JoeLansing

I got a craigslist special. 14' V aluminum boat, decent trailer, and a 9.9 Mariner 1990 or so from the serial number. $700 The motor looks new under the cover. What do I need to check on it? Lower oil or something like that? Anything special I should watch for when it's first running? It's got a broken fin on the prop so I bought this for $52 and free shipping from West Marine. http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/Mercury/9.9_HP_(1986-2005)_9.00-Pitch_Hustler_Aluminum_2110_0910_Propeller/222/36441/?cart_id=752789365 I hope it fits. I'm off to go buy a trash can and some fresh gas. I wonder how much 2-cycle oil I have. 50:1 ok? Might mix in a bit of seafoam. - Joe

I bought a 1960's 14' V row boat yesterday. Just wait till I get a hitch on my Chevy Spark. Massive 1.2L engine.... - Joe

Yeah, neither of my kids swims well. My Filipino wife doesn't swim at all. I got to keep good life vests on all of them. Especially the wife. I don't have an insurance policy on her yet I figure that I can re-use at least 75% of the stuff I'm putting into my rubber ducky boat on a 14'-16' aluminum boat later so it's an investment. - Joe

I thought I'd get a cheap boat I could haul in the back of my van. Well, it's not as cheap as I thought. $137 Intex Excursion 5 from Amazon with free shipping. But the costs are adding up fast. $250 Endura Max 55 motor $22 Motor mount $90 115AH battery $55 Minn Kota power center $45 Battery charger $35 12lb anchor and rope $125 Lowrance 3X fish finder and separate small battery. $40 Registration and numbers $25 Rechargeable air pump I still need to put in a plywood floor and carpet it. That will be another $50 or so. A couple big coolers for seats. It is rated for 1,300 pounds so that's not an issue. This is more or less what I'm doing. Something for me and my 7 & 8 year olds to go fish in - Joe