DaubsNU1

Easy to answer....FALL! Reasons: Still catching fish Cooler weather Football season starts Hunting season starts Baseball season still going Did I mention cooler weather? Leaves turning

My Galaxy is on a RAM mount at front of my boat...when I catch a nice fish, I turn on the camera...step back a little...and say "Cheeeeeese" The camera delays ~5 seconds, then snaps a picture. Works for me...

Fortunate to have witnessed my favorite team / alma mater win three college football national championships. And witnessed my favorite baseball team win two world-series. Don't really have skin in the game for the NFL...I just like watching football. Given the choice, I would say World Series.

Found a starter for the old Merc, and ordered new seats... And wouldn't you know it...I found a new boat. Actually used Lund Adventure. That is another story for another day. What do you think my boat is worth?: 1960 Rich Line 14' 1974 Mercury 20hp two stroke (electric start) Garmin Echomap 7SV up front Garmin Striker 4CV in back ProMariner 2 bank on-board charger 40lb Minn Kota All-Terrain 12v 12-way fuse block with rocker switch panel Two deep cycle marine batteries 3 gallon fuel cell Bilge pump Full navigation lights Holds 6 rods Aluminum framing, Baltic birch 9-ply decking coated with marine epoxy No live-well Good trailer with spare tire included Oh, and two new seats : ) Here is the build thread: Rich Line Update

Outstanding work!!!

I'm with @MN Fisher, and love my 14' semi-v aluminum boat. It was built in 1960. The 20hp Merc is from 1974. Runs great and can push me 20 MPH. I built the decking two years back...all my tackle and gear is stored. I can stand, walk around, pee, holds 6 rods and more tackle than I should bring on any excursion. I've even tied up to a tree an taken a nap in this little boat. No way I would trade it for a kayak. I have mad respect for kayakers, having fished out of a canoe in my younger days. Maneuvering and casting takes skills. Map out your pros and cons, and do what works for you.

Thanks for the rundown @A-Jay! I'm running Garmin Echomap 7SV on my old Minn Kota 40lb trolling motor. I've been eying a new boat and have been bouncing back and forth between Garmin and Minn Kota / Hbird for a while. I like the touch screen Garmin, but really don't mess with it on the water much. The Solix isn't worth the extra $$ in my mind. You bring up great point with the touch screen and keeping them clean. When I'm on the water I almost never touch the screen...I have pre-set buttons to toggle between the views I need. My brother is running an Ulterra with built in MEGA DI/SI transducer, and has Helix 9 MEGS SI's on bow and console on his Lund Alaskan. They are not networked together. I really like his set up...and it seems his Humminbirds show way more detail than my Garmin. I only have the GT-54 transducer. I've also contemplated Ulterra vs. Ultrex. I looking hard at a used Lund 1775 Adventure with 90hp Mercury. Pretty sure I'm going with the Ulterra 80lb MEGA DI/SI (legacy version), and Helix 9's on bow and console. Networking them together. Should serve me well chasing LMBs, Smallies, Musky/Pike, Eyes, and panfish.

My old 1974 Mercury 20hp was the opposite. The little 3 gallon tank would build pressure...and flood out the carb...motor would not start. For the life of me I could not figure out what was the problem. Took the carb out, replace float...installed carb...and then hooked up gas while boat was in the garage...fuel started spilling out of the carburetor in two places. Ahaaaaaa....that's my problem! So now, when I get to the lake...I loosen the cap on the fuel cell. Take away the pressure. Problem solved.

Got the boat on water this morning. Ran GREAT! Four or five pulls to get started first thing in the morning (standard). After that, it was one pull to get the old Merc fired back up. No issues. Problem solved!

One of my favorite local lakes is very shallow...it is even down this year by about 3-4 feet! Middle of the lake is maybe 4-5 feet deep right now. No structure...just a bowl shape. The big-uns live next to the bank on rip-rap, or under docks. I boated a nice 4-1/2 pound largemouth on a drop shot in 1.5' of water, under a dock. @ 11:00 AM.

Parts are ordered, and on their way. They are even providing a few wiring diagrams. @Alex from GA and @airshot, I did some google searching and found similar situations starting outboards without a charging system. Some talked about experiences in the 1950's and 60's...starting their boats from battery for a few days, even weeks on one charge. Then getting the battery charged, and repeating. My old Merc takes 4-5 pulls to start in the morning...then starts on first pull the rest of the day. It's not an issue for me now at 55 years old...but some day it might be. I agree with you @Way2slow, if this required a new flywheel + more, would not be worth the hassle. I will post up pictures and maybe a video when I get installed.

