newbiedmv

Duhhhhh. I'm truly sorry. It was a loose nut behind the steering wheel problem.
 
There is more of a V in it than I thought. I just remembered, granted this was 15 years ago, I measured on the edge of the transom. I wasn't this year. Also crestliner said it is plywood and don't mess with it you'll strip the screws ?
Using the mud line(yes I have to wash it) it's 5" now with the extra weight.
At least now I know why I got hung up on a stump awhile back.
Again my apologies. 

It actually worked today. Felt it hit shift the boat about an inch or so and came in perfect.

That stupid concoction actually worked today. Power loaded and it started sliding back as fast as it went on. Had the strap on my lower arm slipped it over the right guide post, pulled tight and the boat stayed there. Got out hooked up, winched in, and pulled out.
I''ll get another for the left side when I see one.

Another senior moment.
The valve in the squeeze ball is semi bad. Long story on how I found it.
Worked very well today, the old minn kota power drive auto pilot worked great.
The fish stayed 30 feet or more down.
I'll be back up here in Sep after the ski people leave.

Sorry, found a whole bunch at bass pro. They had 45 rows of fishing lures, 10 alone of plastic worms. This was tucked away in a trout fishing corner.

For better or worse it's mine now. Worked out a respectable deal for everyone. Checked everything and things seem cool.  Shaft length is perfect and mounting doesn't seem to be that bad.
The overall cost was worth the risk in this area at least.
Man thanks a lot for the info it really saved my bacon.
The guy had it on a 14' jon boat and said it was too much for his needs.
If I get a consistent year out of it I'll be happy.

The water was coming in from the bilge pump exit. I've stopped going to that ramp and all other super steep ones around. This is so steep you have to tie your line to the trailer a foot out to be able to get the bow hook off.
 
Thank you for all the valuable input

Fixed this year. Yep 90% coming in on bilge pump exit. A rubber stopper helped a lot. But main fix is I'm ditching that ramp. Found a much better one 10 miles downstream.
Learning all the little things on this boat has been kinda of a pain but I hope I'm almost at the end. Just maybe an angle adjustment on my outboard, might be pulling to the left a little to much. Not sure yet waiting on a calm day.
Thanks for all the input, got me head working again.

Ok.fixed... yep the 2amp inline fuse was blown. Where was it....in the middle of a massive zip tied bundle behind the fuse block. Also the ground was very loose. All working now.
I also am a long retired EE and repair tech while in school but I've forgotton 90% of my stuff. I still remember ohms law and how to use a meter and soldering iron.
In any case had to fix the speedometer hose anyway