DDR

My brother made and installed a bench seat for the back of my boat. And then, in his geniusness (is that a word?), he turned an old office chair into the captains chair and proceeded to mount it to the boat as well.

We got all excited and hit the Columbia River in my 14' 1965 Pipestone Runabout with 1979 Johnson 35hp outboard. We launched by the airport and slowly began our way upstream. For some reason we just could not get up on plane. Then my brother discovered that there was a lot of excess water in the boat.

So, with a cup, he started to empty the boat of water. We don't have a pump for the boat yet. We finally made it onto plane. Yes!

After several miles, we stopped and fished some timber and caught a few smallmouth bass. Then we started up the river again. We went about 1 mile past the Vista House when my brother decided to quit paying attention to the depth gauge and got us on a sandbar. He tried to power out of it with the outboard. Next thing you know it's smokin', and overheatin', and making weird sounds.

So I get him to shut it off and get out and push us into deeper water.

Once we're in deeper water, we get the outboard going again, it's still smokin' but not as bad... then it spits out a huge amount of brown junk and starts running smoothly. At this point we decide we should head back home since it's getting close to sunset.

Wouldn't you know it, we run out of gas.

And we're still taking on water.

So, we pull up to a fishing dock, I climb out with the tank, and hike a mile to get gas in Washington. Luckily they also had 2-stroke oil. Get the gas and oil and make the hike back.

Get going again and we hit a big wake, bounce hard, and the bench seat breaks.

Ahhh, the fun of taking a boat out on a river for the very first time. Thinkin' I'll stick with lakes when it comes to my boat.

Anyway, got the bench fixed and reinforced. Got the hole patched. And now I just need to find public boat ramps in lakes within, preferable, 30 minutes of Portland. And the free'er the cost to launch and park, the better.

Troutski

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Practice C.P.R. (Catch Photograph and Release)

DDR

I'm just hoping the outboard isn't ruined. When I tried to start it up again to get the boat to the trailer (had to wait in line for about 20 minutes), it had lots of trouble starting.

Troutski

I have learned one thing in my life....I leave the internal stuff to the professionals and I take care of the fluids and plugs. I never want to have my engine fail me on the water, and the best way to insure this is for me to keep my hands off of it. My intentions are great its just my finished product is suspect to say the least. Now this is just my opinion, some people can really work some magic on these puppy's... On the other hand - I have never had my engine let me down, starts first pull and runs like a champ. I might have to replace the starter some day, I keep restarting it...it is so quiet I keep starting a running engine... Good luck and my the engine be fine... I keep her picture in my wallet...next to my wife..

Chuck[IMG][/IMG]

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Practice C.P.R. (Catch Photograph and Release)

DDR

Looks like a nice ride. I may need to borrow you and your boat some day.

Troutski

I am just a pm away....

Chuck

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Practice C.P.R. (Catch Photograph and Release)