We all spend time cleaning our homes and cars, washing clothing and other stuff. So when we head for a day on the water, we try to forget the cleaning we need to do. But we must not forget the cleaning that needs doing on our boats.
Most boat owners don’t like cleaning their boats, often because it is wet, hard work and usually quite stinky. We often don’t like what we find when we clean, like that open candy bar you misplaced last week…here it is, covered in…something that resembles fur. Last week I was cleaning my boat and in an armrest cubby I found about two inches of rain water, along with indescribable bits of sludge. The smell was something similar to a chemical plant with a sewage leak. Not good.
I could have avoided this altogether by checking the cubby for leftovers before we left the boat for the week. Which is my first piece of advice – check your boat for trash when you leave. Having a designated place for trash is the best idea, and encourage its use by threatening violators with some traditional form of “indoctrination” like keelhauling (“Would you mind taking this brush and cleaning the bottom a bit while you are down there?”). Even so, some folks just don’t get it and stick their refuse out of the way somewhere. Get in the habit of checking storage cubbies, armrests, cup holders and any drawers and cabinets for trash, especially food products. Remove all trash from the boat at the end of the trip and you will remove a lot of the smell that you and your guests find objectionable.
Besides avoiding funk, when you take out the trash you remove temptation from night time critters like raccoons, possums and cats. These guys will climb into trailered boats and walk the docks at night like my relatives scouting the midnight buffet. If the animals' keen noses detect an odor that resembles food, they will search and destroy until they find it. That goes for any fish bait products as well. We store ours in zippered plastic bags, even if the bait comes in its own.
A neighbor’s boat was vandalized by a pair of raccoons and it looked as if a couple guys had a chain saw fight onboard, and then had some digestive trouble. Believe it or not, your boat policy may NOT have coverage in such an event – good idea to check yours to find out.
After neglected trash, mildew is the biggest cleaning issue for your interior. Mildew grows anywhere it is damp – pretty much anywhere on a boat, even more so for those kept in a slip or a lift. But you can do a few things to reduce or eliminate mold and mildew from taking over.
Mildew needs two things to live - dampness and darkness. Storing wet things in a closed cabinet or under a seat is just planting a mildew farm. With fertilizer. Don’t store wet items, dry them first. On my boat the biggest offenders are neoprene PFDs, personal flotation devices. These vests are very comfortable in the water, providing flotation and retaining body heat. They are very popular with tube riders and wakeboarders. The down side is they take a long time to dry and often get stored away while still damp.
I try to solve this by hanging the vests on the railings of my pontoon where the sun and air can dry them. We look kinda funny sometimes with our “laundry” out to dry as we fish, but it beats being moldy!
Sometime we get to the end of our day and we still have wet gear to stow. What to do? Sometimes we take it home and let it dry there. Another option is to place the damp (not wet) stuff flat on the deck or other open area where they can dry and have access to fresh air. Another option is placing the items in their usual places, but keeping the lids open so that sunlight and fresh air can get at them. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight kill mold spores, so it can’t grow. This may not be your best plan if wet weather is forecast or if theft is an issue.
I know not all of these suggestions will apply to everyone’s situation, but if you adapt one or two to your particular situation, you will find you have a cleaner boat with LESS work!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Holy Carp!!!
That’s what we said when we got a look at this beast my best friend had hooked. She had rigged up a basic fishfinder rig baited with shrimp when she got the hit. We were fishing a flat in about 24 feet of water right beside the channel dropoff. The fish pulled hard, but not like a catfish. This thing felt like something from salt water, so we thought we had hooked a large striped bass, also known as a rockfish. But as she worked the fish closer to the surface, we could see the large scales and general shape, and we knew we had a huge carp on the line.
Our net is 30 inches across, but this fish was a lot longer than our net is wide, close to four feet in length. I’ve never seen a carp that big in the wild, and this fish WAS wild! Every time she got the fish to the surface, it ran off again, peeling line from her reel. She worked hard to gain line only to watch the fish take it back.
After about 30 minutes, we thought the fish was worn out, so I stood on the swim platform and tried to get the net under the carp. The fish was just too large to lift from underneath. I grabbed the leader with one hand and swept the net under the fish’s tail just as it thrashed powerfully and…out came the circle hook.
