Hey Guys I have one question to ask

[dmcb]

Welcome Don. I've been a member for awhile and really enjoy the site. I don't own a SR either (although have owned a couple over the years). Boat in the summer on Northen Lk MI mostly. Over the years have spent a lot of time in the North Channel. Two favorite ports on the Lakes are Killarney and Tobermory.

We spend the season in the North Channel. Much of it near Killarney. Baie Fine is our favorite place and the fishing is usually good there.
In Little Current there is a broadcast every day in July and Aug called Cruisers Net. It is on channel 71 at 9 AM. There is some news, weather but the big thing is they rebroadcast each boat in the area that calls in with their location. Listen for Shannon and that will be us.
We are always at anchor somewhere in the area.
http://www.cruisingworld.com/destin...t-growing-by-leaps-and-bounds-1000058223.html
Doug

 

[jpk33]

Welcome Aboard!

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

What is it with guys named Doug and Bayliners anyway?

Funny, really funny... :smt038

we have common parents... US Marine... not sure who the older brother is but don't really care. Now we are made in the same factory(s)...

 

[maxwell1]

Doug (sorry about the Don, hadn't had my 2nd cup of coffee yet),
We haven't been to the Channel in about 14 years. Is the fish bus still in Killarney in the summer? We confine most of our boating to NW Lake MI and try to make it to Mack Island a couple of times each summer. We're talking about maybe going to the N. Channel this next summer. We belonged to the Great Lakes Cruising Club for a nuimber of years and always looked forward to attending their rendezvous's each year. April can't get here soon enough, we've got about 18" of snow on the ground now and it's 16 degrees F.

 

[dmcb]

Doug (sorry about the Don, hadn't had my 2nd cup of coffee yet),
We haven't been to the Channel in about 14 years. Is the fish bus still in Killarney in the summer? We confine most of our boating to NW Lake MI and try to make it to Mack Island a couple of times each summer. We're talking about maybe going to the N. Channel this next summer. We belonged to the Great Lakes Cruising Club for a nuimber of years and always looked forward to attending their rendezvous's each year. April can't get here soon enough, we've got about 18" of snow on the ground now and it's 16 degrees F.

Yes the fish bus is still there. I have a story about that.
In the late 60's we were coming from French River and intended to stay in Collins Inlet. My dock partner was retired and late to boating and followed us up from Saginaw Bay.
I called and ask if he wanted to go to Killarney telling him it would be after dark when we arrived. He agreed to my surprise.
We got out of Collins just at dark. The weather had been bad all day and it was still rough in Georgian Bay.
I looked over and at the top of the wave was a boat very low in the water skylined in the dim light.
I looked back at the lighthouse at Killarney to be sure I was on course. When I looked back for that boat I couldn't see it.
I thought they may have went down and went over to look.
Sure enough 2 teenagers were in the water and their boat capsized. No life jackets.
One of the boys was the son of a local fisherman. Bert Herbert.
That boy was the one who suggested the fish bus in later years and he and his dad started it.
He went through the ice on a snowmobile 8 years after I pulled him out of the lake and drowned. He had married and had a couple children.
His dad and I became very good friends and he continued with the bus. Bert died about 5 years ago.
The family still operates the fish bus.
To this day I think of this often. I wasn't that familar with the area at that time. A compass was our only navigation. I had no business being in those waters after dark. I don't have a clue why I was. The area wasn't marked like it is now. I guess I was there because of a power beyond me.
Doug

 

[Nacho Boat]

My experience is in fresh water both in Michigan and Florida.
I only boat the St Johns River in Florida and trailer our 28' with a 10' beam.Thanks for the invite.
Doug

Doug,

Where do you live on the St Johns? - Many of my club members routinely cruise on the St Johns from Orlando.

 

[Half Off]

Welcome Doug. One of the most knowledgeable boaters on our dock runs a Bayliner.

 

[maxwell1]

We used to really enjoy Okeechobee when Gord owned it. I understand that Ted is no longer associated with the Sportsman's. Did Collins inlet a couple of times. Made it up to the Bad River once. Great dinghy area.

