Frozen Motor Aborted Yesterday Trip

[Bill Babler]

Motor problems again have me baffled. My lower unit was frozen and I could not take my guide trip yesterday. That is a brand new lower unit. Frozen stiff. Got home and took the plug out of the unit, after applying some heat, and it had leaked full of water. Bad seal I guess. Reguardless I have to give my fly fishing trip up yesterday and Chuck Grise of Anglers and Archery took it for me.

Chuck started at noon with Mike and Son and just ripped them, from Andy's down. size 14-16 tandum grey scuds. Had many doubles and lots of nice fish in in 17 inch plus class.

Chuck says the lower restriced area is just full of quality trout, and it showed he knows how to put his clients on them. He is a very good guide, probably one of the best on that section.

Thanks Chuck

[fishinwrench]

Bill, pull your prop and thrust washer, I bet you picked up some fishing line and cut the prop shaft seal, either that or whoever lubed it forgot to replace the drain screw gasket(s). Way too early for a seal to fail on its own. Your lucky you caught it before it busted the housing.

[Gatorjet]

Indeed it sounds like Chuck is an excellent guide. It's good that you guys back each other up when needed.

Hope you caught the problem before the case cracked. After the R.A.W. tournament a few years back some how one side of the engine on the Gator didn't get drained. In the Spring I took it in to get a new stainless impeller put in the turbine, and the guys at Gatorboats saw some unusual rust on the side of the block. They checked it out and found a crack from the cylinder head to the oil pan. Cost me a new Vortec 6.0 engine. OUCH!!!

[fishinwrench]

Indeed it sounds like Chuck is an excellent guide. It's good that you guys back each other up when needed.

Hope you caught the problem before the case cracked. After the R.A.W. tournament a few years back some how one side of the engine on the Gator didn't get drained. In the Spring I took it in to get a new stainless impeller put in the turbine, and the guys at Gatorboats saw some unusual rust on the side of the block. They checked it out and found a crack from the cylinder head to the oil pan. Cost me a new Vortec 6.0 engine. OUCH!!!

Gator, When you drain the block always take a piece of wire or something and keep the hole clear while it's draining. Rust and scale sometimes blocks the pitcocks entirely.

[Gatorjet]

Yep, usually do that. It gets sand in it sometimes to. Just somehow got overlooked that time.

One thing I wonder about though. When I fish in the winter, and have the boat in the dock at night, if we get really cold temperatures would there be a danger of the block freezing. I'm thinking with Taneycomo temperatures being around 50 degrees or so even though the block is above the surface would the temperature be warm enough to keep it from freezing overnight? I have left it undrained with temps in the upper 20's, but have been there with the temps in the teens or below at night. It's kind of a pain to open all the petcocks, and remove the hoses, then put them back on in the morning.

[denjac]

Motor problems again have me baffled. My lower unit was frozen and I could not take my guide trip yesterday. That is a brand new lower unit. Frozen stiff. Got home and took the plug out of the unit, after applying some heat, and it had leaked full of water. Bad seal I guess.

Man you have really had some bad luck with that motor / electric / steering. Might be time to change mechanics . Or trade that thing off , it might just be a lemon .

[Bill Babler]

No fishing line. That unit only has 10 hrs. on it since it was bolted on. Still has the bar code sticker on it. Plugs were tight and sealed with the o-rings intact.

When Phil and I came in from fishing last week, I thought I smelled some burnt oil smell, but nothing on the water, so with the holidays I kind of forgot about it.

When I checked it after the freeze up the oil was grey and smelled burned and it had the water in the case. Ulrich is closed till January 3rd. so I just have to wait. If I get another trip on taney, I will use one of Phil's boats.

After they bolted on the new lower unit, they said to run it 5 hr.s and bring it back over for a oil change. I did that and they said it was good to go for a year. Guess not.

[rps]

When something is wrong with my rig, I am frustrated. However, my rig is for my hobby and not my living. How to you manage to keep from harming someone?

[Bill Babler]

You know, it is kind of like farming or any other business where you depend on equipment. It breaks. For us when it breaks it is lost income and lost opportunity, you hate it, but it is what it is.

Other things agervate me worse. Had a guy call yesterday and ask what it cost to take his two sons fishing for the afternoon. He said there would be 3 of them, himself a five and a ten year old. I Said I would take them for the $250.00 half day rate and take the 5 yr. old for free.

There was a pause and then he said. "How can you sleep at night, trying to steal from people like that?" " I didn't want to buy your boat, I just wanted you to take us fishing for 1/2 a day." "You came highly recommended, but I can get a "Fishin Guide" anywhere in this country for 75 Bucks."

He slammed down the reciever. Those are the kinds of things that get to me, not so much the broken mechanicals.

[XP 590]

Wow, that guy must not have shopped around for the average going rates lately, you know, with the low price of fuel and maintenances and stuff.

I'd love to see what you get for a "$75 Fishin' Guide". A can of worms and directions to the lake?

And you were throwing in the kid for free. Further proof that no good deed goes unpunished.