I Heard Another Storm Went Down.

[gar-tracker]

Supposedly another Storm sunk out of Clewiston this weekend. A guy lent his boat to someone and they weren't used to a Storms particular eccentricity's and took a few back washes and went down.

The older ones had that flaw for taking in water over the back. Apparently he just got the boat redone.

Personally my feelings are that when these boats were built back in the early 80s they were designed for 150 and 200 horse engines that were much lighter then today's engines, add a power pole or talon with the brackets and your down to ground zero.

At least that's what I noticed in mine, I did what I did that day a thousand times over the years, not until I put all the new toys and engines did I have this results.

I don't care what anyone says iv been in this game for 40 years till one of the best rough water boats on the water.

Glad no one was hurt.

[South FLA]

Maybe Storms motto should be "Don't get caught in a Storm at the Big O" So get a BIG O!

All kidding aside, those light weight boats including my Bullet are very weight sensitive and additional floatation on the stern is needed. There is a manufacturer out there that has a buoyant jack plate to help relieve or eliminate backwash.

[bocabasser]

i was fishing the same area as juan (the guy in the storm). it was windy and had a good chop on the water. we left to go to another spot and when we weighed in we heard what happened. the storms owner was val who owns gambler baits. juan and his partner are ok. i haven't heard about the boat. we were power poled down in that same area, and we had waves coming over the back of the boat but my partners boat is a lake and bay and like most flats boats, they are self bailing. i guess the older storms are not. juan had close to 20 pounds and would have won the tourny. 13 pounds won. we had 11.33 and came in third. it was a rough (literally) day on the water.

[gar-tracker]

13 pounds d**n I had a nice sack up north both Fri and Sat.

Those south Tourneys are hard for me to fish keeping my boat up north, but retiring Aug 1 so I may be able to fit a few in.

[GLADES]

buoyant jack plate?Hmm. I need to research that. My CMC JP probably weighs 40 lbs. I started a thread about additional stern floatation a while back in the boating section that became the brunt of jokes(beach balls,etc). This is along the line of what I was thinking. The older boats definitely sit lower in the stern by design with the gas tanks and batteries located behind the driver seat and directly in front of the engine. Adding heavy jack plates, max HP engines, power poles, does shift the center of gravity further back sometimes makes it worse. My 1987 Ranger 373, when fully loaded sits so low that the splash well drains in front of the motor are actually letting water into the basin.

I probably have 6" of free board on the transom. Needless to say, I get real nervous on the lake when the wind starts blowing. The bilge pump would have no chance if I were to get partially swamped.

It really is disappointing when I get blown off the lake...cussing to myself as i head for the rim ditch, but I am extra careful. My next boat will be a 20' flats/bay boat..self bailing for sure.

I am glad the Storm guys are OK.

[salmicropterus]

I have seem some boats with basketballs wedged between the jackplate and the transom. I think they deflate the ball to get it in there and then pump it up as much as possible. You wouldn't think that would be a difference maker but then again, I don't understand how a 24# floatation vest can keep a 225#er like me afloat either.