Launching tomorrow!

[22E6441]

I'm very excited...launching tomorrow in Hamilton Harbour.

I hope my boat floats.
I hope my boat runs...rather...drives....I know it runs.

My new seats are in.

Basic wiring is done...horn, lights.

I'm going to fill a gas can on my way home, then prep the boat for launch tomorrow.

I still need to do a lot of work to my boat (deck, etc), but it is now launchable....so time to go!

[This_lil_fishy]

Watch yerself, they changed the weather forcast for us southern ontario folks. Winds predicted at 35km/hr and a chance of thunderstorms. Not great conditions on Lake Ontario. I am picking my boat up at 2pm at Dewildt Honda in Hamilton tommorow. Where do you plan on launching from?

I was planning on running back up to Fergus for Belwood which is a very sheltered little lake, that I can learn the ropes on the new boat before getting into the big lake.

Ian

[204 Escape]

GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!! Enjoy !!!!!!!!!

[22E6441]

Watch yerself, they changed the weather forcast for us southern ontario folks. Winds predicted at 35km/hr and a chance of thunderstorms. Not great conditions on Lake Ontario. I am picking my boat up at 2pm at Dewildt Honda in Hamilton tommorow. Where do you plan on launching from?

I was planning on running back up to Fergus for Belwood which is a very sheltered little lake, that I can learn the ropes on the new boat before getting into the big lake.

Ian

Weather Network still looks good....I've got my fingers crossed.

I'm planning on launching from Bayfront Park. I just want to toot around the Harbour a bit...not into the big lake or anything. here's a link to a thread about Hamilton Harbour. http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topics-questions-not-engine-topics/hamilton-harbour-boat-launch-303841.html

I'd love to launch into the Grand River in Caledonia, but I don't think my usual launch spot is open yet and I think there is still too much debris in the river.

[This_lil_fishy]

I'll look that up..maybe I'll see you there. If you see a black/white glastron towed by a black/gold F150 and a tall funny looking bone rack driving, stop and say hi!

I don't know many local launches that way, so thanks for the tip. I'll be watching the weather before making a decision on where to launch the new boat. I may just go to belwood as I familiar with the waters there...so less guess work and more learning the boat.


Edit: How do you get to that launch, the map in the link just shows the bay itself.


Ian

[22E6441]

Easy to get to....Bayfront Park is near the bottom of Bay Street. Bay Street crosses both King and Main Streets, so no matter which way you're going across the city you'll come by Bay Street. Go North on Bay...towards the lake...keep going until you see Bayfront park on your left. Head into the park and follow the road all the way down and to the left and you'll see it.

Likewise...if you see a silver Grand Caravan with a confused looking dark haired guy with two screaming boys and an annoyed looking wife holding up traffic at the ramp....that'll probably be me.

[This_lil_fishy]

Easy to get to....Bayfront Park is near the bottom of Bay Street. Bay Street crosses both King and Main Streets, so no matter which way you're going across the city you'll come by Bay Street. Go North on Bay...towards the lake...keep going until you see Bayfront park on your left. Head into the park and follow the road all the way down and to the left and you'll see it.

Likewise...if you see a silver Grand Caravan with a confused looking dark haired guy with two screaming boys and an annoyed looking wife holding up traffic at the ramp....that'll probably be me.

Hehe...will do.

[Nico2112]

Nice boat you're launching

The launching site is beautiful!

Good luck and have fun.

Cheers!

[5150abf]

Learn from my first trip and make sure your engine runs before you launch.

I had everything else ready but never test fired the motor and I had a leak in a gas hose by the carb that could have ended in a big boom, almost ran so I kept it going thinking it was loaded up, after a couple minutes I pop the cowl only to find a puddle of gas in the engine.

Got it fixxed and got out but it was a real pain doing it at the launch instead of in the garage with all my tools.

[22E6441]

My engine runs great, and I'll start it on muffs before I go. I've just never had it in the water....when I put it in gear I don't know what will happen. I'm assuming that the boat will go! It does run perfect.

My local forecast has deteriorated since I posted. It's now calling fro thunder storms........

Launch tomorrow is now doubtful.

