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Finally got the boat in the water for the 1st time today.
Also, road tested the trailer.


The weekend was not looking too good, so when I did my road test today I decided to drive the boat to Cesars Creek Lake and back. I had my wife with me so I thought I would see if we could get the boat launched.
First try I backed to within 30 feet and then had wife back down while I watched to see if the boat floated off the trailer. She started jack knifing trailer and so didn't get far enough into the water.
Changed places and I backed the boat into the water and let her say when the 4Runner wheels were getting close to the water and I stopped.
The trailer is short, so you had to get the 4Runner tires within a foot of the water at which time the boat started to release off the trailer.
We walked in down the dock and tied her off while I took the trailer up and parked it.

Put the Bimini Top up and got the boat moving.

Everything seemed to work well, but I did find a couple issues.

1. The 4 leaf springs I replaced are way too stiff for the trailer. I am going to buy 2 leaf springs or take these apart and remove a couple leafs. Definitely beating the boat up being so stiff. I ordered the same springs that were on trailer, but they aren't right. After reading several threads on this topic, this trailer should be set up more for about 1000lbs versus 2000lbs with 4 leafs.

2. I need to check the throttle cable and replace the kinked gas line.
I have a new gas line due in tomorrow, didn't have it in time for testing today.
When I go to throttle up, the rpm's hesitate and then they catch up. Seems like play in the throttle cable or the kinked fuel line is starving the engine during throttle up until fuel vacuum forces hose open?
Throttle down seems to be more consistent, but maybe not. If not, more likely the throttle cable has slack in it.

Anyways, got a quick 1 hour test in today and found a couple obvious issues to work out. Doesn't look like this weekend will offer any additional chances, so I took a shot today.

Attached is the only picture I got today. My cheap camera isn't working and I was afraid we may go swimming, so I put my better camera back in the truck before taking off :-)

http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/dou...=1&o=0

Let me know if you have any input on what I seen today.

Best regards,
Doug