And the fish was gone. I was left soaking wet, holding the leader and an empty net. I turned to my son who was standing behind us with the camera. “Did you get a good shot?” I asked.
“I was waiting for you to get it out of the water first,” he replied.
So, no pictures. I resisted the impulse to pitch him into the water after the fish. Meanwhile BF decided to never forgive me for losing her trophy fish. To add insult to injury, in the course of the battle, my cell phone clip-on holder apparently came off and sent my phone to Davy Jones’ locker.
Once again, I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But, fishing is like that. The fights you lose are at least as memorable as those you win.
Tight lines and strong knots!
Our net is 30 inches across, but this fish was a lot longer than our net is wide, close to four feet in length. I’ve never seen a carp that big in the wild, and this fish WAS wild! Every time she got the fish to the surface, it ran off again, peeling line from her reel. She worked hard to gain line only to watch the fish take it back.
After about 30 minutes, we thought the fish was worn out, so I stood on the swim platform and tried to get the net under the carp. The fish was just too large to lift from underneath. I grabbed the leader with one hand and swept the net under the fish’s tail just as it thrashed powerfully and…out came the circle hook.
And the fish was gone. I was left soaking wet, holding the leader and an empty net. I turned to my son who was standing behind us with the camera. “Did you get a good shot?” I asked.
“I was waiting for you to get it out of the water first,” he replied.
So, no pictures. I resisted the impulse to pitch him into the water after the fish. Meanwhile BF decided to never forgive me for losing her trophy fish. To add insult to injury, in the course of the battle, my cell phone clip-on holder apparently came off and sent my phone to Davy Jones’ locker.
Once again, I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But, fishing is like that. The fights you lose are at least as memorable as those you win.
Tight lines and strong knots!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Fish fear me once again!!
I am happy again. My boat has a working engine now! We got the news on Friday that she was ready to go, and the Justin, the business owner, made the decision to put her back into the slip. I had hoped to get some hull work done and check for any leaks in the hulls, but I’ll have to do that another time.
I wrote the check for the balance due, which would have had a significant effect in reducing the national debt. Instead, the check just increased my own deficit spending plan. That’s what boats are; personal deficit spending plans.
Anyway, the boat started up okay, but refused to run at idle, stalling every time I reduced the throttle. I told Justin and he tweaked the idle setting on the carburetor, and it’s better, but still not perfect. The idle is still too rough for my complete confidence.
She does seem to run with a bit more authority than the older engine did. While the tachometer refuses to work correctly, the boat definitely runs faster than before. Top speed before the problems was a little over 21 knots, or about 24 mph. Now she does 26 knots with about 300 rpms before wide open throttle (WOT). The heavy old girl really performs now. We can easily cruise at about 18 knots and have an ample reserve of speed and power to outrun weather. Or chase fish on the surface.
Of course, the shakedown was not without problems…besides the already mentioned idle issue, the power steering seems to be binding some when turning to starboard and the tach needs replacement. Another casualty of the trip – the batteries in my camera were dead, so no pictures this time. But the break-in period goes on for another 8 hours or so of running time, so I’ll have some good shots next time.
By the way, the fishing was pretty cold, as the catfish are now spawning and have developed lockjaw for the most part. It made me feel better since a big catfish tournament was going on the same time we were out, and a lot of pros and locals didn’t catch a thing. We caught several small ones, all under 10 pounds. But we did not get skunked!
I wrote the check for the balance due, which would have had a significant effect in reducing the national debt. Instead, the check just increased my own deficit spending plan. That’s what boats are; personal deficit spending plans.
Anyway, the boat started up okay, but refused to run at idle, stalling every time I reduced the throttle. I told Justin and he tweaked the idle setting on the carburetor, and it’s better, but still not perfect. The idle is still too rough for my complete confidence.
She does seem to run with a bit more authority than the older engine did. While the tachometer refuses to work correctly, the boat definitely runs faster than before. Top speed before the problems was a little over 21 knots, or about 24 mph. Now she does 26 knots with about 300 rpms before wide open throttle (WOT). The heavy old girl really performs now. We can easily cruise at about 18 knots and have an ample reserve of speed and power to outrun weather. Or chase fish on the surface.
