Last season I decided to upgrade my outboard on the duck boat. So I purchased a new electric start 30hp Tohatsu 2 stroke motor. ( at 72 I found my shoulder couldnt take the constant pull starting required while hunting)
Took the boat to a boat builder 'friend' after opening weekend in May, with instructions to upgrade and strengthen the transom. Despite an assurance that it would only take a week, I didnt get the boat back until October. I also bought a 'Bobs Machine Shop trim and tilt bracket so I didnt have to struggle lift the outboard when in shallow water ( again to save my shoulder.........getting old sucks, but its better than the alternative)
I also bought a fancy chart plotter and sonar unit and wired that in.
2 weeks ago I took the whole rig out on the harbour ( in light trim ie without all the normal duck shooting gear) for a test run. Electric start is the bees knees......Ist press of the starter and I was off. Ran the boat up and down in the river and played with the trim unit to make sure everything worked properly, then headed out into the harbour to see what it was capable of.
As I exited the river mouth I opened the throttle wide and slowly trimmed the motor up until there was only about 2 feet of the stern and the outboard in the water.....and noted that the boat had never travelled so fast. Channel markers flew past as a blur......
Came to a dogleg in the channel and started to make an easy wide turn..... The outboard immediately broke water and cavitated and spun the boat through 90 degrees almost throwing me out!!!! Scared the crap out of me. Luckily I had the safety cord attached to my wrist which killed the motor immediately and all I got was soaked when the boat 'broached'
Exciting, exhilarating, and bloody scary!!
Spent the next 30 minutes experimenting with different settings and came to the conclusion that outboard was mounted too high by about 2 inches.
Headed back to the ramp, trailered the boat and drove across to Marks to lower the motor. Had to remove the bolts holding the outboard on and ended up relaunching the boat with only the outboard clamps holding it on the transom.......used the anchor rope to tie the outboard to the boat in case it slipped on the clamps and took it for another run......rode much better but was still 'tender' at full throttle.
Gps recorded a maximum speed of 35.2 knots.......(just on 40mph)
Headed home to do some modifications.
Have now bolted the outboard 3" lower, moved the tank forward by about 6 feet, and finished setting the boat up as a fishing machine for the summer, made a waterproof case for the GPS/Sonar and fixed a small leak that I had to cut part of the seat out to get to.
Here are a few pics.
the trim and tilt bracket...
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Got a phone call from the marine supplier I bought the chart plotter off..........told me I had a rewards voucher for over $200.... so I selected a new rod and reel plus braid and a landing net. (Like I needed another rod and reel to go with the other 9 0r 10 I already have lol)
Eat your heart out BH!!! There is no way you are going to ever win the speed race next May!!
