We bought the Blue Fin for like $1000 bucks from a guy in Deltona, Florida a year ago and it immediately became a big project. We dragged it north and at the tune of about 700-bucks I got the motor worked on at Powerhouse. It had needed a lot of tuning up and a new water circulation pump, seals and so forth. It ran after that but we had to learn some stuff...like jiggling the throttle while you are starting the motor.
Sea Foam proved to be the miracle. We ran a can through it and it immediately improved it's running. There are lots of cosmetic things needed, but I did buy and install a Bimimi top last summer and I love that. We were able to take the grandkids all boating.
When I put it up for the winter, I drained the lower unit of the outboard thru the clutch pin hole. I was worried about that, because in the manual it said "do not remove." I did put it back in but now there is a big question mark.
Put lower unit oil in today, hauled it down to La Crosse and put 6-gallons of gas and 1 pint of 2-cycle oil and 1/2 can of SeaFoam in. Put it in at the Clinton St. Marina and the son-of-a-gun started on a weak battery and ran. It was ragged at first but I cruised up to the I-90 bridge and back a couple times and then put it in a berth for an hour or so. Came back and started her up and zipped back up by the I-90 bridge and shut her down, fished for a half hour or so. Then kicked her back on, took her back to the marina and loaded her up. I'm very, very happy with this shakedown cruise for 2012! Texted the girls that the Blue Fin lives...get ready for fun!
ReplyDeleteshop-vacced it all out today and charged the extra battery for the trolling motor. Cathy used silicon adhesive to glue some of the upholstery. We had taken a car trip to see about seat replacements, and got some ideas but they're expensive...haven't made up our minds. Might look further on the internet and might also have the existing ones just reupholstered. Bought a tube to pull behind the boat while someone rides it. Getting ready for the family reunion at 3G's up by Rhinelander. Gonna haul it up there.
ReplyDeleteTrailered it up to Lake George near Rhinelander, WI for the family get-together for a week. Drove it on the lake and had a pretty good day even though I realized that it shifted erratically and couldn't be trusted not to go into reverse once in a while when you pushed on the throttle. Called a mechanic up there and he said the pin has to be put in with the lower unit taken apart and he didn't have parts. Not to drive it because you can do damage. Brought it back home. Used the trolling motor on a rowboat that was provided us.
ReplyDeleteTook the BlueFin in to Powerhouse in La Crosse and left it for them to put the clutch pin back in.
ReplyDelete