Of course, the shakedown was not without problems…besides the already mentioned idle issue, the power steering seems to be binding some when turning to starboard and the tach needs replacement. Another casualty of the trip – the batteries in my camera were dead, so no pictures this time. But the break-in period goes on for another 8 hours or so of running time, so I’ll have some good shots next time.
By the way, the fishing was pretty cold, as the catfish are now spawning and have developed lockjaw for the most part. It made me feel better since a big catfish tournament was going on the same time we were out, and a lot of pros and locals didn’t catch a thing. We caught several small ones, all under 10 pounds. But we did not get skunked!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Heart Attack City; the bill cometh!
HOLY COW!!! HOW MUCH FOR THAT????
Call the paramedics, I think I just had heart failure!!!
I just got the bill for my boat’s replacement engine. It was less than my house cost, but MORE that 2 of my cars!!! Okay, one is a 1988 Toyota truck that I bought for $300; but even so…
I used to own my own business. Every successful repair shop business owner knows that your labor rate pays the bills, and parts are for profit. I have nothing against profit, but I was not looking to fund a CEO bailout, either!
The bill came in about a thousand dollars over estimate. I expected a few hundred over, since there were some unforeseen replacements needed due to corrosion and age. But this will clean me out completely. No savings left – none.
Of course, they only take cash and checks. No credit cards, no payment plans, just payment in full, please. I understand they need to pay their bills too. I just wish I didn’t have to pay ALL of their bills myself!!!
Call the paramedics, I think I just had heart failure!!!
I just got the bill for my boat’s replacement engine. It was less than my house cost, but MORE that 2 of my cars!!! Okay, one is a 1988 Toyota truck that I bought for $300; but even so…
That is the new powerhouse for my pontoon. The shop said she is back in her slip, waiting for me…to pay the freaking bill!!! The labor was the same as the estimate, within 40 bucks or so. Now, the parts….
I used to own my own business. Every successful repair shop business owner knows that your labor rate pays the bills, and parts are for profit. I have nothing against profit, but I was not looking to fund a CEO bailout, either!
The bill came in about a thousand dollars over estimate. I expected a few hundred over, since there were some unforeseen replacements needed due to corrosion and age. But this will clean me out completely. No savings left – none.
Of course, they only take cash and checks. No credit cards, no payment plans, just payment in full, please. I understand they need to pay their bills too. I just wish I didn’t have to pay ALL of their bills myself!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Will it live, Doctor?
I feel as if I am missing a part of me since my boat broke. A while back I wrote that my Playcraft pontoon boat had engine trouble. After looking it over, I realized it was way beyond my limited mechanical abilities. I am fortunate to be near Jordan Point Marine Services, a full service Mercury Marine Premier facility. Justin, the owner, has extensive experience and plenty of factory training to go along with a great reputation among boaters in the area. Justin came over and looked things over in the very cramped engine compartment. Sure enough, the block was cracked. The engine was ready to become an anchor.
Justin said he and his shop was certainly up to the job, but it would not be easy. Tight confines and an old engine in an older boat could mean some hidden problems, like frozen or broken bolts or bad seals. I wanted the estimate to be a “worst case” scenario, assuming just about everything went wrong. Financially, I wanted as few surprises as possible. This was going to cost – a LOT!!! But, my family and I really love our time on the water. We would swallow that bitter pill (or should I say, bill?) when the time came.
Still, repowering would be MUCH less than a new boat, even a recent used model.
We hauled the boat out and got it back on its trailer. Its pretty easy to get on and off the scissor trailer we have, but its just for boatyard and maintenance work. The trailer is just not up to hauling this beast all over and the weight is too far aft to make it tow well.
So, off it went to get an engine transplant. I wish boats had health insurance!!!
Justin said he and his shop was certainly up to the job, but it would not be easy. Tight confines and an old engine in an older boat could mean some hidden problems, like frozen or broken bolts or bad seals. I wanted the estimate to be a “worst case” scenario, assuming just about everything went wrong. Financially, I wanted as few surprises as possible. This was going to cost – a LOT!!! But, my family and I really love our time on the water. We would swallow that bitter pill (or should I say, bill?) when the time came.
