oil injection removed, etc... 90 day warranty.

OK I have been gone for a little while while my boat has been down. What is up with Jack? Don't tell me he has passed. We were gonna go fishing together now that my boat will be up. We talked on the phone several times and he hooked me up with a very reputable engine guy in Houston area. VERY helpful guy. After furthe r reading in this thread I see he has passed. That is a shocker and sure does put me in a diffeent mood. Dam. Godspeed Jack. RIP. I am picking up my motor today and when I go out I am gonna do what you told me to do.

I have had good results for the past 2 weekends in Housen. As far as what boatlanes are safe...I am not gonna say they are safe. What I will say is watch which way the wind is blowing and compensate for it to stay in the middle of the lane. If you shoot across.....I shoot to stay in the middle of the trees and ignore the bouys but, that is me. Be aware for areas that may be shallow in the boat lane in 6 mile and Housen.

If I had my boat operational I would be there for sure!

Thanks Catt!

Enjoyed another good day on the Bend yesterday morning. Fished till about noon and wind got big. Had quite a rough ride back across to the Army rec in toro though!!!! Does anyone know of a place to launch in Housen? I am of the understanding that Fin and Feather launch is only for those staying there. At least that is what their internet information says.

Thanks to posts from folks like yourself and Jack! Stuff I read here is helping to shorten the learning curve for a rookie angler such as myself. I do appreciate this board!

Had a good outing yesterday. Started out in toro and then went to Housen. took alittle while to figure out what was going on. Wind blown grass edge was the key. Especially with deeper water access nearby. I remembered what Jack posted a while ago and we did very well with a white skirted spinner bait with willow blades. Both 3/8 and 1/2 ounce. 3 and 4 pounders almost all day long. Lost a couple larger ones. Also a couple on carolina rig with a watermelon red fluke and a watermelon brush hog with a little chartruse on the tail. Thanks Jack. Your tip was our most productive choice. Another week or two and the boat will be back in service. Can't wait!

I ride also and I agree. The other day I was going down the road and someone passed me at about 90 MPH on one wheel.

Anyone who has the money laying around to buy something like this so they can swim like a dolphin probably isn't too worried about other boat traffic or an obstructed view fine.

Haven't been on the bend since the boat burnt a piston on the 12th. A friend from work is going out in his fish and ski and asked if I wanted to fish off the back. I have no clue as to what the water temps are or anything else. I know there is supposed to be a front coming in tomorrow so maybe we will have a good day. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Tom

Second that. I have one on a 1999 TR-20.

Deep fried wins hands down every time! No competition.

Sounds like a blast. A bit too far to go though from here. Maybe next year.

I have 2 798's on my boat. I used to have a 788 and sold it when I bought these two last year and like a dummy I let my map card go with it. Everyone has a personal preference and if I had to do it all over I would not buy anything with a preloaded map. I would buy the map card instead. Much more detailed. My O2.

My only regret is paying for the preloaded maps. The map cards are much better at least on toledo bend. Good unit though. If mine broke...I would buy another.

That is actually the downside for me for reasons you stated. I would like to do it myself too however, what I ballparked to do it myself was right around what he is doing it for freeing me up to do other things that I have been putting off. I still can't believe I am letting someone else do it but, he is very reputable from what I have heard. Timed, broke in, 90 day warranty. I couldn't pass it up.

I have been reading about this lately. It is the ethanol. If you use a mercury fuel line get the gray line with red lettering on it. It seems there is a lot more ethanol than there used to be.

After some careful thought and deliberation I have decided to take it to a reputable person just north of Houston. It is within driving distance and the price is right. Very close to what it would cost doing it myself. He is going to do many of the things suggested here in this thread. Removal of oil injection, injectors flowed and tested by Brucato,Ecm checked, New Carson reeds, etc.. Cary from Mobile Marine. I do believe he hangs out on scream and fly and on texasfishingforum. I haven't been able to find anything negative and after talking to him I think he is a good choice. Plus I am eliminating the shipping. It is only a 3 hr. drive from here. I appreciate all the input as it helped in making my decision easy.

Thanks Jack! Anytime you come to the bend I will be willing to go with you. Hell, even if my boat was up and runnin I would go with ya! Always ready to learn from others and meet new folks.

Trust me You are right Jack. I do want to get back out there. I did have thoughts of what else should be done while it is down and getting the injectors flowed and checked is an excellent example of something to consider while in it's present state of disrepair. I am open to any good ideas short of modifying the motor that would be a mechanicly logical step in a longer lasting and more reliable motor.

It is like you guys are reading my mind. I definitely do not want to take it to someone who has no outboard machining experience. Seems like there should be someone around here somewhere. Toledo bend has a lot of fishermen and I am sure somebody around here does this work or has it sent somewhere reputable. Actually while reading I had already decided that I do not even want to put the crosshatch on the cylinder walls but I do want to do the complete assy of everything. The crosshatch seems to be a critical part of proper oiling but that is down the road a bit. There are a lot of particulars about this that I am just now beginning to get familiar with. A good book helps. I read about the taper by the ports also and definitely don't want anyone learning at my expense. I know it probably sounds funny but, even though I would rather be fishing (which I suck at but enjoy) I am looking forward to doing this almost as much as if I were getting up to go fishing! Looks like if I wanna go fishing I am gonna have to hitch a ride for a while!

I do appreciate all the advice. This forum always seems to have folks willing to help with advice and whatever folks need. Hopefully when I get this done I can help others. I am a very experienced mechanic. Just never did an outboard. I will take it slow and read everything thoroughly for sure. Never paid a mechanic to do anything before and everyone I know would be very surprised if I had somebody do it for me. Right now my thoughts are going towrds where to find a reputable machine shop with outboard experience to verify all my measurements and reccomend what needs to be done. The teardown of the bottom end will also give me some more clues to complete the picture of why this motor failed. I will get some good pics of the pistons and cylinder walls and post em up when I get there this weekend. Hopefully by Monday I will be able to take it to a machine shop. Not looking to modify anything although the thought did cross my mind. (But this is not a buick GN!) At this point the only thing I am considering is to eliminate the oil injection system and get this thing done correctly the first time as 65 to 70 is fast enough for me on the water. Thanks again everyone for your advice. Trust me, I am listening.

Exactly. I popped the heads off this morning and posted where a mercury tech can see em and help with diagnosis. Will know more when I get a look at the wrist pin bearings for #6. If they are intact then it is a possible cold seizure scenario. It also appears that WOT timing screw was way advanced by what he saw in a photo. I Also found the Idle stabilizer advance/detonation control module red/wht stripe wire was hanging loose inside. So three possible scenarios. He is a very reputable tech and I am lucky to have his input. Damage on 2 and 4 also. I have had this for almost a year and never knew this or had a problem except for a rough idle. Just goes to show don't let little things fester. Expensive lesson. On stand now and will get into it some more next weekend.