Maiden Voyage!!

[Blue_Runner]

Does anybody remember that little project boat I bought about 4 years ago for $150? She's about ready but still needs paint and non-skid on the inside. Took our maiden voyage Saturday 2/19.

Full post here: http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ead.php?t=2875

Well I sold the old 33 Super Seahorse motor for $125 about a year ago. Had to put $50 into a new set of tires just to get it home, bringing my total investment to $75. My buddy Flyfishin had an old Holland grill in need of a rebuild and me becoming a fiberglass guy was not on the horizon so I swapped him the boat and trailer for the grill. He totally rebuilt this little boat with a new foam filled glass over plywood floor and various glass repair work. I had 2 Lee's of Miami rod holders we put on it. Fly even repaired & put the original Salem Skiff emblems back on the sides. I just noticed in my old post I said, "the transom seems shot" but it turned out to be solid..... Check out these before and after pix. The pics of it running were taken last Saturday at High Rock Lake. Fly is going to buy a motor but we wanted to see how it would handle, plus my old 1975 9.9 had sat for the last 3 years so I needed to pull it out anyway. Ended up replacing the impeller and waterpump housing. Housing was SHOT! It was toast from sucking sand at the beach. Also did a compression test and about 105 even on the 2 cylinders after 4 pulls (warm). She's running GOOD now....

Even though my little engine is a longshaft 20" and the transom of the skiff is for a shortshaft the 9.9 pushed the two of us, 3 gallons of fuel and a little more gear 14 mph by GPS. Not bad, I can only imagine if it were a short shaft 15hp....

Note: in the before pics, there were 2 gum tree saplings growing in a hole in the floor.......LOL