joeman79
2014-09-25 21:57:54
I will just write a short summary of my summer with some additional Comments.
NEVER ever buy a boat sight unseen, and if you do, have someone that is a serious fisherman/Mechanic look at the boat and talk extensively to the past owner and crew before you do anything. Also do not trust people you never met to fix and work on your boat prior to your arrival. I was anxious and gullible and entrusted someone who said they could fix anything and knew how a Troller needed to be setup. In the end I was out alot of money and ended redoing nearly everything they said they fixed.
I arrived in Juneau May 28th to pick up the Boat. May 1st we set sail for Hoonah.
Sat in Hoonah for 3 weeks tied to the boards waiting on the Dogs to show and they never did. Fished lower Chatham for a few days when the Boat started overheating and soon there was water in the oil.
Got towed over 100 miles to Craig by the best group of trollers a guy could ever meet!! No one would take a dime for any services they provided me.
Made it to Craig and with the assistance of another great new friend pulled the head off my 471 to find that the number 3 Cylinder head gasket was burnt out, and the head was slightly damaged. Instead of having it rebuilt then I decided just to put in a new gasket kit as it was 3 days till the King opener. The motor ran like a top, but Richard Klein the most awesome diesel mechanic in Southeast reminded me this fix may last an hr a month or maybe longer. I was excited because that was the day before the King Salmon opener
For being my first year as a boat owner I set my Goal at 100 King salmon for the season. By day 4 I did that!! I was a happy Troller. I just fished inside for the most part as I did not trust the boat and did not want to deal with the drag off Noyes being a rookie. 5th day of King season the boat started overheating again. My fix seemed short lived but then it quit getting hot. I continued fishing Cohos and did very good I thought until the 28th of July and then it happened again the motor got hot and stayed hot and I was dead in the water.
I made the call to Richard telling him I wanted to rebuild the engine ASAP, He told me with any luck and if I helped we could have the project done in 2 to 3 weeks. So I deckhanded for a week on the F/V Sea Scape and came in after a 9 day trip to find out that the motor had been bored out 10 thousandths and some of the parts we ordered would have to be reordered. Went on another 9 day trip and came back and helped Richard for a day doing final prep to motor and head. Went back to my boat for the evening and Richard called and said you need to come out here. I knew then this was not going to be a good thing, and it was not. The number 3 cylinder had been sleeved and who ever did did it wrong and did not leave a lip for the liner to set on. That is why the head was getting beat to death. So we ordered a new block that should be in this week and next spring we will put the motor back in and PRAY my luck on the misbegotten F/V Myrth will improve.
Had a great summer overall, learned so much from others it was priceless!! Found out I DO want to be a Troller and through all my problems and situations I kept a good attitude and positive outlook.
Charlie on the F/V Mixie in the Craig Harbor told me time and time again. Keep your head up and persevere, things will get better and the fish gods will take care of you.
Met some of the greatest guys and gals ever on my trip and can't wait to get back next spring. Just thought I would let some of you that I talk to here let you know how I was and where I was this summer. Never made it north of Warren Channel.