Just chilling for da Crabs..

[mike2u]

Well guys,,, I've been lurking around here for several days and glad everyone is excited to get to crabbing.. Glad to see Crabbyd and RLC enjoying themselves down at the PAX... Great guys and some nice catches going on.. Well my C&R season has ended up here at the Flats and now it's time to start thinking about crabbing... The wife allowed me to go out and spend some money on a 15 hp motor.. I think I found a good 1 on E-Bay.. It's a 15 hp 1978 short shaft for 799.00 which includes shipping.. I'm also going to bid on a evinrude/Johnson extension kit for about $ 30.00 which will make this short shaft a 20 inch shaft if need be.. I'm going to try the short shaft a little and test it and if I need to extend it I will.. Seaweed your right I measured the transom and it's 15 to 16 inches,, but that SKEG on the bottom if thats what you call it makes it about 18 inches or so.. So that might be affecting the 15 short shafted motor. We will see, but if everything goes well I'm looking to head out sometime in the next fews weeks to test the boat and the waters.. Really not sure if next weekend is ok,, I'm up in the air about that,, But the 19th or 20th looks like my first offical test of the wye...

[Islander]

Mike,

If the skeg is 18" it will definitely cause cavitation with a 15" shaft outboard. Instead of extending the outboard shaft, you may want to cut the skeg. If you cut the skeg even with the bottom of the boat at the stern and forward about 2', it should keep the skeg from interferring with the motor at speed. 

[mike2u]

Thanks Islander,, but your really talking about things that i'm not very familair about, but willing to have people look at it to see what to do.. I'm sure between everyone on this board from you,, Crayybd,, Seaweed,, and anyone else thats willing to help,, I should be able to figure something out,,, My neighbor down maryland told me to just build up the transom about an inch and that might work.. At least I know I'll be crabbing in a dry boat this year though..

[Islander]

At least I know I'll be crabbing in a dry boat this year though..

Yeah, I'm sure with Seaweed's workmanship a dry ride should be guaranteed! 

[Seaweed]

1) Get pencil
2) draw smooth curve on skeg
3) plug it jigsaw
4) cut skeg
5) sand
6) slap on red paint
7) go crabbing
 

[Seaweed]

Bring it.  I'll fix it in a jiffy.

[Islander]

1) Get pencil
2) draw smooth curve on skeg
3) plug it jigsaw
4) cut skeg
5) sand
6) slap on red paint
7) go crabbing
 

So I take it that you agree with the advise I gave Mike. 

[Seaweed]

So I take it that you agree with the advise I gave Mike. 

I think so... the tub was not figured up to win a race, but with a little modification it could run OK with Mike's new motor.

[mike2u]

Ok that sounds good Seaweed,, How far back do you think to make the curve,,, I'm sure someone down around my house might be able to help me,, If not I'll be given you a call.. And how close to the bottom of the boat should I cut.. I'm not looking to win a race,, just get out to the spot quicker, and maybe out race a storm or two when they come up..