This could get lengthy so I’m going to just get to the point. First, the new boat. Got a good deal on a '94 KenCraft 175cc with '98 115 Yamaha. Immediately took to my resident do it all redneck friend. Cut the bow rails and took out the V and put on a 55lb Minnkota V2 Powerdrive. It’s brand new, got a good deal and he took off his boat for the ipilot. Put in water and boat ran good, up to 40MPH much to my surprise. Came with old color screen Lowrance GPS/FF with screen the size of an iPhone 4. It works so we carried on. On the way home last night, wheel started smoking and sparking. Bearings gone, pull over when I see wobble and as I stop wheel falls off. 3 hours later back on the road, looking for caps for the hub were unsuccessful. Hub is worn. Go to fill with grease in the fitting on the spindle to get me by for today to fish, fitting is F’d! Oh well, I’m going fishing anyways. Told buddy who was getting me bearings to buy the most expensive Deep cycle marine battery advanced had for the TM. Made a call and going to replace the entire axel, hubs and all.
Now to the report…
Left Koons and headed up past Alcapulco and lines in. 3 quick fish, all fat. 27" and 24" in the mix. Went stagnant for an hour then boated a couple shorts. By this time the wind was kicking a constant 15-20mph which made the trolling motor and trying to stay .5-.7 a pain! Got out the wind and caught another short and then had a double but lost one. Finally around 1 we reeled up and headed to big mans for a burger before buddy had to go do his 12 hour shift @ 7pm.
Went to Wesco for trailer help, picked up a couple hubs but that doesn’t fix the spindle problem. Found a good deal on a new axel with hubs bearings the whole shabang new for $100. So I’ll be making a trip back to return those $40 each hubs.
Headed back to the lake and put in at my dads in the back of Hollow creek. 10 minutes later I had inches deep water in the floor boards moments after I backed off trailer and was heading to dock to get