OMC/Bombardier (Evinrude/Johnson) owners are the best mechanics among all boat owners. By necessity and experience.
Boat Buying Season?
- Thread starter Big Fin
- Start date
Gellar
Well-known member
I concur. I have one. I just bought another one with a bad cylinder because my lower unit went out. so I have parts. I thought they’d be easy to find, but I think a lot of other people had the same thoughts as I did.
I gave Mercury another try in 2013. Rented a boat with a 150HP Optimax for a moose hunt way up on the Kateel River. The guy I rented from wrenched on it the entire way from Galena, down the Yukon, and up the Koyokuk and Kateel, before dropping us off at camp.
The crew was a bit nervous when a man of such mechanical talent was leaving us and they would be in the hands of an accountant to keep that thing running. Little did they know that Ol' Fin's father was a purveyor of Johnson, Evinrude, Spirit, and Chrysler outboards, giving me an outboard mechanical aptitude not normally found among CPAs. I rescued us from disaster three or four times on that trip.
Suffice to say, that did nothing to restore my already shaky comfort with Merc. My best walleye fishing buddy has a 2009 Optimax that runs like a champ, and he fishes more hours than anyone I know.
The crew was a bit nervous when a man of such mechanical talent was leaving us and they would be in the hands of an accountant to keep that thing running. Little did they know that Ol' Fin's father was a purveyor of Johnson, Evinrude, Spirit, and Chrysler outboards, giving me an outboard mechanical aptitude not normally found among CPAs. I rescued us from disaster three or four times on that trip.
Suffice to say, that did nothing to restore my already shaky comfort with Merc. My best walleye fishing buddy has a 2009 Optimax that runs like a champ, and he fishes more hours than anyone I know.
Art Vandeley
Well-known member
Congrats, let’s see a pic of the new vessel
Mrs. Fin says I have an attraction to blue boats. Every boat I've ever owned was blue. Guess old habits die hard.
All of 86 hours on the F300. Same Minnkota I have. Humminbird Solix G3 15" (helm) and 12" (bow).
All of 86 hours on the F300. Same Minnkota I have. Humminbird Solix G3 15" (helm) and 12" (bow).
Southern Elk
Well-known member
recon6036
Well-known member
I’m looking and have been for some time now. I can’t decide between an aluminum fishing boat (Lund, G3 or Crestliner) or a center console for my retirement adventures in Florida.
Either way, it will preferably have a Suzuki or Yamaha outboard.
My wife and I went to the boat show in Green Bay, WI a couple weeks ago and she tried to talk me into a Pontoon boat….not a chance!
Either way, it will preferably have a Suzuki or Yamaha outboard.
My wife and I went to the boat show in Green Bay, WI a couple weeks ago and she tried to talk me into a Pontoon boat….not a chance!
EKYHunter
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- Joined
- Dec 13, 2020
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- 1,389
Congrats on the new boat. I’m a Ranger guy myself. Keep an eye out for stress cracks in the top cap. Lots of guys are having issues with their hulls and other issues. Seems to coincide with JM taking over. Issues are well documented on line. Check out the Ranger Boats section on Bass Boat Central. Hope you and the Mrs. load the boat every time out.
We both know the answer to that... Highly unlikely. Ha.
The first boat I had was a small 16 footer with a 9.9 on it. We have upgraded a time or two to a nicer boat but I honestly don't do all that much better out of a bigger boat. The massive improvements in electronics has helped though.
Obviously bigger boats are more comfy to fish out of and buzz around in so that's a plus. And I'm sure you will enjoy the ride on rough water a lot more in the Ranger.
sneakypete
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- May 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,000
Congrats on the new boat. I just up graded my electronics to Garmin .
Brittany Chukarman
Well-known member
I hope it's as fishy as the old Lund.
Tradewind
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- Aug 19, 2015
- Messages
- 6,512
just put 7 bills into the "switchbox" on my Evinrude the last week of fishing season....after about 4 bills into the steering earlier
in the season. I'm good for a while. I'm sure it will start on the first crank when I put it in for the opener
Randy thinks he got off easy with my boat inspection. Little does he know I have intel when he might be at fort peck boat ramp. I might be standing there with a cooler of beer, 2 sticks of deer summer sausage and a big bottle of sunscreen looking like a homeless person looking for a ride. I have to say, I was curious what X dollars got for a used boat in this level. I mean it's a lot but I am out of touch with reality what these things cost new, holy crap. I fell in love with the thing, it's so sweet. I dig all the LED lighting in all the storage areas and the main touchscreen control panel is sweet. And blue is my color as well. It's a head turner for sure.
David58
Well-known member
Grew up on a lake in Tennessee, we owned a marina. Been almost 45 years since my dad sold the place, am just now getting ready to buy my first boat since then - fishing (especially walleye) is too good up here not to have a boat. But I learned long ago to place no faith in any propulsion for a pleasure boat that isn't a sail or a paddle...always have a kicker motor and a good mechanic at home.
David
Coeur d'Alene
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