Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Let the trumpets trumpet, let the drums beat, let the cannons shoot, the Cuda Count is officially over. At 2:35 pm, Outlaw idled away from the dock at the Nokomis boat ramp.

I brought the digital camera but the memory stick got left in the computer where Deb was downloading some pix this morning (I think she sabatoged me). So you'll have to take my word for it. But it was on the water. Here's the rundown:

IT WAS GREAT.....Motors fired right off and away I went. Only two other small trailers at the Nokomis ramp. Weather was partly sunny, windy, and cold, although it warmed up by around 3:30 a little. Didn't run it hard just let it run and get used to being on the water again. I cruised up to Sarasota (ran inside the whole way, Gulf was rough as hell) cruised through the Hyatt and Marina Jacks and back down to the ramp. Went by myself and launching by yourself at Nokomis is a bit of a PITA. Not like 10th st. where it's easy. Anyway boat ran flawlessly. Not having a working drive indicator cable on the starboard drive sucked, but I did not run the boat hard.

Impressions: Boy does it sound different. You really notice it going under the bridges or in areas where the sound bounces back to you. It's cool looking back and watching the water hose out the new tips. Only ran it up to 4 grand a couple of times, otherwise stayed around 32/3300 rpms, besides all the idling through the slow speed zones and even that was just killer listening to the new sound. What a friggin difference. From site line when it was tied to the dock, it appeared the drive gimbals were maybe an inch higher out of the water. Remember I lost over 400 lbs. directly over the props switching the exhaust and dropping the silent thunder box. It felt stronger running from say around 2,800 rpms to 4,000 without having to throttle harder, just seemed to run up easier and faster. I'll know better next time out but I don't think there's any doubt I picked up some power and speed. Next time when I try a WOT I think I'm gonna have picked up 3 mph. Checked the non water flowing spacers and while they were definitely hotter, I don't think it's anything to worry about. When I got back to the dock and shut it down, by the time I was loaded up and ready to drive home, maybe half an hour, the spacers seemed to be as cool as the risers. That aluminum billet must transfer heat really well. I could not tell any difference on all four. Only saw seven other boats out, five of them fishing. And for today, I was the loudest boat on the water, at least what I saw. Probably last time that happens. :D

Anyway, all the hassle, money, getting bit(hed at by my wife, everything, it was all MORE THAN WORTH IT. Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way.

OUTLAW IS BACK WITH A ROAR.......:D :D


Won't be getting any more chit from the Cooderman about "I thought your silent choice was on".

It feels great.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Uh oh, I guess I'm on the clock now! :eek:

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

I have to credit you back one day.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

You must be pumped. It's amazing how all the trials and tribulations always seem worth it when you get out on the water. :drink:

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

What do you think boys? Should I take his word for it, even though we don't have any documented proof? After all, he looks shady, and check out the riff raff he hangs out with.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Even without pics for proof, I'll say congrats to you. One of the kids borrowed my digi cam and moved the memory card off of it. Then they couldn't figure out why it didn't work. So I will consider your "excuse" for no pics as valid. :D

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Damn, Cuda- you did it again- you snuck 4 posts in while I was typing! :eek:

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

You ain't lyin' Joe, you ain't lyin. Idling back through that long slow speed zone parallel with Siesta Key, I just sat there listening, steering, and thinking of how much work I've actually put into her. I couldn't even begin to count the hours. Between the exhaust, silent thunder box removal, patching the holes, rewiring the trailer, installing the new Racorp units, and all the things I can't remember, I'll bet it's got to be over 200 hours anyway maybe 300.

But man you're right, it was more than worth it.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

I hope to experience that same feeling soon. Now I HAVE to get on it, I couldn't take the abuse for a year! :drink:

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

I'll say I look "shady", that's the SOS Poker Run and the very beginning of my kidney stone ordeal, day after the FIRST surgery. I'm on some wicked pain killers there. (and there is a possibility that I took one too many :D :D). That whole weekend is just bits and pieces now.

And that character to my left is bit(hing like hell about all the time he spends in a bilge and he'll NEVER buy another Big Block. Or he was telling the story about "the swing". Or when his stepson (I think anyway, hard to remember) walked in on him. He is DEFINITELY shady....:D :D

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Abuse, what abuse, it was just "constructive encouragement"...:D

No need to rush, you've got 342 days to catch me. :D :D

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

What I'm afraid of, is I'm going to turn it into another Outlaw episode. The last time I worked on it, I had to lift the hatch with the actuator because the hinge is coming loose on the sun deck. I may remove the entire hatch and redo it. Sounds kind of like removing the Silent Thunder doesn't it? :(

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

I CALL FOUL !!!!
Todd & I went cruising on the Bullet today...Didnt see you anywetre !!!!!???????? :D :D

Congrats Russ !!!.....Hope we can run together soon

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

What gets scarey is how easy it is that fixing one problem leads to fixing a whole bunch of problems or fixing things you know that will need fixing sooner rather than later. That's what happened with Outlaw, one thing led to ten. One month turned into 12 plus.

You gonna put scoops in the new "lid"...

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

I didn't see you either and after looking at that Bullet at least a hundred times from the photos here on OSO, I'd know that boat half a mile away. Where were you guys cruising?
I only saw seven other boats out today and five were fishing. You guys see many?? Guess you have to be "hardcore" to be out today. :D Guess I had the second loudest boat out today.:D

I was up near the Ringling Causeway area around 3:30/3:45. You guys run outside at all, I checked it out this morning at the Venice Jetties and it looked rough as hell. This was around ten am or so, few hours before I put the boat in.

Looking forward to running with you, just go slow enough so I can keep up, or throw me a line...:D

Like I said, I had fun today just idling down that long slow speed zone that goes by Siesta Key. Just wish I'd had the memory stick for the camera.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Wanna put my old Silent Thunder on your boat??? :D :D :D :D
You could REALLY make a project out of it....

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

congrats Russ, now if it would warm up here I'd be out...winter sucks...Rob

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Thanks guys.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Congrats P.I.T.A.M.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Awsome way to go!!!! :D:D

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Ahhhh, thank you "GM".

You too Jon.

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

Good work on ending your count CUDA!!

You need pictures next time though :)

Re: Cuda Count is Over....(after 379 days)
 

FINALLY :eek:


Congrats!!