The 5HP Briggs & Stratton is a terrible moter. I owned one. It is a cheap dinasaur compared to other outboards. It is extremely noisy. I constantly had problems with it. In the first year, the lower unit broke and I was left me high and dry when cruising around Isle Royale in Lake Superior. ~Mark

Looks like a beautiful area. Did you trailer up there and sail on Superior :?: I know u saw a lot, just hope you stayed long enough to really enjoy it. Allan I had a Mac for a number of years but only own a power boat now. We toured by power boat I trailered the boat up there. There're boat tours. ...

I just returned from a boating trip to the Pictured Rocks in Michican. It is the most beautiful piece of shoreline I have ever seen. Just as you think there could be nothing better, something else appears - beautiful rocks, water falls, rivers, sand dunes. I couldn't believe it. :o My Photos These W...

Nice job!

Never thought of using the combination of fiberglass and foam board in that way. Must be very light.

Mark

I bent PVC pipe over the boom and cover them with tarps.

Best of luck with a 115. I had a 115 hp Suzuki on my boat. The first attempt at transom repair ended up with a cracked transom. I then had it reinforced inside and out with transom plates and fiberglass "knees."

Mark

What is it?

In early April of this year we chartered a boat at Plantation Key and sailed to Hawk's Cay Marina in Duck Key. We mostly sailed Florida Bay. It was a very nice trip. I recommend this book:

Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys.

Sloop,

I know we don't really know each other except on this board but I feel we're good friends. I am very sorry for your loss. I too feel privlidged that you're sharing it with us. You and your brother enjoy that boat before it is sold.

Your friend,
Mark Prouty

Lake Charlevoix is beautiful, connects directly to Lake Michigan and has a marina. http://www.charlevoix.org/library/index.asp

DAVEWVU86 wrote:

.....................................

Ron wrote: Now my question is what happened to the gear oil?

No plastic washer used on one of the fill, vent or overflow screws.

I just replaced the impellor after 10 years. The thing must have pumped tons of sand and doesn't look much worse for the wear. Really held-up over the years.

Keep all lighting to a minimum. Don't use a spotlight unless absolutely necessary. You can see much better when your eyes adjust to the dark rather than when using a spotlight.

Why did the transom need repair.

On a weak transom, hitting a rock with the propellor can cause considerable damage that is expensive to repair. I can't see the fiberglass weave well from the inside transom view in the photos but but it looks very loose.

-Mark