OutKast Actual

Awesome, thank you! I'm sure there's going to be many more questions that I'll be asking; hopefully I won't get on your nerves.

I'm going to check everything today to see if it's been upgraded/updated. If not, & I have to pre mix my oil & fuel, how do you do that with a boat that has internal fuel tanks that can only be filled from the outside? Can you just simply add a certain amount of gas & then add the appropriate amount of 2 stroke oil afterwards; or would I have to fill up a gas jug, put in the specific amount of 2 stroke oil, and then fill up the tanks with the gas jugs?

As far as the purple wire (or lack thereof) & the wire connector... this will be found on the outboard itself, correct? The reservoir you're talking about is for the 2 stroke oil tank located inside the boat? If I'm understand correctly: lift the cowl off the outboard, locate the fuel pump, if there's a purple wire then I'm good... if not then it still has the VRO & I need to disconnect the fuel pump wire connector. You're welcome & tell your dad I said Semper Fi. Thanks for the advice. I'll be moving back home to Harlan County, KY on 30 June. From what I've gathered, the shops folks take their boats to are located down in TN because there isn't a local boat mech. I see that you live in Lexington, do you have a recommended boat mech that you use? The drive from Harlan to the shops in TN & the drive from Harlan to Lexington is about the same distance.

Correction Update: I just looked up my Evinrude XP 200 hp V6 model & serial number & the outboard is a 1990 instead of a 1988 like I thought. May not make a huge difference but figured I'd at least correct myself on here. Thanks for all of y'alls help! Model #: E200STLESE Serial #: G 02514477

Thanks Way2Slow & sorry that it's been so long. I went back into a dark spot but I'm now in a better place than I've been in many years. I'm going to learn and do as much as I can to the boat myself. I was just going to sell it but after I started cleaning it up I decided that I wanted to keep it because it means just too much to me. My wife & son got it for me to help me get out on the water & battle my PTSD. It was working until I had to get my hip replaced (at 36 years old) & the hip replacement failed to help & made things worse. My boat has an automatic fuel/oil mixer (not sure what it's called), basically it's an oil reservoir that automatically mixes the oil in with the gas. I need to learn how to & what needs to be done in servicing that particular part. I plan on doing as much work as I can by myself; here are some of those things (in no particular order): - Drain all fuel - Replace fuel hoses - Replace/upgrade all gauges - grease trailer hubs - Replace spark plugs - Seafoam the carbs - Replace all fuses - Change all fluids - Replace Impeller or go ahead & replace the entire water pump. **** and there's more to do but I can't think of them off the top of my head & I have to do some research on other things to see if I'm confident enough to do the task myself. I want to do as much as I can by myself. As my son said... "Dad, by you working on and fixing the boat, you are also working on & fixing yourself." He's right & I thought the same thing, that's another major reason for me keeping the boat. The boat has never been "named" but it's name is now "RECLAIMER" because it is helping me reclaim my life.

Awesome... thank you!

Yeah not all about getting gasoline in my mouth, was gonna use any other method than sucking on a siphon hose... In order to clean carburetors, do you have to take the carbs off or can you simply spray carb cleaner in them while they are still attached to the motor? Again... I may just let a mechanic change all the fluids, clean the carbs, change the impeller... basically do a really good tune up since it has been sitting so long... and the fact that I have zero knowledge or exp working on outboards other than changing some fluids on a 2006 Merc 60hp 4 stroke that I had when I owned a pontoon once upon a time.

I've been looking up videos on siphoning gas and that's the route that I'm going to take. Either buying an electric pump or simply getting a long enough hose and letting gravity go to work... That should save me some $$$.

Roger that... they've not hit the 10 year mark yet... but I may go ahead and change them anyways.

Thanks everyone for the replies, info, and words of encouragement. I'm visiting family in KY but made a trip back home to Suffolk, VA for a few days in order to get some medical stuff done. While there I went and checked out the boat. First off it needs a good cleaning and polishing... plus some areas of the carpet replaced. However, I'm just going to replace the carpet of the entire boat. I left the plug out of the boat and it has sat with the front end tilted up the whole time so that any water could drain out. I opened up the rear compartment where the batteries, onboard battery charger, hoses, oil mixer, etc... are at and everything looks great. Absolutely no sign of any type of wear, tear, dry rot or damage. I checked the tires on the trailer and other than having low tire pressure they are in good shape with zero signs of rot. I have to change the crank on the front of the trailer but it was in need of a new crank whenever I last parked it, so that was a known issue. As far as the outboard I know that water impellers is something that needs to be replaced on a regular basis and that it will 100% need a new one. I'm going to take it to a mechanic and let them change out the impeller and take care of whatever else I'm not comfortable with. Even if I'm comfortable changing out all the fluids I ight just go ahead and let a mechanic change them out this time since it has been such a long time. That is if I have the funds... One thing about the carpet is that my wife is far more crafty and handy than I am... so the carpet will be taken care of by us... well... her... I'll just be her assistant and gofer. I have no shame in admitting that my wife is a better at carpentry type work than I am... lol.

Thanks for all the replies and I'll respond more properly when I have a bit of time. On a quick note however... I think I'm in pretty good shape when it comes to the structure of the boat itself because my 1988 Winner Tournament 2000 is 100% fiberglass and even has fiberglass stringers instead of wood. What say you folks?

You were in Nam... you are my elder... elder = Sir... lol

Thanks for the responses gentlemen... if the boat was in good running order when it was parked is there a good chance that it will be good to go once it is serviced?

