BoatBuildingOnline.com

Calico · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

She's getting better and better! The motor looks great on there and over 40mph is good for the first time out. I bet it will go faster (if you want...). I see that Merc has thumbscrews on the clamp, please tell us you also bolted the motor to the transom.

The easiest way to improve fuel economy is to pull back on the throttle. Big two strokes are thirsty but there is usually a range where you will find better economy where your hull is running good and the engine isn't working too hard to keep it there. You can hear and feel it usually when the boat is kind of coasting along. My Baja, the closest thing I can compare to your boat cruised nice at about 40-45mph at around 2/3 throttle and was good on gas in that range, but it would do over 50mph at WOT. In a boat speed equals efficiency so working on your setup to make the boat faster will also result in making it more efficient at a given speed. If you are setup to go 41mph at WOT right now but play with trim angle, engine height and setback, and experiment with props to squeeze 50mph at WOT then your boat will be much more efficient just cruising around at 41mph again at 2/3 throttle. Balancing the hull is very important. Bring something heavy with you next time and run the boat with the weight in the bow and then with the weight in the stern and see the difference on the GPS and feel it in your seat.

Enough blabbering, love the boat, need to see more Very Happy

_________________
Strange but not a Stranger

Wet-Willy · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject:

Merc_Nut · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject:

Nice job.

Watch the rpm @ wot. Get a tach hooked up if not already done so. Keep the rpm below 5500 to 5700.

Using that vented 21P prop?

Sorry 'bout the idling issue. Been sitting for a while. Who needs to idle anyways...its a Merc. You just need an on/off switch. Throttles are optional. WOT or bust... lol

Looks good on that boat.

Wet-Willy · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:17 am Post subject:

Yep,I'm usung the vented prop.She vented out twice on the first run out of the hole.After that it worked perfectly.

Don't have a tach yet.My fun funding has run too low.But it is a planned item.(I have to get back to work soon)

The idling problem could be my fault.I had put too much oil in the mix(probably closer to 40:1,maybe even 35:1).Safer for the engine,but hurts performance if I remember right.
_________________
"If the women don't find you handsome,they should at least find you handy."

Wet-Willy · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

Yesterday was rather nice weather(+12c,broken clouds),so i decided to give Winder one last rip with the 1150 before calling it a season.Packed up the wife and kids,hooked up the boat and headed to the lake.

On the water all went great.The old Merc howled along smoothly,the family was having a ball,all couldn't have been better.Until......

In the middle of the lake we got slammed hard by a freak HAILSTORM!The kids hid under a blanket and my wife hid her head in her hoodie,leaving me cruising at 40MPH head on through the onslaught,with nothing but my sunglasses for protection.

It only lasted a few minutes,but we all looked like we had jumped overboard.Sadly,we had one casualty.My digital camera got flooded,shorting it out and losing all the pics we had taken.

One major winter upgrade to Winder,waterproof storage.
_________________
"If the women don't find you handsome,they should at least find you handy."

Merc_Nut · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

Glad to hear its running well for you. Sorry to hear of the weather mishaps. You've got big balls to be boating up there this late in the season. My touque goes off to you!

Calico · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

Now there's a story to tell! Does your family still want to go boating with you??? The weather's been nasty here lately, you must be getting some pretty cold weather by now.

I at least bring along a ziplock freezer bag for my camera and phone. I also have a couple of small Sealine bags for when I know I'm getting wet like camping/canoeing trips or fishing in rotten weather etc. Those are nice because they can be clipped to a lanyard and attached to the boat and are really tough. I usually close the Sealine up with a lot of air inside so it would float high if it went into the drink.

Maybe your memory card is OK and just the camera got fried??
_________________
Strange but not a Stranger

Wet-Willy · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:19 pm Post subject:

Oh ya.My kids still bug to go boating.We're watching day to day for the last of the good weather.Thursday is looking pretty good sofar.May even try the Vermillion river rather than the usual Ramsey Lake.

Turned out that the camera shorted out,but worked fine again once dry.Most of the pics were lost,probably from a water induced reset.But that's ok.We may still have time to get more.

Too cold?Nah.It's only too cold when the water starts to freeze in the motor. Shocked

_________________
"If the women don't find you handsome,they should at least find you handy."

Calico · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

Ha ha yea. Be sure and change the LU oil before freezup in case there's any water in it. The motor should drain itself when it's tilted all the way down. I usually tilt mine up and down a couple of times until no more water runs out the exhaust. Good thing the family enjoys boating otherwise it's no fun at all.
_________________
Strange but not a Stranger

Wet-Willy · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

Last trip in Winder this year.

Ok.Must be something with that other pic I tried to post.Not sure why. Confused

_________________
"If the women don't find you handsome,they should at least find you handy."

Wimperdink · Swabby Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 2328

Calico · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject:

Yea that looks cold, even colder when you get moving. Nice looking boat for sure. It looks like a perfect fit for the family too Smile

_________________
Strange but not a Stranger

Merc_Nut · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject:

Boat (and motor, of course) look awesome Willy. So happy you have made good use of it this late in the season.

We just got back from a camping trip, which was a bit soggy but no white precipitation. Kids had a blast, all in costumes for a campground Halloween.

All the best to you and yours. I may be up your way in a few weeks .... I'd ask for a boat ride, but who the hell boats this late in the season ! ....lmao You must be more Canadian than I am.

Cheers

Wet-Willy · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject:

Let me know when you come up.I'll make sure there's a fresh pot of homemade pasta ready. Razz

Oh.And it's not that I'm more Canadian,just too hard headed to let go of the season.(I'm still watching for oprotunities to go boating.I know,I'm pathetic.LOL)
_________________
"If the women don't find you handsome,they should at least find you handy."

Calico · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

Pathetic? You're my hero Mr. Green

_________________
Strange but not a Stranger

Wet-Willy · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject:

Then you'll love this.I'm back working again and have this coming weekend off.And sofar it looks like this sunday will be sunny with a high of 7c.I'm thinking boat ride time. Razz

_________________
"If the women don't find you handsome,they should at least find you handy."

Calico · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject:

Get yourself some of those reflective heat blankets to keep in the boat just in case someone does fall in or get chilled out there. They're small enough and cheap enough to have a couple in every vehicle, especially around cold water. Be careful, have fun. No way I'm getting my wife on a boat in November unless it's within a few hundred miles of the Equator Mr. Green

_________________
Strange but not a Stranger

Merc_Nut · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:23 am Post subject:

Good luck with the boat ride! I've been on fishing trips north of there this time of year. The water has a bite to it to say the least Smile

I'm going camping instead.

Cheers