Wise words @Way2slow. Thank you. My old Merc does have a flywheel compatible with a starter. Adding a starter would not stop my ability to start outboard with the pull rope. I realize without a stator and rectifier that the battery will not get a charge. The lakes I fish with this boat are small, less than 500 acres, and many are 5mph limit / no wake. I would use the starter ~2-3 times per day, if that. Battery gets charged after every trip. Parts are going to cost me ~$190 shipped. The boat-motor-trailer cost me $600 back in 2000. With all the decking, electronics, and additions...I might have ~$3k in the boat total. It has been a fund building project to see how much capability I can get from this 60+ year old boat, at minimum of cost. Adding electric start is more of a "can I make this work" vs. "I need this to work." If I were fishing bigger water, or longer trips...that's when I fish with my brother in his Lund Alaskan 1800.

Found on eBay a connection for parts to make this work. They have: starter, solenoid, battery cable, start switch for my model outboard. They do not have: Lighting (charging) stator, or the voltage rectifier. These would re-charge the starting battery. Would I need the stator and rectifier? Boat has two batteries...battery #1 runs the 12v / 40lb trolling motor. Battery #2 powers my Garmin Echmap 7sv and occasionally the Garmin Striker 4cv. I would power the outboard starter off of Battery #2.

Started looking around the interwebs for a starter and parts to make this happen. Serial number is 4055053 Suggestions or advice greatly appreciated! Thanks! Daubs

I had same problem about a month ago on a smallmouth trip. Love fishing NED's for smallies. << following >>

The inexpensive Walmart seats are about done. Looking for something comfortable. Boat lives in the shop when not on the water. Recommendations? This popped on Amazon, something different. Thoughts? Don't need anything fancy...

Changed plans...fished with my brother. I'll run it next weekend.

60° this morning, lots of rain yesterday. Slow day to start but around 11:00 a.m. I pitched a wacky Senko on a drop shot next to a dock.... didn't feel the bike, just saw the line moving sideways. 4 lb 6 oz. Less than 2' of water. Ended day with two 16"s, one small bass, and a crappie that hit my square bill : )

Pulled the carb off today. Sank the old float in water...one or two tiny bubbles developed on the float...I don't think enough to make a difference, but I replaced it anyway. Manual calls for .280 to .320 measurement from top of float to carb. I did not have the proper tool, so measured old float, and got it close. Surprisingly easy to take the engine apart and carb off. Whew! Here is where it gets interesting...I attach the fuel line....and soon fuel comes spilling out of the carb(!!!)? There was pressure building up in the 3 gallon fuel cell. That may have been my problem all along. I loosened the cap...hooked up the garden hose...and it runs great! Started, stopped...started again...let sit for a while...started again. Good to go! So for now, problem solved. I'll be on the water tomorrow morning to make sure.

SCORE!! You have to love Cabela's clearance! Years ago my buddy worked at Cabela's HQ, when there was only one retail store. I LOVED going in to the Bargain Cave. Kid in a candy store!!

Man @Darth-Baiter, that stinks! I'm still fishing Cabela's branded rods purchased in the 1990's. Not sure what I would do if I broken one. Would be sadness for sure.

Wow, scary for sure! Glad it all worked out okay in the end. Good on you for keeping glasses on all the time. I wear safety glasses around my house, garage, and shop any time I'm doing something where there is a potential for bad things to happen. Also wear ear protection, as I have tinnitus. I do have low-light fishing glasses, and wear them 70-80% of the time. I wear my other fishing glasses all the time, when the sun is up. You can bet I'm going to start wearing protection ALL the time... Thanks for the reminder!!

I run 20lb Power Pro braid on all my bait-casters. It works.

Invited relative on smallmouth trip at last minute...Dad could not go. Relative was big LMB fisherman, and the whole drive up to spot was trying to convince us to ditch the smallies, and go to his favorite lake (adding 4 hours on to our already 3 hour long drive). We declined. We were hammering smallies on NED rigs, and offered them to him...he refused, kept trying to catch fish his way, and kept asking us to ditch the smallies and head to chase LMBs. Our main excuse, the Air BnB was already paid for. About two days in to our trip, he offered to pay off the Air BnB completely, pay for gas, and pay for hotel at the LMB spot. We were having none of it. He finally tried NED and actually caught the biggest Smallie of the entire trip. But the entire time kept talking about his special LMB lake, and how great the fishing was. I'm sure we will invite him again...we do often...but I doubt he will join us. He's still trying to get us up to his favorite spot.

Similar...10lb braid to either 10lb or 8 lb fluoro via Alberto knot. Keep out of the spool. No issues.