Semper Fi brother...

Sigh... where to start... this may be a bit of a long winded thread... I'm a disabled Marine combat veteran with severe combat PTSD with symptoms of severe depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, suicidal thoughts, etc... I also have physical disabilities and chronic pain. I'm not saying any this for some sort of pity party... I'm saying it because it plays into my problem. Back around 2013 I wanted to finally own a bass boat, something that I'd wanted all my wife, and my wife encouraged me to buy one that I'd found. She's been my rock in regards to battling my PTSD and she figured that me having a boat would help me... and it did for a little while. Due to physical issues, crappy doctors, and some financial hard times, I stopped taking the boat out. As my chronic pain and physical issues got worse the boat continued to sit... and sit... and sit... and sit... The longer I stayed off the water and in my house the more and more I got depressed. So depressed that I didn't do anything to or for the boat. The boat is a 1988 or 1989 Winner Tournament 2000 with a 200hp V6 Evinrude 2 stroke outboard. It was in good running order when I parked it. The outboard ran strong and reliable. The boat itself is ALL fiberglass and even the stringers are fiberglass. The boat has sat outside and uncovered for 3 years (I know, I'm an idiot). The carpet is trashed and needs replaced. I know that all the fluids need changed. The last fuel that was used in it was unfortunately had ethanol in it so I know the fuel needs pumped out before even trying to start it. I know that what needs to be done to my boat is out of my skill level... my skill level is next to nothing when it comes to mechanical type work. Would you fine folks give me some info of what I would need, well, what the professionals would need to do to get my boat up and running again? Is it even going to be able to get going again or did I destroy something I've dreamed about having my whole life by letting it sit? Any clue of an at or about cost for getting it going again? How much would it cost (approx.) to re-carpet an 18 foot bass boat? Thanks in advance for any and all help. Hopefully the cost won't be so high that I can't get it fixed because I really need to get out on the water and fight back against the darkness of my PTSD demons. Respectfully; Donnie U.S. Marine Corps (ret.)

Outstanding! Congrats and from a fellow servicemember (USMC)… thank you for your service. I was boots on the ground for 2 tours in Iraq and 1 tour in Afghanistan... your service was just as important as mine or anyone else's Sir.

What you folks are doing for my fellow veterans is awesome... It's been years since I've been on this site and I just seen this thread... it put a big smile on my face to see you folks care so much about our military service!

U.S. Marine Corps from 1996 to 2016... Iraq x2 to include Operation Phantom Fury (Fallujah, Iraq) and 1 tour in Afghanistan. 100% VA disabled...

Not really familiar or either I don't quite understand what you're asking. I know that there is a nuclear power plant located in Oak Ridge, TN. I was born & raised in the mountains & coal mining towns of Harlan County, KY, which is located right on the borders of VA & TN. After my mom & dad divorced my dad moved to Knoxville. He still lives in the east TN area. I was a recruiter for the Marine Corps for 3 years & was stationed in Knoxville...by the way...I didn't volenteer to be a recruiter, I was "volen-TOLD!" lol. Anyways, I fished Douglas Lake located in Sevierville, TN & it is a beautiful & wonderful lake. Growing up, we would travel from my home in Harlan County down to the lakes in east TN...mainly Norris & Cherokee...both great lakes for nearly any species & both have quality smallmouth in them. I also fished Ft Loudon lake while I was on recruiting duty...but didn't enjoy it because of all the pleasure boat traffic. I don't mind pleasure boaters...but when they scream by right next to your boat as your trolling the banks...well, it makes me want to cast a Zara Spook at them so that I can hook them up & snag them off of their boat or jet ski! lol Seriously, east TN is AMAZING! It is BEAUTIFUL & that's mine & my wife's dream area to retire in!

Nitrofreak, you say that you "can't do much in the way of support"...all you got to do is what you are doing now...being proud of us, being thankful, being respectful...that's all we need. Well, that's what we need from the people of this great country...we need the U.S. Federal GOVT to ensure that they give us the benefits that we've earned! lol. Thank you for the kind words & thank your family for their service as well.

I haven't fished Cherokee since I was a teenager (I'm 35)...but back then, the standard lures to use...the ones that were always tied on...were lipless cranks & T-Rigged soft plastic lizards (pumpkinseed w/ a chartruese tail). Again...that's been many...many years ago. I loved that lake & can't wait to fish it again. I do remember that lake getting pretty rough when the wind is kicking...really rough.

l've only been here in Hampton Roads area for a little over a year. I know about the lakes in & around the Suffolk area, fished Trashmore one time, but I don't know much about any other ponds or lakes. I bought a bass boat last year & spent the majority of my fishing time on the Chowan after I got the boat. I'm wanting to do some exploring this year, especially some of the rivers in the area like James, Chickihominy, North West, etc... I wish the Nansemond was fresh water because that would only be about a 5 min drive from my house to the ramp.

Your welcome & thank you for supporting us military folks...it means more to us than you may realize!

Thank you for the compliment...the support...& you're welcome. You're going to have a GREAT time with those kids!

*** In no particular order: 1. Zoom Ol' Monsters 2. Zoom Mag II 3. Zoom Mag Finesse 4. Zoom Trick Worms 5. Zoom Mag Trick Worms 6. Zoom Mag Shakey Head Worms *** There's many more soft plastics that I love to use...what's listed above is just the soft plastic "worms" that I like to use.