Posts by Don Paul

  • Are there any wrecks off the California coast?

    I used to dive a honey hole sunken barge for bugs on the hose somewhere in Laguna;) (Now MPLA).
    We have the wreck of the Bishop on Cortez Bank that is free divable for bugs and Calico, lots of pointy rusted rebar makes it fun in the heavy surge, medical help is 102 miles to the mainland except for a medi vac from San Clemente Island ( a Navy no landing island).:nono:
    The Dominater in Palo Verdes for bugs and Calico bass and three off shore oil rigs for newbies and bubble butts to shoot sheephead and teenage Yellow Tail.
    Than there is the wreck of the Valiant which is a no take wreck at Avalon on Catalina.


    All our other wrecks are just spots for gold doubloons we use for gas money.;)


    Cheers, Don

  • Mahogany vs teak

    Here is one I built in 1984 that is still in good shape, I only touched up the finish with Phil's epoxie, decided to leave all the water marks and blemish's . It is still straight and has taken the load of 3 5/8 Dessault rubber for years, however lately I only use 2 5/8s bands.
    I would use sealed Mahogany today with no problem except on a Tuna cannon.



    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    I thought the best way to have the proper rewind unit for my motor hit FleeBay was to cut the pedestals of the 40hp one I have. ;)
    I'm only in this 40hp pull start the price of 4 pints, I wouldn't do this to a 400 $ part :nono:.....wait a min, that's BS...yeah I would...it all started with taking my toys apart to see what up. never quite grew out of it.^^



    Mounted the flywheel bit and set the rewind hub down into it. It looks doable but I won't be posting the details.
    This mod could kill some one if they don't get it right with fabrication and weld.


    The top cowling even sets on top.:thumbup:


    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    [quote='Dan','http://spearfishing.world/forums/index.php?thread/&postID=70321#post70321']I have one of those on my Mercury 90. Pull cord is taped to the inside of the cowling. Not sure how to use it.


    You remove the top cowling , hook the knot into the pulley notch , make
    sure motor is in neutral, wind the rope clockwise, turn the ignition on
    and hand the grip end to a able seaman. Then you yell pull you son's of
    bitches, it a long F'n long swim back to the ramp you wankers.^^


    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    Damn don. That sucks. Good luck with the chore


    I talked to the guys Japsw recommended, unfortunately it is not offered for sale any more. I'll give it two weeks as I try to get caught up with the build, than the saw and Tig welder will be used to make the one I have fit.


    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    You guys didn't think I was going to leave the motors alone.;)
    Even though I will have two gell cells if my starter fails after a motor swamping, the thought of removing the eng cowling, top cowling, then wrapping a cord around the rope pulley while mother ocean has a bad day was not in my game plan.
    The solution sounded simple...go the Mercury dealer and order a starter rewind unit and flywheel bits.
    No longer available.:(
    The solution sounds simple....:) FleeBay.
    After nightly searches for two months bingo:thumbup: a dealer in Mississippi had one and I couldn't buy it quick enough, even had it 3 day shipped.
    Walked up to the door days later and it felt like X-Mass day.
    Quickly opened the box to see my gleaming new part and Fail.... there was a new outboard charging system ''stator'' assembly.
    The solution sounds simple...;)
    Call the Dealer and tell them they sent the wrong part. They were very nice, said the part guy mixed up the order because ''Starter Rewind Unit'' sounds a lot like ''Stator'' right? They sent some guy my part.
    '' No problem guys, every one makes mistakes, I'll ship it back in the AM with a track #...handled.
    Two weeks of nothing so I call. ''They will send it on to me as soon as the guy ships it back''.
    Two weeks of nothing so I call. They had sent ''the guy'' his new stator off the shelf before they received my unit back and you guessed it, he decided to be a PRI-K and keep both new parts.
    The solution sounds simple.;) they will refund me in full....Great but I still need a Starter Rewind Unit, right?
    I tell them I will still give good feed back, just find me a unit. Last week after another month I found one myself and they happily refunded me in full. See boat building is simple, aye.
    Received my FleeBay purchase and it doesn't fit my year.... Yes boating is simple.
    I'm adding this little story to show this is just a little part of DIY project building,l not because I can't handle the little things that make life interesting...it's just life and I am happy to live it.


    Now if any of you power boat guys or outboard hoarders have a new or used Pull Start assembly for a serial #6011907- 50 hp Mercury PM me, cash in hand.^^


    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    Wow. You weren't kidding about thumper having some bigass ears


    Yeah, top leg of the base section gets braced to the radar arch with a stand-off bracket. The back up radio
    transmits to a SS whip at the top of the arch. One more boring sand and recoat tonight, wont waste any band width on that though.


    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    There are a few things in life where size does matter.:yaydance:...Civilian marine legal VHF power is 25 watts. Marine antenna height, more then any other factor, determines how far you can transmit.
    As my primary antenna I will be using the Precision Digital 532-VB 10 DB gain 16 footer and the bullet proof Glomex RA-116 heavy duty mount. I've broken those cheap white VHF mounts of the fly bridge of my old boat in high seas when I really wanted the radio to transmit and now only use the SS mounts.


    The inside of the console and the radar dome gets some anti static black, the dome will get the matt treatment.


    Happy to not have fiber glass chewing on my forearms and wrist any more.


    Cheers. Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    Procrastination is a life and goal killer.
    Yesterday I came home hot and tired from work, had a nice dinner and sat on the couch to relax. I could think of many reasons to take a night off. How could I miss Misty and Kerri kick ass in the final?
    Than the reality of a summer slipping away slapped me hard.....time for the DVR...get off your ass Don.


    Unscrewed all 25lbs of trial assembly gear from the console.
    Sanded the surface with 320 dry paper, wiped with degreaser, hit it with a tack rag and laid down another coat of AllGrip. Bare Console weighs 33lb.


    Tonight sanded again and said F...it I'm heading for Tahoe for some R+R.^^


    Cheers, Don

  • The Adventures of Thumper

    Quote from dustyyoungblood

    How far offshore do you plan to run Thumper?


    My real boat had 1527 crossings to SCI with me at the helm. I promised my GF I would only use Thumper for
    local spots and Catalina....lets say I'm at the East End early, the seas are flat and there is Wilson in the distance. You callin' me a liar Frank? ;)


    Cheers, Don