Recent content by Ringo Steele

Wow! Can't believe it's been so long...life has been busy! Anyways, unfortunately, those beautiful floors did not last but a couple of years, due to poor quality of the marine spar urethane I used. Water infiltration got them pretty quickly. I replaced them with plywood (For now). Time to...

There will be foam under the front deck. There should be cutouts at the bottom center of each seat for drainage. My '71 semi-vee has them. Mine are very shallow and get clogged up with debris easily through.

Coming along real nice. It's good to see another Ouachita being put to good use. Mine is a 1971 16DSV, same hull shape as yours. Mine is also the same shade of blue! 8)

Hi folks, I am replacing all the nuts and bolts on my new-to-me galvanized Vann boat trailer. I assume grade 8 on the spring shackles and tongue bolt. Recommendations on the rest... undercarriage, frame, bunk and roller brackets? Do I need grade 5? Thanks!

Just carry a small piece of 3/4" plywood in case you need to use it in soft soil. They work great.

Not directly related to your listed problem, but also check the condition of the wiring as that age Merc ( and most anything else) might have bad insulation and need replacing. The 20 hp I inherited from my uncle looked like it just came off the showroom floor, but all the wiring was rotted...

Just remember whatever epoxy system you use, that you make sure it has a good UV inhibitor in it, or that you cover it 100% with something else anywhere you will get sunlight on it. (The West 105 does NOT have any UV inhibitor in it, and must be covered with paint, carpet, etc., or it will...

A little gum in the carb can also cause this effect. Mine will do that if it sits a few weeks, and then open up and run fine until it sits again for several weeks. Seafoam and fuel stabilizer helps.

IN :wink:

I have a 74 15hp Johnson on my 16' semi-vee Ouachita. It will run 17-18 mph (GPS) with two 220+ people and trolling motor, battery, gear, etc. 9.5x10 pitch prop with one slightly misaligned blade (3-blade standard prop).

It looks a lot like one of the Coleman Crawdad series of plastic Jon boats. Might want to research those for a horsepower suggestion. 5 or 6 hp would be about the max.

Just remember, when you add the motor, the tongue weight will be reduced, so you may be able to move it further forward on the trailer.

Nice old hull, and good plans for her too. You might want to rethink the Helmsman Polyurethane (assuming Minn-Wax brand). I used it in my build, and it lasted less than a year before it was cracking and peeling from UV exposure. It you always keep it stored covered or indoors, you may be OK...

Yep, that type is supposed to be plugged from the inside. As stated previously, keep a spare. Also, I have mine on a leash (small chain about a foot long) connected to the transom knee brace, so it can't get lost or forgotten. I use the kind on the right that the handle flips to tighten:

I have a motor lock (different brand...Panther?) similar to the one above. Also, I use a safety chain from the motor's mount around the transom knee brace.