Finally found a use for my little old JOHNSON.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Now that I have your attention, I done went and lost my mind. Really didn't have the money, but my wife pointed out we have been boatless(without a useable boat anyways) for almost 4 years now so I went out did something about it. It's not a V-20, or even an offshore boat, but it is something to get us back on the water(and cheaply). It's an 07 GRIZZLY by TRACKER all welded 1654 flat bottom. I wanted a modified V, but everybody wants an arm and 2 legs for them down here, so I settled for a flat bottom. It needs some welding where the welds have broken on the center seat, a deck extension on the front seat because it is WAY to small to be used as a casting platform, and a smooth floor for my boy so he isn't tripping across the ribs in the floor.

He wanted $1250, but because of the broken welds I got him down to $1100. I didn't tell him I have the stuff to weld aluminum, so that won't cost me much(but it worked to get the price down). And the trailer needs the fenders cut down because the boat is so wide it hits the fenders, and a set of wheels and tires. I know boats like this down here fetch $1500-2000 all day long, so I wasn't going to pass it up. Worst case scenario I put my engine and such on it and sell it for $3500.

On the plus side I still have an old 35 HP JOHNSON tiller with a 20" shaft, electric start, and charging system that I have been trying to sell for years(best offer I ever got on it was $400, I have more than that in the add on charging system and starter I put on it), so it just found a new home. I also have a 55 pound thrust MINN KOTA foot control trolling motor for a pontoon boat(will work just fin on a jon boat), some 6 gauge wire I pulled out of one ofthe bass boats I junked to run the trolling motor power feed, and most all the anchors and such I need to outfit it leftover from boats in the past.

So I will be back on the water here soon.

Some pics of the JOHNSON recipient.


Yes it's as wide as it looks.

And heres thee welds that need fixed. Pretty common on welded jon boats as I had the same problems on my ALUMACRAFT I had years back.

[spareparts]

nice

[RWilson2526]

Good for you. Enjoy it!

[THEFERMANATOR]

I guess i should have posted up a picture of my JOHNSON. She looks rough because she has been sitting since 06, but it will clean up nicely. It's an 80 that spent it's first 20 years being used strictly in freshwater. I freshened it up in 04 because the previous owner believed in using 30 weight oil instead of two stroke, and the bearings got coked up with ash(theres a reason they tell you to use 2 stroke). Other than that it has less then 150 hours on it since new, and 125 pounds of compression. Some time with the pressure washer, a can of spray paint, and a little bit of maintence and my JOHNSON will be as good as new.



Try to overlook the mess under it. The engine has been sitting over my scrap pile for the last 8 years.

[bradford]

Good deal Ferm! I used to have a 14' Fisher Marine modified V side console with a 30 Mariner that I always wished I'd never sold. You can ALWAYS use a boat like that no matter where you live, and cheap and easy to operate and maintain.

Is that a Damon Escaper motorhome?, If so I have a 1990 model built on a Chevrolet G30 chassis.

I seen a familiar Evinrude in the background too.

I'll bet that's gonna be your boy's first boat one day.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Yep, the motorhome is pretty well rotten though. I don't know why my mom won't get rid of it, but she's dead set she's gonna fix it up one day. It's been killing me not being out on the water, and I've come to terms with the economy not recovering down here anytime soon. So I decided it was time to at least get out on the lakes, rivers, and flats. Plus this boat will run for a solid day on what my old 225 burned in an hour. I seen a couple of bass boats here lately for CHEAP money, but then I would still be filling a tank to feed a big engine. I decided spenidng the money for a boat a small engine could push, would pay off in short order in fuel savings.

[Blue_Runner]

Man that is gonna be a sweet set up Ferm. 54" wide should be a nice stable shallow drafting platform. Love it man. Good for you on snagging that up and getting back on the water!

[THEFERMANATOR]

Yep, I was blown away at how wide it is for a 16 footer. Should be plenty wide to go most anywhere I want to go, and get up into some of the springs around here with my son this summer.

[Destroyer]

Looks like you got a sweet deal Ferm. Congrats. I completely agree with you about engines and fuel burns. Sadly, it's a fact of life that under the present administration, we're not going to see any reduction in gas prices. I have a 12 foot Sears tri-hull Gamefisher rowboat with a 9.9 Honda 4 stroke on it for exactly that reason. I LOVE ocean fishing, but like you said, what I burn in a day with the little guy is what I burn in an hour (or less) with the V. Good luck with your new toy.

[RidgeRunner]

Congrats! Nice score at a good price. Place is looking great too.