After the boat ran great last week, I had plans to take it offshore and look for paddies. The goal was to meet Steve down at the ramp at 5:30 and get under way.
First hiccup of the day was a stiff west breeze that they weren't calling for, but the boat appeared to be running good.
Second hiccup was running to get some mackerel and the boat bogged down again... UGH, back to square one. We ran back into the bay and tried some repairs at the courtesy dock. We got it running just OK and decided to just try the PL kelp and see if we could mange a few fish on the limping motor.
The wind then switched to a 15-20 kt SW wind and what a crappy wind that was!
Then we couldn't find a single mackerel for that matter until I entertained Steve with a trip to the kelp line for a quick skunk saving bass.
I decided I wanted to make the run and find some rockfish for the cooler. The wind wasn't bad at our backs, but after just deciding to pack it in and run for the ramp, I realized all that stiff wind and waves were in out face. Let's just say that we were soaked and my back is jacked this morning.
So, fishing wise, this was a bottom of the barrel type of day. I got the boat home and started looking for obvious issues on the motor. As I was filling up the gas tank, I shook the gas cap and heard sloshing. I popped off the air cup on the bottom of the cap to see it filled with water! My tank wasn't letting much air through the vent to let the gas to the engine except in little bubbles though the cap/cup.
I drained and cleaned it, but will still probably replace the fuel pump and coils just in case as they are the original equipment from 1979 and are way over due. In any case, it was nice to find a cause of the effect and I will have to get it out again and test it... once again.
Otherwise the rest of my fathers day was great with my wife and kids. As for the boat problems, well that was nothing a little liquor couldn't fix.
