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There was a lot going on this week. John Olcalzo, of Sarasota, took his friends and customers Russ Arpasi and Rick McCormic of Ft. Myers, out on a BarHopp'R trip. This trip will have some sentimental value because it was the last trip ever on the old Johnson 110. West and Central Florida were under rain or the threat of rain nearly all week. This was a dark, cloudy, breezy day, but we didn't get wet.
Most of the local guides are getting their bait at the Sanibel Causeway, now, but I hate that bridge. The current is usually around 6 knots, and you have to throw right next to the barnacle encrusted pilings to get your bait. The bridge eats a lot of expensive castnets. I'll avoid the causeway whenever possible. When I do fish the bridge, I usually have one of my customers do the boat handling while I throw the net. It's a lot less dangerous.
We started at the causeway this morning, but after a dozen or more throws yielding about a dozen shiners, and with John having trouble handling the boat in the current and wind, I decided to go and try to find bait on the flats. It didn't take long to find them near the York Island Cut. We had them chummed up in no time and were off fishing.
We had a weak tide for this trip, with less than a foot of movement over a six hour tide. The water was also super clear, which although beautiful, can make it difficult to get close enough to the fish to catch them.
Although the snook and reds played hard to get, the trout did cooperate. We weren't trout fishing, mind you. The trout were hanging in what are customarily snook and red holes. They were big trout! The biggest trout I've seen in years. Just beautiful fish with lots of fight. John, Russ, and Rick ended the day with 2 redfish, 1 snook, and 30 or more big trout. We had a great time.
The following day the boat took a trip to Venice, to have a new engine mounted. I bought a freshly rebuilt Yamaha 150 HP V-6 from my old friend Craig Wildasin at Outboard Motor Connection. I've got to tell you about this guy. His business is buying, restoring/rebuilding used outboard motors, and then selling them.
I really hate to say this, and don't mean to sound negative, but sometimes the truth hurts. The truth is that there are a lot of scoundrels in the used outboard motor business. But Craig, whom I've known for 6 or more years, now, and from whom I've now purchased three engines, is like a bright star shining on a cloudy night. He's great. He's honest, hard working, always smiling, and treats his customers great. His motors carry a six month warranty, including a three month unconditional warranty, and a 3 month labor only warranty. He builds a great motor. If you're in need of an outboard, don't buy new, buy an Outboard Motor Connection Rebuilt. I wouldn't think of going anywhere else as long as Craig is around.
Well, Craig needed two days to do the mounting and rigging. Going from a Johnson to a Yamaha it was necessary to change all the controls, instruments, ignition switch, and four wiring harnesses. Craig and crew were done ahead of schedule, and I was ready for the four hour idle speed only break-in run the next day.
The Yamaha weights in at around 400 pounds. I gained about 90 pounds in the motor swap. But I figure I lost twice that in the upgrade to the Hawker dry cell Trolling Thunder batteries I bought from my friend Craig Smith at Smith Marine.
The next morning I took a couple of rods, some pompano jigs, sea rats and hoped that I could get the required four hours on the motor before the approaching rain and thunderstorms arrived. I just puttered around in Sarasota Bay watching the skies. I didn't want to get to far away from home with storms threatening, so I stayed on the Middlegrounds and tossed an occasional jig, and even caught a few fish. But by around noon the flash of lightning and rumble of thunder signaled that the break-in period was over. I left the water amazed at how quiet the Yamaha is, and wondering if I was propped correctly. I wouldn't know until the next day's charter.
It rained into the night. My party, Gordon Brinker, of Michigan, called and said they wanted to fish regardless! I woke up around midnight to the sound of thunder, and figured tomorrow would be a long nasty day. It was raining when I got up at four, rained all the way to Ft. Myers, and rained on us all day. Fortunately it was fairly mild, or we would have frozen to death. But, Gordon and his buddies Bill and Lee were great sports, and a lot of fun, and we made the worst of a bad situation.
It was the night of the full moon and the fish had full bellies. The wind had switched around to the northeast overnight, and it rained all day. But you know what? We caught some fish. The boys got one redfish, 4 snook, and 30 or more nice trout, a big flounder, and several jacks until the bite quit right about when I said it would because the water quit moving. Of course, by that time we were all starting to feel the effects of being soaking wet all day, and were starting with the uncontrollable body trembles.
The real treat for me was how the boat performed. I was amazed at how a different engine with more power could change the whole character, feel, and manners of a boat. For the first time, I could actually carry on a conversation with the guys in front while cruising along. It's quiet! To my great surprise, the ride is much improved. I guess this is so because the Yamaha is spinning a larger diameter prop with much wider blades. I think it's a matter of keeping the nose up when the water drops away from the hull. Now the nose doesn't drop. Craig proped the motor with a 17 pitch stainless wheel, but figured it would probably need a 19. The 17 gives the BarHopp'R a vicious hole shot, even with 4 aboard and full wells, and at 3000 RPM is running faster than the old 110 was at nearly 5000 RPM! I took it to 4200 RPM one time on the way in, and at that point we were shooting right along. I would guess I now have a top speed around 65. What a difference. I really don't think we need to change the prop. It feels great. Fuel consumption for the break-in and full day charter didn't seem to be any greater than with the 110.
So, it looks like I'm all set for the upcoming busy season. The old Johnson, although still running perfectly, was getting a little tired. I wanted to avoid the possibility of engine failure related down time during our busiest season, and thus, the new motor. It was kind of like when I changed to Windows 95. If I had known how much faster everything was going to run in 95, I would have changed long ago. If I had known how much better the boat would perform with a few more horses pushing things along, I would have made the switch long ago.
Well, that's it for this week. My boat and I had an early Christmas.
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