Boat Woes

As part of island life, you need a vessel to get you to your destination or rely on the Water Taxi service offered. While we use the Water Taxi in the winter months, we have had our own boat for quite some time that we moore from May - October. As the family is growing, it became apparent that our 14 ft Sangster would just not be big enough for all of us. So the new boat search began! As you probably are aware, boats are not cheap, so we began searching for something a bit bigger, but of the same vintage as our 1975 boat. As luck would have it, another islander was ready to part with his boat motor. After a couple of weekends on the island doing work in trade for the motor, we are the proud owners of a 2004 Honda 4 Stroke 130 Horsepower Motor, this thing is going to haul! Having a motor but yet no boat J began his search to find a boat worthy of this motor.

After some Craigslist searching, J found a late 70's model 18 ft Glasply that required some love. It came with motor, but off that one came and was sold to a mechanic who rebuilds motors. The Glasply boat was stored all winter at our Aunt's place (which also required work in trade), until work began in the Spring. Every available night, J was working at the "Barn", a lane garage that his cousin shares rent on with my brother. They were nice enough to let him work on the boat in the barn, but wanted to work done fast, so they could have room for their bike and car projects.

The islander that was parting with the Honda motor was getting his new motor put on by a boat mechanic in Gibsons, so last weekend, we towed the newly restored boat over on the ferry (for a cost of $170!). We went with joy to the mechanic thinking we were getting the new motor put on J's labour of love only to find the mechanic having doubts on the quality of the transom (for all you known boating folks, a transom is the wide, usually flat area at the very back of a boat) and the size of the boat for the torque of the motor. Say what?!!! Now what to do? Our options to this point are;

A. Find a new, bigger boat for the Honda motor.  Does anyone have a boat for sale?
B. Go with the various second opinions (ie. Other mechanics and the Honda dealer), who think building a transom plate will be fine and this motor is a great option for this boat
C. Sell the Honda motor and buy a smaller motor for the Glasply.
D. Rob a bank. Win the lottery.  This option would be most ideal, we could buy whatever we wanted. Can you imagine? Well, yes, BC Lottery Corporation, I can.

As you can see, each options requires time, money (well, not option D, but I am realistic) and effort. This motor will probably not see water for this boating season. 

So, after thinking it over, we are leaning towards Option B. But, the motor was still sitting at the mechanic shop, so J had to get it out of there. After much effort of getting the motor into the back of the truck (a stand had to be built and it required a lift). We hauled the motor back to the mainland via the ferry yesterday. I would forget it was in the back of the truck and wonder why everyone was looking at us. Oh right, it does look weird to have a motor sitting in the back of a small pickup. Many people joked were we just going to drive into the water. Yes, ha ha, you are very funny.

So now, the motor is still in the back of the truck. The boat is still on the Coast (it's coming over tomorrow) The boat was left in our friends front yard and it looks like someone attempted to steal it on Saturday night, maybe they realized it had no motor?

We are hoping the boat mechanic we have found will have time to put the two together (if he thinks a transom plate will suffice). It is the busy season for boats, boat mechanics and all things boats, so we may not get this boat in the water this season. We just need the 1985 Mercury with no reverse and a high idle hang in there for one more season.

J working on it - new floor being installed

The boat in the "Barn"

Finished Product - Going over on the ferry

It does look weird!

Yes, it is big!

Hang in there old girl! We still love you!