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Well, the 1986 Outrage 18 refit and repower continue. I have decided to go with a Yamaha F-115 four stroke, and a Yamaha 9.9 HT, (electric start and power tilt) as a gasoline fueled trolling motor/kicker. I am going to mount the F-115 3 holes up and use the Yamaha 13" X 17P black stainless steel prop, at least for a start, that I got in the mail yesterday. I have purchased both motors and have them at Palacios TX ready to be installed and rigged right now.

We have decided to completely remove the Lenco trimtabs from the boat and mount the 2 motors on the transom as recommended by Boston Whaler.

The bottom of the hull and the transom have been completely restored to new condition, and the results are truly awesome. It is currently covered with protective plastic with the boat flipped over on a work trailer in the boat yard. I have added a couple of pictures of this to my Flickr site set for the Outrage here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/99787852...428438304/

We have been waiting for the complete package of new wood for the hull and console to get made and delivered to start the work on the inside of the boat. I talked with Mike at Nautical Lumber last week by phone, and he has it all fabricated and finished, and shipped the gunnel lumber, both new and old rails, to us last week. We expect delivery at Palacios early this week. The console doors and wood needed 1 more day's work on the finish, and we expect them to be at Palacios next week. This woodwork has taken a LONG time! This wood should look awesome, and with Mike's reputation for craftsmanship, I don't expect to be disappointed.

We are going to completely restore the super console to brand new condition. All wiring on the boat will be replaced to new and modernized. I am installing spreader lights on the T-Top, both front and rear, and under gunnel interior floor lighting as well as helm lighting for night fishing use. There will be underwater green lights for fishing at night as well. The electronics will consist of a Garmin 741xs combination GPS chartplotter and CHIRP sounder with a Chirp transom mount transducer, and a Garmin VHF-200 radio. There will now be four batteries under the console, 1 marine start battery for each motor and 2 deep cycle marine Group 31's for the electric trolling motor and night fishing lighting.

The dealer installed original custom leaning post with 30 gallon baitwell and tackle center is also going to be completely refurbished. Instead of the glaring white it will be Whaler desert tan from now on. The plumbing and aeration system in the baitwell will also be completely new, with new pumps.

We are taking this refit opportunity to get that Minn Kota Riptide SP - 70 lb Thrust, 54" Shaft, 24V, i-Pilot - Wireless trolling motor situated permanently on the bow of the boat. Right now, I am using a Riptide Saltwater Quick-Release Trolling Motor Bracket, RTA - 19, to mount the motor straight off the end of the bow of the boat. This works very well for stability of the motor, due to it's location directly over the original bowbit mounting plate, but the motors position when not in use gets in our way in the inside front of the boat. We are going to build a new stable mounting plate for the trolling motor to allow it to be positioned and supported more conventionally at a diagonal along the bow curvature. The power supply wiring for this motor will also be completely hidden and out of the way on the deck. It will still be removable using the Quick-Release mounting bracket, but the mount's block will have it's own custom glassed in platform to be attached to.

I don't have the original bowbit that came with this boat, it was missing when I bought the boat. We will install a cleat or bit in the original location to facilitate anchoring at the bow. Even with the old lightweight Johnson 2 stroke that was on the boat originally, it was uncomfortable to be anchored in 1-3 ft chop from the stern. The boat would take on water, then drain, in the transom drain area every time a wave hit the transom.

The original fuel tank has been completely drained and cleaned out in preparation for the new 4 stroke engines as well. All new fuel system hoses, tubing, and supply lines will be installed. The tank itself appears to be in great condition. The deck on the boat is sound, and other than having considerable amounts of dirt buildup on it from underneath the console and leaning post, has no damage in need of repair or replacement. There is some spider-cracking on the interior outside of the non-slip checkering of the deck that will be repaired.

It appears that the whole project just might be completed before the end of this year after all, but it doesn't look like we will have it for the fall redfish run. My wife and I really love to use this boat back in the shallow water cuts with oyster-shell bottoms and large reefs that hold a lot of fish this time of year on the coast. I sure hope I don't grow too old before the project is completed to be able to get there again in this boat! Man, this project is sure taking a LOT more time than I expected :(
Well, SURELY we'll be able to hit the fish hard NEXT year!