wingsnhammers
Well-known member
Hey all, I thought I would drop by and introduce myself and my newest project. I'm a 27 year old Alabama native that has spent almost my entire life within a stones throw of one of the best bass lakes in the U.S. Over the past few years my passion for duck hunting and fishing has been increasing and I had to have a boat. Up until this point, I would just hitch a ride on a friend's boat, but they got kinda flaky sometimes and my schedule doesn't coincide with theirs. So, I got a boat.
I was searching craigslist one day and saw a brand new listing for a 14' Jon, 25hp motor, and trailer for 500$ OBO. Called the guy up and he explained that the trailer needed wheels and tires to move, but if I came and got everything he would take 350$. Well, I drug a friend down there and we managed to get everything either in or on the bed of my S10. I'm sorry, but I don't have pictures of this. LOL! Turns out that the boat is a 1973 General Marine. I have never heard of them. Any one have any info on the brand? It is solidly built and does not leak, even though the previous owner replaced about 30 of the solid rivets with bolts and nuts. I spent a solid day just filling screw holes, removing unwanted junk, cleaning, sanding, and prepping the boat for paint.
The trailer and motor are a little more complicated. The trailer will need to be completely taken down, de-rusted, and painted. It will also need new hubs, wheels, tires, lights, bunks, and coupler. The motor is a late 80s 25HP Johnson tiller with electric and recoil start. The starter is locked up and the recoil starter is missing all of the bolts to secure it to the motor. The only way to turn the motor over is to wind a rope around the flywheel and give it a good pull. Using this method, we found out that both cylinders are running around 150 PSI, so that is promising. We drained the oil in the foot to see if it would need seals, but there was no water in the oil. Thank goodness! This might actually be a decent little motor with a few new parts and some time.
Even If I got this Johnson working, it will be WAY to heavy and powerful for this little 1432. Once again, I found a guy on Craigslist selling a 3 year old Briggs and Stratton 5hp outboard for 500$ I talked him down to 250$ cash and a hunting bow for the motor. This air cooled motor should be perfect for duck hunting and fishing. I won't get there fast, but I should be able to get there.
Anyway, sorry for being so long winded. I do have a few pictures of the boat in the cleanup stage. I should be able to get the boat painted tomorrow, then it will be on to the trailer.
I was searching craigslist one day and saw a brand new listing for a 14' Jon, 25hp motor, and trailer for 500$ OBO. Called the guy up and he explained that the trailer needed wheels and tires to move, but if I came and got everything he would take 350$. Well, I drug a friend down there and we managed to get everything either in or on the bed of my S10. I'm sorry, but I don't have pictures of this. LOL! Turns out that the boat is a 1973 General Marine. I have never heard of them. Any one have any info on the brand? It is solidly built and does not leak, even though the previous owner replaced about 30 of the solid rivets with bolts and nuts. I spent a solid day just filling screw holes, removing unwanted junk, cleaning, sanding, and prepping the boat for paint.
The trailer and motor are a little more complicated. The trailer will need to be completely taken down, de-rusted, and painted. It will also need new hubs, wheels, tires, lights, bunks, and coupler. The motor is a late 80s 25HP Johnson tiller with electric and recoil start. The starter is locked up and the recoil starter is missing all of the bolts to secure it to the motor. The only way to turn the motor over is to wind a rope around the flywheel and give it a good pull. Using this method, we found out that both cylinders are running around 150 PSI, so that is promising. We drained the oil in the foot to see if it would need seals, but there was no water in the oil. Thank goodness! This might actually be a decent little motor with a few new parts and some time.
Even If I got this Johnson working, it will be WAY to heavy and powerful for this little 1432. Once again, I found a guy on Craigslist selling a 3 year old Briggs and Stratton 5hp outboard for 500$ I talked him down to 250$ cash and a hunting bow for the motor. This air cooled motor should be perfect for duck hunting and fishing. I won't get there fast, but I should be able to get there.
Anyway, sorry for being so long winded. I do have a few pictures of the boat in the cleanup stage. I should be able to get the boat painted tomorrow, then it will be on to the trailer.