[Nico2112]

Bummer

Anyway, it's better that you wait for a better forecast than to risk yourself on those conditions

[5150abf]

It will come, you've waited this long....ya that really doesn't work does it.

Just noticed your boat, Stuerys used to be built about 5 miles from my house, nice little boats, still see quite a few around this area.

Yours looks outstanding for a 34 year old boat.

[This_lil_fishy]

Yeah it sucks, looks like I'm going to go to belwood after all. Even if the weather turns real bad, I can dock there and wait it out. It's a very sheltered little lake (overgrown pond) so that'll do. We'll see what the afternoon brings. Pretty nice right now...but that changes pretty quick around here.


Ian

[windsors03cobra]

I was also hoping to head out again today, but the thunderstorms are going to be here in a couple of hours. Oh well guess I'll put the boat away for the weekend.

[75TowerOfPower]

Don't forget the plug, I know you know but don't forget it

[This_lil_fishy]

If you go south the weather is supposed to hold. I was thinking of heading to crystal beach, does anyone know if Chippawa is large enough for a 20 footer? The site just says small boats...but what IS a small boat?

Ian

[22E6441]

Success! Launched at Bayfront Park at about 12:30, stayed out till about 2:30. Had a fun little toot around the bayfront / cootes area, looked at some giant tankers, threw out a few casts......got a bit of sun.....good day out.

The wind really started to pick up as I was coming back in.....mother nature just wanted to mess me up trying to retrieve my boat I guess. It was challenging, but I got her on the trailer and made a few other people look silly. Because of the wind, I didn't bother trying to drive on. I just used my bow and stern ropes and walked along the dock pulling the boat....pulled it onto the trailer, then winched it up. Slam dunk. I think some other people thought I was a genius because it was so easy that way.

The boat ran great. Four of us in the boat and hit 30 mph, so I'm happy with that. The water was fairly choppy, and there was a lot of wind too.....which I could only seem to drive in to.

My Johnson 50 has way more pep than the old chrysler 35, and gets to speed sooooooo much quicker.

Anyhow...here's a few pics.

[This_lil_fishy]

Congrats Pat! I missed the good weather, got to Dewildt at about 2pm, left with the new boat in tow at abour 4pm. Ran down to 50 point(?) but by the time I got there the wind damn near doubled so we turned around and went home. Had dinner, and watched the skies open up, I really was expecting a tornado. Man it got ugly!! Then, the skies lightened up, and it stopped raining long enough for me to launch at Belwood, and do a few laps. Loving the new boat, hits an indicate 50mph, and skips nicely over the light chop that was there. Didn't get any water pics...but got these...


...and it fits in the garage! Yippee...well just barely!



Hopefully tommorow I will have some better pics...I forgot I had the camera set on it's lowest settings.

Ian

[22E6441]

Nice boat! I went out to Belwood once last year and had an awful time. It was super busy, so they sent us around to the other side.....a really small ramp with really small courtesy dock. My last boat was also smaller by half a foot, but much shallower and didn't take to chop or wakes very well. Kids were crying, wife was angry....actually....probably would have had a great time by myself!

I will take the new boat there though.

Some day I will have a garage longer than 20 feet. My 14.5 footer fits in with a half foot to spare.

It's just nice to boat again!

[This_lil_fishy]

Ugh, I can't seem to get the images to work properly, likely my browser.

Anyhow yeah I really like her. That garage is 24' deep and 25' wide...gives you a better scope of the size of the boat. Hehe...

Belwood can be a bear if you come on a long weekend or on really nice days. Typically I am there from about 11am till about 5pm...it's not near as busy. But you can see it starting to get busy around 4pm. You gotta get used to it. That little ramp on the other side is something else!! The width of your trailer and 2 miles long! We really only had a tough time getting in once last year. But usually everyone is pretty curtious there. There's bound to be a few *****hats at any busy ramp/lake.

The trick to belwood is staying out of the main channel and getting into the shallows for fishing...the tubers/skiers and speed freaks avoid those areas like the plague. Keep an eye on your depth and your good. A good portion of that lake is 2-3' deep.


Ian