Completely ready???
Never.

It is fully functional as of now though.


Work is slow so I am off.
And in the barn.

Goal is to have boat (and tow pigg) ready for a trip south if I decide to do so.

Its there.

But, spring is around the corner for us and that is priority.

The wife found/rented us a cottage in Huron for the weekend and we leave in the morning.

Nice and sounds like a good weekend for you.

You guys doing the burning snowman this year?

This weekend instead of the Burning Snowman.
Room rates are jacked up for that weekend too.

W/work being slow, that means so is pay.

You know how it goes.

If you have money you have no time.

If you have time you have no money.

What field are you in Twin?

I sell fences.

In the spring/summer/fall, we can’t stay caught up or cash our commission checks fast enough.

In the winter (in Ohio), not so much.

My first winter with them and misjudged when the slow down would start.

Just reporting in.

Spent our first night of the season, on the boat, last Saturday at Buckeye Lake.

All I can say is…., what a freagin hoot!

The important part is that the boat ran near flawless!!
Still a slight/intermittent surge on the port motor but miles of idling, in gear at 600 rpm and never died!
Including during shifting, around dock (100’s of times), which I really needed/wanted to get my confidence back for using it as a real boat.
Especially in the wind, which was blowing.

2nd most important, the coffee pot/inverter worked, the morning after!

The real focus of this update is for my Ohio Bro’s and Buckeye Lake though.

This is a tiny, shallow, muddy water reservoir.
Who, why take a nice boat there?

Especially you guys w/the bigger boats.

I used to make fun of them!

But…….., it’s one of two (that I know of) state reservoirs in Ohio that has/allows waterfront pubs.

We spent Saturday at “Waterfront” pub, and spent the night on the boat there at their docks.
Not sure they approve of it but we got away w/it.
Id guess if you support the pub while there….

Cool part was the iron that was there!

There was a large, GORGEOUS! Outerlimits
docked just down from us!
A 253 Checkmate right behind us, a 32’ Concept CC w/twin 350R’s etc….

We we’re pulling out Sunday Whalen another large Outerlimits was just putting in!

I was blown away!

Ncest people I have met on water in yrs!

The lakes small enough (6 mls I think) you won’t do much boating but, you’d be hard pressed to have more fun for a day on the water!

Class A ramps, killer pubs on the water, killer houses on the water, multiple private islands w/houses, popular anchorages….

Guys w/go fast boats w/waterfront houses etc.
One w/a 42’ Fountain w/blower motors!

20 yrs ago, I used to go there when I didn’t have the money for a weekend on Lake Erie.

Had more fun, met more nice people, showed more people my boat than I have in 20 yrs on Erie!

And the guys w/the big iron risking it to go there!
Love it!

Thanks guys, I really needed that!


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My baby, after 2 yrs work.
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This thing was docked behind us and was/is STUNNING!
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The wife enjoying her morning coffee.


Again, it’s a small, busy lake but…, the fun factor is huge!
Its close for a lot of us and w/gas where it is, it makes a great, cheap alternative.

That being said, Lake Erie late next month and I pick up a pair of 28” Choppers Saturday.

My next door neighbor just bought a Searay cuddy and needs practice backing.
I figure w/his help, a 1/2 day at the local pond and I should get through all 6 sets of wheels I have to test.

Yee Fkg ha does this feel good!

Buckeye lake is fun and close for us. People are always saying to me, "you run that thing out there"?

Buckeye lake is fun. Camped and rented pontoon there once when we were trying to find a central meeting point for my Michigan and Illinois friends.

We always kept it quiet so it didn’t get too overcrowded, which it is now.

It is shallow and has a bad reputation accordingly.
We nod agreeingly when quizzed by other local boaters.

It has a ton of history and also many canals and bays to explore compared to most square, sterile, state owned lakes.

Rumor is, yrs ago, Eric Clapton met/married a Columbus girl and bought an island getaway there.

As old as it is, it’s common to see old rigs plowing its waters.
Many old varnished mahogany boats hidden in deteriorating boat houses.

Used to be a stopover during the Ohio Canal days too.

For J Bonz.

Had another very successful weekend on the boat, on the big lake.

Got a dock at the Huron Boat Basin, Huron Ohio.

Chose there based on ****ty weather forecast.

Next door neighbor joined us w/their 22’ Searay cuddy.

Got in Fri afternoon in time to settle in before heading out on the Huron River boardwalk bar tour.

Great food, great band, great friends!

Anyone looking to play up there, w/o going to the islands, Huron is class A!

First 1/2 of Sat was best bet for boating weather.
Neighbors elected to ride w/us, so first time on the big lake w/92 gls gas and 4 adult aboard!

Boat ran, behaved great!
Still coming to terms w/tab settings bellow 40.
VERY, very sensitive!

Also learned that dropping the Jack plates is mandatory for docking in wind!

My theory of wife being OK w/me lettin it of its leash w/her in backseat was debunked when she smacked me in the back when trying to set up to fly it through 2’ chop!

Motors are both still rich at idle and need more tuning and port motor wasn’t keeping up w/starboard the short time I’d get to let er eat.

W/so many changes each time, it is hard to learn much.

Want to start prop testing but that would be worthless until both motors are happy.

May try and get some Gary time and head to the local pond w/my jet kit and test wheel one day after work.


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Thx Joe. You did that! And no, that wasn’t at the dock!
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