Still, repowering would be MUCH less than a new boat, even a recent used model.
We hauled the boat out and got it back on its trailer. Its pretty easy to get on and off the scissor trailer we have, but its just for boatyard and maintenance work. The trailer is just not up to hauling this beast all over and the weight is too far aft to make it tow well.
So, off it went to get an engine transplant. I wish boats had health insurance!!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Fish Hunting???
I didn’t always love to fish. At first I just enjoyed the boating, being on the water. My parents were the fishing experts. As a twelve year old, I found fishing to be boring. That all changed once my dad discovered trolling.
Trolling, the towing live or artificial baits behind a moving boat, seemed to be a more active form of fishing. I enjoyed hunting, and trolling seemed a lot like that. There were tactics and different bait presentations to consider. Boat handling was very important as well and that was a big draw for me. My dad and I would spend hours hunting bluefish and striped bass; I would scan the horizon with binoculars for any signs of birds while we trolled areas where we caught fish before.
Our boat at the time was an Aquasport Osprey 170, a fine center console fishing machine. The boat came with an Evinrude 70 horsepower outboard, which my dad had built up to about 90 horses. The light little 3-cylinder engine turned a stainless steel double-cupped prop somewhere into the 70 mph range on calm water. So, whenever we saw birds actively feeding on the water, we could really get there in a hurry!
In our part of the Chesapeake Bay, the water was relatively shallow, even in the channels. When the fish were actively feeding, the bait would rush to the surface to escape, and the gulls and others would attack from above. When we saw the birds feeding, we hauled in the lines as fast as possible and headed for the action at top speed. That boat spent its time with us either trolling or wide open throttle (WOT), if the sea conditions allowed.
The Aquasport had a fairly flat bottom, making it very fast, but she rode rather poorly, pounding in anything bigger than a chop. The little boat handled exceptionally well, like a sports car on the water. That is, when were still in the water… The ride was the main reason my mother did not go along on our trolling trips; it was just too rough for her liking. The boat’s speed and light weight launched it and us into the air with frequency. Like the time my dad wanted to show off his new prop…
We were heading up a wide tributary on a calm day. My dad was telling me about the new performance prop he had installed and how much more top end speed the boat had now. I listened as I drove, but I was paying more attention to the tugboat coming down the channel in the opposite direction. We were cruising at ¾ throttle, about 50 mph as we approached the tug. I eased over to the right to give it as much room as I could while remaining in the channel. I noticed the big wake the tug was making; a 3 foot wave off its quarter, a big trough and a stern wave beyond that. I started easing the throttle back, anticipating the big waves ahead. My dad, who was facing aft the entire time, said, “See what that new prop can really do!” as he jammed the throttle all the way open. The little boat took off like a rocket and I yelled “Hold on, Dad!” He saw the tug just as we took flight off the first wave. I gripped the helm while Dad held onto the railings. We hurtled over the trough, the water 6 feet below us, and we landed on the back side of the tug’s stern wave with a solid thunk. We looked at each other with our eyes as big as dinner plates and out mouths hanging open. Then we whooped and hollered like idiots.
Trolling, the towing live or artificial baits behind a moving boat, seemed to be a more active form of fishing. I enjoyed hunting, and trolling seemed a lot like that. There were tactics and different bait presentations to consider. Boat handling was very important as well and that was a big draw for me. My dad and I would spend hours hunting bluefish and striped bass; I would scan the horizon with binoculars for any signs of birds while we trolled areas where we caught fish before.
Our boat at the time was an Aquasport Osprey 170, a fine center console fishing machine. The boat came with an Evinrude 70 horsepower outboard, which my dad had built up to about 90 horses. The light little 3-cylinder engine turned a stainless steel double-cupped prop somewhere into the 70 mph range on calm water. So, whenever we saw birds actively feeding on the water, we could really get there in a hurry!
