Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Thanks to Wichita Marine for Sponsoring My Vessel !
Got the mast and flag up! I have put in the Lexan windows, but took them back out when it got pretty warm.
Also was the lead boat in the Riverfest Flotilla back in May, which had a total of eight boats all lighted up with Christmas lights and stuff. . Not a great pic but one my son took with his cell phone.
Thanks for Wichita Marine for sponsoring my boat by donating the steering system. I really appreciate it!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Going Out To The Lake for the First Time This Year!!
Tomorrow, I will be taking Lil Bump back to the lake after a long winter!
I did replace the trailer bearings and seals with new ones as the old ones had rusted completely. I could not believe how bad they were in just three months! I had only taken it out one time since putting new grease inside, but I guess I should have did it before letting it set for the winter! Lesson learned! Those original bearings were from Harbor Freight with the trailer. Just saying......
I also bought Bearing Buddies to put on the hubs so that SHOULD be a thing of the past, as long as I make sure they are good and full of marine greasebefore putting it in the water.
I have also cut out the windows for the boat, but haven't drilled the holes and mounted them yet. I will see what it is like tomorrow and then decide whether to put them on or not. I went all out and bought .085" Lexan for them, as they should last nearly forever. There is a 10 year warranty against yellowing or anything. We will see. That was a pretty penny for the Lexan, nearly $70.00 for a 36" by 48", and you have to set the window frames up just right to make them fit, but they did!
I am also working on the mast to hold the flag and the base where it will attach on the top of the cabin roof. I will varnish the mast after staining it, then mount it. I haven't really figured out the best way to mount it on the roof, other than a block of wood with a hole the size of the mast, and maybe a screw or bolt to hold it down. I will figure it out when I get there.
More pics to come soon!
I did replace the trailer bearings and seals with new ones as the old ones had rusted completely. I could not believe how bad they were in just three months! I had only taken it out one time since putting new grease inside, but I guess I should have did it before letting it set for the winter! Lesson learned! Those original bearings were from Harbor Freight with the trailer. Just saying......
I also bought Bearing Buddies to put on the hubs so that SHOULD be a thing of the past, as long as I make sure they are good and full of marine greasebefore putting it in the water.
I have also cut out the windows for the boat, but haven't drilled the holes and mounted them yet. I will see what it is like tomorrow and then decide whether to put them on or not. I went all out and bought .085" Lexan for them, as they should last nearly forever. There is a 10 year warranty against yellowing or anything. We will see. That was a pretty penny for the Lexan, nearly $70.00 for a 36" by 48", and you have to set the window frames up just right to make them fit, but they did!
I am also working on the mast to hold the flag and the base where it will attach on the top of the cabin roof. I will varnish the mast after staining it, then mount it. I haven't really figured out the best way to mount it on the roof, other than a block of wood with a hole the size of the mast, and maybe a screw or bolt to hold it down. I will figure it out when I get there.
More pics to come soon!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
A Day At The Lake !
Yesterday, I went to the lake for about 5 hours or so and just cruised around and swam for awhile. It was so great to just hang out in the water for the day! You can't beat it!
Most of the time I just went to the middle of the lake and turned the motor off and floated around. It was 105 degrees F but didn't feel like it while in the water, but I sure felt it as soon as we went back to the boat ramp!! Crazy Heat!!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Gone Fishin'...... Seven Times Out!
Today, I went to Marion Reservoir for the second time in a week, making this the seventh time out in my Lil Bump!!
I caught my limit on wipers with 5 total and caught two walleye that were right at the limit. I let the walleye continue for another day..
The other day when I went to Marion, I caught 4 wipers but let them all go back in for another day.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Five Times Out!
Well, I have had Lil Bump out five times now. Four times at Cheney Lake and the launch at my brother's little lake.
Yesterday, I took it out real early because there was calm winds and smooth water. I did a GPS speed reading and it would top out at 30 MPH no matter where I set the motor trim. Not bad, but I thought it would go a little higher! Really nice on smooth water too! It will zip right along with no slap on the bottom.
Did a little fishing too. Trolled for a few hours everywhere along the lake with no success. I then went up to the dam and was casting a fake minnow and caught one large white crappie. That was it for about five hours of fishing.
Byron showed up with his jet ski and his friends.
No photos.
Yesterday, I took it out real early because there was calm winds and smooth water. I did a GPS speed reading and it would top out at 30 MPH no matter where I set the motor trim. Not bad, but I thought it would go a little higher! Really nice on smooth water too! It will zip right along with no slap on the bottom.
Did a little fishing too. Trolled for a few hours everywhere along the lake with no success. I then went up to the dam and was casting a fake minnow and caught one large white crappie. That was it for about five hours of fishing.
Byron showed up with his jet ski and his friends.
No photos.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
One Man Vintage Boat Show!
On July 7th, 2012, Selena and I went to Kanopolis Lake, KS for a Vintage Boat Show. I was going to take my boat, but thought again and decided against it right before we left. I am glad we didn't take it.
It is about one and one-half hour drive each way, and when we got there, there was one guy with four of his boats he had either built or restored. He also builds model boats (Radio control) and had a couple of those there as well. Nobody else showed up to show their boats!
He (Darrell) was very talented and here are a few pictures of his stuff. He wanted me to help start a Wooden Boat Show in the Kansas area, but I don't know if I am up for that.
His boats were a 1959 Cutter Cruiser, a 1959 Lone Star El Dorado, a 1974 (?) Starcraft Del Rey and a wooden boat he built.
The models were a Chris Craft and I am not sure of the other one although it may be a Chris Craft too. The smaller model had an Evinrude model motor that actually ran! He also built a marina model that was totally cool. I should have taken more photos of his models and stuff. Unbelievable detail!!
Daddy-Daughter Day Out!
On July 6th, 2012, I took my daughter, Selena, out for the first time on the boat as she wasn't able to make it on the 4th for the launch.
We went to Cheney Lake, a lake about 25 miles west of Wichita, KS. It was quite windy at first but the winds slowly died down to a normal 15 mph or so and it was pretty nice. Most of the time we stayed on the south-west shore line area, but did venture completely across the lake once to check and see if one of my boys was at Mr. D's cove. But he wasn't and when we got there, I ran aground more than 100 yards from shore!! The cove and the entire lake is down more than 5 feet at this time! I quickly shut off the motor and got out and pushed the boat until I was at least waist deep before getting out of that cove.
We spent the day just hanging out on the boat with the breeze coming through, and it is SOOO great to have shade from the cabin when you are out there!
I also did a GPS speed check on the boat, but it was in pretty rough water and against the wind, and I clocked right at 27 mph. I am pretty sure it will do about 30 to 33 mph on smooth water and no wind after I get it trimmed out.
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