[randlemanboater]

I spent the holiday weekend at the coast finally getting to run my V after a long hiatus.

I got there late Friday night so early Saturday morning I uncovered her and started cleaning her up a bit. My Dad was helping me scrub the outside of the hull and noticed the gas tank vent fitting hanging loose. It took about 2 hours and some contorsionist moves, but I got it replaced.

The motor started up on the first crank on the hose, as usual (have I mentioned that I LOVE this motor?) and I slowly pulled her to the ramp, hoping the rusty hulk of a trailer would make it the 1 1/2 blocks without disintigrating.

I always check the steering before I put in and it worked fine on the trailer, it worked fine in the water at idle speed, but at speed, it was hard to steer. I looked it over but everything looked normal. It got worse and worse as I pulled the kids on tubes so I looked again, the top of the motor mount was pulled away from the transom!!!!!!! My first thought was "oh crap, the transom has gone bad over the winter,

I idled back to the ramp and put her on her new trailer (a perfect fit) and further investigated.

I found that BOTH of the top mounting bolts had broken!!! I guess I was lucky the bottom two held or my beloved Johnzuki would have been in the drink. I think the 5200 helped hold the motor on as well.

I replaced the bolts and it worked flawlessly Sunday when my Dad, my boy, and I went out and caught a few Spanish and blues.

I'll post some pics tomorrow, left my camera @ work.