In our part of the Chesapeake Bay, the water was relatively shallow, even in the channels. When the fish were actively feeding, the bait would rush to the surface to escape, and the gulls and others would attack from above. When we saw the birds feeding, we hauled in the lines as fast as possible and headed for the action at top speed. That boat spent its time with us either trolling or wide open throttle (WOT), if the sea conditions allowed.
The Aquasport had a fairly flat bottom, making it very fast, but she rode rather poorly, pounding in anything bigger than a chop. The little boat handled exceptionally well, like a sports car on the water. That is, when were still in the water… The ride was the main reason my mother did not go along on our trolling trips; it was just too rough for her liking. The boat’s speed and light weight launched it and us into the air with frequency. Like the time my dad wanted to show off his new prop…
We were heading up a wide tributary on a calm day. My dad was telling me about the new performance prop he had installed and how much more top end speed the boat had now. I listened as I drove, but I was paying more attention to the tugboat coming down the channel in the opposite direction. We were cruising at ¾ throttle, about 50 mph as we approached the tug. I eased over to the right to give it as much room as I could while remaining in the channel. I noticed the big wake the tug was making; a 3 foot wave off its quarter, a big trough and a stern wave beyond that. I started easing the throttle back, anticipating the big waves ahead. My dad, who was facing aft the entire time, said, “See what that new prop can really do!” as he jammed the throttle all the way open. The little boat took off like a rocket and I yelled “Hold on, Dad!” He saw the tug just as we took flight off the first wave. I gripped the helm while Dad held onto the railings. We hurtled over the trough, the water 6 feet below us, and we landed on the back side of the tug’s stern wave with a solid thunk. We looked at each other with our eyes as big as dinner plates and out mouths hanging open. Then we whooped and hollered like idiots.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I'm back!
Welcome to my blog! I took some time away to focus on writing for a new boating website…that never really got off the ground. So, I will be back to posting here. Besides hunting and shooting, I’ll be writing about nearly every aspect of the boating world. But first, let me tell you a bit about myself.
I grew up around boats, on the east coast of America. My family did not own a boat until I was a teenager, but we often fished with my grandfather on his boats around Atlantic City, New Jersey. Our first boat was a wood skiff built by a local fisherman. As much as we loved that boat, we longed for something with more fishing room and some comfort. My father owned several boats and I learned to handle them all. I learned to sail as well, racing pretty seriously for several years. A single enlistment in the Coast Guard turned into 22 years with nearly 14 years at sea on both coasts. I served as the Boatswain on a 378-foot ship (a “cutter” in CG terms) and conned the ship during several adventures. Having 18,000 horsepower at your command really changes things!
Now I am a family man with two grown kids, a teenager and a preschooler. My mistress is a large pontoon boat with room for a small army. I bought it from a man who had not used it in years, but the price was affordable.
Right now she is getting a new engine, since the present one has a cracked block from age, a previous overheating episode and a LOT of hard use last season. I plan to document the repowering for the blog as well, including sea trials.
I am looking forward to sharing my insight and experiences with all of you and I welcome your comments. If you have some ideas for what you would like to see in future postings, let me know!
I grew up around boats, on the east coast of America. My family did not own a boat until I was a teenager, but we often fished with my grandfather on his boats around Atlantic City, New Jersey. Our first boat was a wood skiff built by a local fisherman. As much as we loved that boat, we longed for something with more fishing room and some comfort. My father owned several boats and I learned to handle them all. I learned to sail as well, racing pretty seriously for several years. A single enlistment in the Coast Guard turned into 22 years with nearly 14 years at sea on both coasts. I served as the Boatswain on a 378-foot ship (a “cutter” in CG terms) and conned the ship during several adventures. Having 18,000 horsepower at your command really changes things!
Now I am a family man with two grown kids, a teenager and a preschooler. My mistress is a large pontoon boat with room for a small army. I bought it from a man who had not used it in years, but the price was affordable.
Right now she is getting a new engine, since the present one has a cracked block from age, a previous overheating episode and a LOT of hard use last season. I plan to document the repowering for the blog as well, including sea trials.
I am looking forward to sharing my insight and experiences with all of you and I welcome your comments. If you have some ideas for what you would like to see in future postings, let me know!
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