I have returned... with a Starcraft this time!

[strokendiesel002]

Isn't there supposed to be a stop by the bow eye to keep the bow from bouncing?

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep ^^^ new handle w offset would be quick to remove/install amd no fab work

But I'd like to see a clearer pix of the winch post entirely. W the winch at that angle, the handle is closer then it'd be mounted in the same place, just flat instead.of on an angle....

 

[Decker83]

I'm with you JBcurt00. Being able to see the whole upright would help.. It may be as simple to unbolt the bow stop and move it up a few bolt holes as the bow of the boat looks to get a little closer to the upright..:noidea:

 

[BWR1953]

Okay guys, here are some pix that I already had of the winch and upright. I can get more in the daylight tomorrow if needed.

 

[BWR1953]

This afternoon I also managed to get some new rod holders installed in the gunwales. There were several large holes on the starboard side that were ugly and I used the largest one as a place to put a holder.

The new plastic rod holders




The big hole that was drilled larger to make room for the new holder. Before...





...and after! The two smaller holes on the left in the pic will be addressed later.




Since the hole already existed, I needed to find a way to enlarge it and make it smoother. The pilot bit and arbor weren't going to work, so I rigged up something different.

I put a big honkin' washer between two of the hole saw blades, making the smaller one stick out and act as a guide. Worked great!










The port side was easy since there were no holes and I could use the pilot bit.




Port side holder installed.



Starboard side installed.

 

[strokendiesel002]

No Title

It seems to me that the winch should be dropped down, and a bow stop placed just above the the eye of the bow, so you can suck it up tight. Here's mine (please ignore the safety chain not attached, it's not going anywhere until I take the shrink wrap off). The trailer that this boat came with, had 2 of the non rolling v stops like the one you have down low. One was underneath the eye, the other directly above the eye, where the current​ roller resides. I can post a pic of the original setup if you'd like.

Awesome job on the double hole saw setup! That's genius!

 

[Watermann]

Yeah the bow stop is too low actually. I would take the bow stop arm off the tower, move it up a few inches and drill new holes, tighten down and done.

 

[BWR1953]

More pix from this morning.

 

[BWR1953]

I know that I need to reroute the winch strap so that it comes out of the bottom of the winch. It's a PITA since I have to take the boat off the trailer to do that. And if the boat's off the trailer, we'd rather be fishing than fixing! :fish2: :lol:

 

[BWR1953]

Yeah the bow stop is too low actually. I would take the bow stop arm off the tower, move it up a few inches and drill new holes, tighten down and done.

I can see how that would help. I'll see if I can get that moved up a couple holes on the upright.

 

[strokendiesel002]

It looks like you can lower your winch and raise the stop without drilling holes, nice!

I see you included a picture of the rear bunk, indicating concern with the bow stop being raised and forcing the boat back off the trailer?

I would consider sliding the bow stop post towards the tongue. If needed, spare tire can go on opposite side of trailer and Jack can be installed further back- no need to move the spare, jack handle is already on opposite side

 

[Watermann]

I know that I need to reroute the winch strap so that it comes out of the bottom of the winch. It's a PITA since I have to take the boat off the trailer to do that. And if the boat's off the trailer, we'd rather be fishing than fixing! :fish2: :lol:

I don't think that will work unless you like to turn the crank backwards without the clicker engaged.

 

[BWR1953]

Thanks for the help guys! I'm finally starting to "get a handle" on things! Bwaa haaa haa! :lol:

It looks like you can lower your winch and raise the stop without drilling holes, nice!

I see you included a picture of the rear bunk, indicating concern with the bow stop being raised and forcing the boat back off the trailer?

I would consider sliding the bow stop post towards the tongue. If needed, spare tire can go on opposite side of trailer and Jack can be installed further back- no need to move the spare, jack handle is already on opposite side

I moved the offset up two holes and slid the upright post forward about an inch. That gave me about 1.5" clearance. Plenty!

I don't think that will work unless you like to turn the crank backwards without the clicker engaged.

Yeah, I figured that out. After pulling all the winch strap off.



Sooo... I dismounted the winch and turned it upside down. That did the trick!

I was remounting the winch about 1/2 hour ago when I realized that I was becoming overheated and tired so I flat stopped working and came back into the house to cool off. Will need to go to HF to buy a deep 9/16 socket after I pick up the boy from school in an hour. That deep socket will make it easier to get the winch remounted. Plus I'll have the boy around to help too.

Progress will continue!













Winch flipped over.

 

[Decker83]

Good Job..

 

[BWR1953]

So I'm almost done with the winch situation.

Got the right tools, bolted the winch into place and wound tight. Quickly. No problemo.




After bolting the winch in place upside down (right side up?) I had plenty of room to spare.







But later I realized that my knuckles will be banging against the jack now! :facepalm:
Tomorrow I'll slide that forward a bit to provide adequate relief.

 

[BWR1953]

After working on the winch I moved on to the old rod holders that I wanted to remove. They were just in the way and didn't help functionality much at all. So they're outta here! (I do have nicer replacements stored in the old shed in a box somewhere.)

 

[strokendiesel002]

Can you flip the winch back over and put the stop above it, so the strap and hook pull it up into the stop?

 

[BWR1953]

Done with the jack!

Went out there this morning, backed the truck up to the trailer and hooked up. Raised the jack, loosened the bolts and gently scooted the jack forward 3.5 inches with my BFH and tightened it back down. Easy peasy. Now have 3 inches of clearance. No worries about knuckle busting anymore! :joyous:


Connected to truck with jack raised.




Jack moved forward.







Knuckle clearance!



At a later point I will replace that winch strap. It's too long for the winch and spills over the top. But for now, the winch is fully functional and easier to use as well!

Thanks for all the help guys! :joyous:

 

[BWR1953]

Speaking of my BFH and regarding the thrust pin on the 8HP Johnson... a couple days ago I soaked the pin with WD-40 and let it sit. Yesterday I gently tapped the pin again to see if it moved. It didn't.

I looked at some old pix I have of the pin and it doesn't appear to have moved much, if at all, since I acquired the motor back in 2015.

For now I'll just leave it alone because I'm getting close to removing it and putting it up for sale. Gonna be getting that 50HP Mercury mounted in the next few weeks so I won't need the little motor for much longer. (Might go fishing this coming weekend though so will leave it on till after that.)

 

[strokendiesel002]

Sounds like everything is falling into place!