So much for that fishing outing

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Well yesterday started out pretty good.

Hubby and I hit the lake at Joe Overstreet Landing, while the young one was visting his cousins. First stop we caught a couple of small bass each on Tiger Creek, using weightless flukes and figured we'd make the run to Marion Creek on Lake Hatchineha and see if there is any current. We were about 2 miles into that lake, when we started hearing a rattle from the Evinrude E-Tech. Hubby and I looked at each and decided to call off the fishing and head back to Joe Overstreet. (Both of us crossing our fingers and hoping we wouldn't have to troll all the way back)

Needless to say partway back through the Kissimmee River canal, the rattle got worse and I started feeling a vibration. We immediately got off plane and figured out that the lower unit was going kabloohey and it did. We started trolling to Camp Mack while I was on the phone with my Insurance Co to see if they had a tow service provider..

Yeah.. NO.

I was told I was supposed to call the Coast Guard...right.. that set up laughter from both us imagining a Coast Guard boat in Lake Kissimmee.

Sooo we continued to fish as we trolled in. (Of course) .

We ended up getting towed by Touring Air Boat for $100. which my Insurance company said they were sending me a check to cover the towing fee.(Neither of us have been on an airboat before, and all the other boaters were out in a tournament, so that was a rather different experience for us)

Loading up the boat was a challenge as well, standing in the water, manuvering it around and weight adjusting at the bow then stern got it up on the roller and locked down

Fortunately the outboard is still under warranty and getting hauled in for service this afternoon. 8-)

[Grey Wolf]

Sorry to hear about your problem but thank God it's still under warranty.

[Big-O]

You battled thru the tuff stuff on this one but that means the next trip will be better  even with the problems, a memorable adventure just the same...

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Thanks Big O and Bass Brat. We had to remind the Airboat operator that a bass boat can't take the short cuts through the grass like they can..LOL.

It was definetly an experience. I found out that the gear box in the Evinrudes were the older type and I'll be getting a newer upgrade that can handle the torque. We didn't even have 50 hours worth of running on that engine and really haven't run it at top speed. (Hubby and I aren't crazy about going all that fast, just fast enough to stay out of the other boats way in the opening run in tournaments).

[roadwarrior]

That's tough, but I'm glad the problem was at least

manageable. I hope you get everything worked out

shortly.

Good luck!

-Kent

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Aghhhhh.. Now Evinrude doesn't want to honor the warranty and I'm having to go through my Insurance co. I checking the internet to find where others have had a lower unit gear box failures. I have found 4 local guys so far that had the same thing happen to them. >

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Well my insurance covered it, so minus my deductable $, we should be back out on the waters in a couple weeks. (waiting on parts and prop to come back). Maybe in time for our local couples tournament, but I am sure missing the fishing, no matter how hot it's been, even for just a couple hours...

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Sorry to hear that.  Engine problems are never a fun thing to deal with.  Glad you guys got back safely.  Could have been much worse if you really would have been stuck out in the middle of nowhere.

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Yay! Just got the call the boat is done! I can go fishing this weekend.. Happy happy joy joy!

[Steve P.]

Those motors are famous for lower unit failures. Now they don't want to cover it? That's great that insurance is covering it, but why won't they cover it? Please tell me that your are NOT going to EVER buy one of their motors again?

[Fishing Cowgirl]

We actually wanted to get the Yamaha with it, but the boat was a great deal. It was the last Team boat of a foreclosure 2007 inventory, on a dealer up north and was sitting at the factory, never been titled and we got it for $10,000 under retail value.

However when it comes to new boat time and finaces allow, we are looking at the Phoenix boats.  A local dealer has one on his lot and we are going to get a good "look/see" at it.