Sent an Old Friend Down the Road Today

[dwco5051]

Sold my 20' bassboat and replaced it with 14' barn find. 14' Crestliner with 30 HP Nissan/Tohatsu. The previous owner had retired and moved to a home with only electric motors on the lake in the area. A friend bought the home and the boat came with it and he doesn't boat. Replaced the water pump impeller that was still in good shape and everything works as new.

The long story is that at almost 81 I have outlived all my fishing buddies and 99% of the time I fish alone. The last few years my wife has worried that loading and unloading a big boat was too much for me and if I had a smaller boat I would fish more. The lake I fish is only 1700 acres and I don't really need speed. I would still every now and then trim the Nitro up on the pad and make a high speed run for a mile or so but I am smart enough to realize that my reflexes are not what they used to be and it can be a handful flat out. I am learning to live life a little slower now.

 

[aspeck]

I am sure you were sorry to see the Nitro go, but the Crestliner should work really well on Blanchard Lake. We should meet up and go fishing together sometime!

 

[southkogs]

Funny how something inanimate as a boat can gain a life of sorts just by being around so long. Probably a little tough to watch it go away, for sure.

Cestliner looks nice though :thumb:

 

[GA_Boater]

Thank goodness it was your boat passing on.

Good lookin' Crestliner, Dwco. That's the barn find a lot of folks dream about.

 

[dwco5051]

Put it in the water Monday along with the oldest boy just to make sure it floats. The PO had emptied the gas tank and drained the carb so I put a gallon of 25/1 to test run the engine. Explained to the lad about the fuel tank vent on the cap. A couple of hundred yards out it started sputtering and yep, I forgot to open it. Today I took it out for a shakedown cruise solo and did the same rookie mistake. It has been 30 years since I had a boat with portable gas tanks. At least I didn't forget the plug.

I have to borrow my wife's phone with the GPS but I am geussing it is running at least 30 with just me on board. That 30hp pushs a 14' tinny along pretty good. It came with two transom mount trolling motors so I put the larger looking one on the bracket on the bow and the smaller on the transom to test them. Never looked at the model numbers and found that the big one is a Minnkota 85 and the other a 45. You can cut doughnuts with that much on the front and will switch them tomorrow. It will be a nice setup for some of the 70 to 100 acre electric only lakes around here. Also has a Minnkota Maximizer installed but wither it doesn't work or I am not hooking it up right. Except for the fact I am going to need to wear my barn boots to load it single handed I am pleased with it. Played with it and fished for four hours today and am happy.

 

[redneck joe]

Thank goodness it was your boat passing on.

i didn't click on this thread for a minute because i didn't need to cry....

 

[dwco5051]

I am sure you were sorry to see the Nitro go, but the Crestliner should work really well on Blanchard Lake. We should meet up and go fishing together sometime!

Sounds good. This is a great crappie lake but it is going to take a little cooler weather to become really productive again. When I quit fishing tournaments some years ago I found panfishing was much more relaxing. I keep thinking about coming over your way some Sunday morning and surprise you but 70 miles is a long way so lately I occasionally live stream you.

 

[aspeck]

I have never fished Blanchard but have heard it is excellent for crappie. I love a good mess of slab-sides with some perch thrown in the mix... yum! I have my group of ultralights for panfish and the rods and tackle goes up from there.

If you come over some Sunday, give me a heads up and we will do lunch afterwards.