Our last trip on the St Johns River we decided we needed a 4 stroke. The Johnson runs well, but not designed to cruise as slow as we do. It likes to be on the move.
Jim found a small fishing boat with a Honda 50, 4 stroke, a 947C chartplotter with 3D bottom sonar and a trolling motor. We bought it and Jim had the motors switched out the next day, but has been working on connecting the controls and wiring since then.
We took the fishing boat out for a test run and everything worked great with the 55 hp Johnson. Makes me want to take up Bass fishing and enter a contest or two….not sure Jim likes the idea of sitting out there all day in a little boat with no shade…..
The chart plotter worked as did the trolling motor.
We’ve been carrying a 2.5 hp Mercury for the dingy but don’t tow with it on. Each time we anchor Jim has to lift it off the back of the boat and put it on the dingy. We decided to try a trolling motor. Should be able to tow with it in place. The main thing we use the dingy for is getting closer to wildlife and the trolling motor is so quiet it is even better than rowing.
So….now Meander has a 50 hp Honda 4 stroke. We weighed them during the switch. I think the Honda was a few pounds lighter. Honda all aluminum and Johnson cast iron. I was concerned the 4 stroke would be a lot heavier.
Meander also has a new chart plotter. Look at all the fish in my back yard. (simulation)
GPS is working…..this is where Meander sits. The red circle marks the spot. You can see we are not far from Lake Jessup. A lake with a large gator population. It is also very shallow. We are hoping the wet season will bring it up so we can launch there instead of traveling to Lake Monroe. They are connected by the St Johns River which runs to Jacksonville, FL, passing thru several lakes.
Cold spell coming this weekend….and then Jim has to go to his brother’s for a few days….then we get to take her out and see how we like the 4 stroke on Meander and the trolling motor on the dingy.
Now we have a small fishing boat with a Johnson 50 hp 2 stroke with tilt n trim and a Humminbird fish finder for sale.
Wanna go fishin’?
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