A few weeks ago, my mind was dreaming about having another jet boat for fishing the local rivers. A long time ago I owned a 16' aluminum "sled" (flat bottom aluminum boat) with a 70HP jet outboard on it. That thing would scoot through 4" of water up riffles and could get me to some great fishing water. After I sold it, I began to miss the access I used to get to some great fishing water. A random search on craigslist turned up a 1967 Evinrude "Big Twin" 40HP motor with a Jet unit on it, for cheap. It would bolt up to my Lowe 1448 Big Jon boat just right. A motor I could actually work on. To say it was a little "rough" was probably an understatement, but there wasn't much I couldn't do on the motor if I needed to. New coils, condensers, points, a carb rebuild, and a total overhaul of the jet unit was in order. I scrounged up a tiller handle, recoil starter and ignition switch from a marine salvage yard. A new set of decals and a fresh coat of paint and this is what I ended up with:
Well not always, but for me lately, I've begun to appreciate "old" things. It seems as I get older the pull or attraction to old things becomes stronger. Older things just seem more simple, durable, better made and stylish. Also, I've begun to feel the need to "rescue" or save old things. The reason why: They'll never make them again, ever! I'm sure this seems silly to some people (just ask my wife) but to me, simple things just give me more pleasure now days. I don't own a flat screen TV, I still buy VHS tapes (yes I still own a VCR) , I'd rather read than watch TV and I even drive a 1984 Subaru wagon as a daily driver. A few weeks ago, my mind was dreaming about having another jet boat for fishing the local rivers. A long time ago I owned a 16' aluminum "sled" (flat bottom aluminum boat) with a 70HP jet outboard on it. That thing would scoot through 4" of water up riffles and could get me to some great fishing water. After I sold it, I began to miss the access I used to get to some great fishing water. A random search on craigslist turned up a 1967 Evinrude "Big Twin" 40HP motor with a Jet unit on it, for cheap. It would bolt up to my Lowe 1448 Big Jon boat just right. A motor I could actually work on. To say it was a little "rough" was probably an understatement, but there wasn't much I couldn't do on the motor if I needed to. New coils, condensers, points, a carb rebuild, and a total overhaul of the jet unit was in order. I scrounged up a tiller handle, recoil starter and ignition switch from a marine salvage yard. A new set of decals and a fresh coat of paint and this is what I ended up with: The good news is that the motor runs great, and really scoots up the river. I took it out on the Cowlitz river last weekend, and managed to fish a run and hook a steelhead on my spey rod. I'm hoping this fall brings more fish on uncrowded runs. As time goes by and I get older, I just keep telling myself, "old stuff rules", Who knows what I'll rescue next?
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Aaron M. OstojFeather pusher, hook tweeker, boat builder, fisherman, husband, dad..... Archives
March 2019
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