 

[dmcb]

Doug,

Where do you live on the St Johns? - Many of my club members routinely cruise on the St Johns from Orlando.

I live in Inverness and trailer to the St Johns. Usually put in at Astor. A beautiful part of the river.
Doug

 

[dmcb]

We used to really enjoy Okeechobee when Gord owned it. I understand that Ted is no longer associated with the Sportsman's. Did Collins inlet a couple of times. Made it up to the Bad River once. Great dinghy area.

Okeechobee is privately owned now. After Gord died it was closed. He bought it for a song but is maintaining it beautifully.
Ted ran into financial difficulties.
The Sportsman's was closed for almost a year and I think it was in bankruptcy.
It has reopened and the new owner has put tons of money in it. Added a 3rd floor and of course more rooms.
The docks will require a bit more work but there is great improvement in the entire place.
Doug

 

[kpetry]

Welcome Doug! I will not take issue with your Bayliners, but I cannot in good conscience hold my tongue as to the abomination of placing a CAR MOTOR in an airboat! Everyone knows that REAL airboats run aircraft engines!

(For those of your less initiated, this is the constant banter that takes place on websites like Southernairboat.com.)

I run a 6 cyl Continental on a 14.5 foot River Runner hull. Lots of fun when I can't get to the Ohio River to get my weekly boating fix.

This one was from last spring in a flooded field on our farm:

This is how we launch 'em in Indiana:

 

[Dave S]

Welcome to CSR Doug. :thumbsup:

Dave

 

[dmcb]

Point taken. However I have had an airboat with a 4 cyl, 6 cyl, and an 8 cyl Continental. The last two were ground power units. The 4 cylinder was from a wrecked aircraft.
The 8 cyl was fun to run but I couldn't keep it together.
I have to tell you that while it does take some of that horsepower to move the boat with the auto engine, I will never go back. The aircraft engines were like having an old Harley. Ride a while, fix a while. :smt001
That 502 hp, 502 ci crate engine has been almost trouble free.
I will never go back.
Anyway ground power units are getting hard to find in our area.
We can airboat right out our back yard. We live on a canal leading to a chain of lakes. Much of the lake area is swamp and perfect airboating conditions.
We just run it on the ground to launch.
Doug

Welcome Doug! I will not take issue with your Bayliners, but I cannot in good conscience hold my tongue as to the abomination of placing a CAR MOTOR in an airboat! Everyone knows that REAL airboats run aircraft engines!

(For those of your less initiated, this is the constant banter that takes place on websites like Southernairboat.com.)

I run a 6 cyl Continental on a 14.5 foot River Runner hull. Lots of fun when I can't get to the Ohio River to get my weekly boating fix.

This one was from last spring in a flooded field on our farm:

This is how we launch 'em in Indiana:

 

[djboots]

I dont care if he owns a frickin row boat.....if he likes boating and is not and ass sign up!!!

 

[kpetry]

502 - sweet!

What do you think of your Hino diesels? I've never heard of another boat using them other than Bayliners. Is service an issue?

 

[dmcb]

I dont care if he owns a frickin row boat.....if he likes boating and is not and ass sign up!!!

I'll try not to be one. :grin:
Btw I lived close to the Sea Ray Factory built in 1962 in Oxford, Michigan.
They had a small pond in front of the office building and I always wondered if they tested them in that pond. :wow:
I watched them grow to a large mfg. plant.
Doug

 

[tobnpr]

Welcome aboard, Doug.

The 3870 has a TON of room for it's size. I almost looked at one but couldn't quite deal with the slow cruising speed. The older MY's were of a much higher build quality than their entry-level boats of that time IMO.

How reliable have those Hino's been, are they naturals or turbocharged?- and how difficult is it to get parts and a mechanic that knows how to work on them? Just curious...

 

[Four Suns]

Everyone knows that REAL airboats run aircraft engines!

Ya know... aircraft engines belong in things that have wings. Without them, you are nothing more than w!ngless.

 

[dmcb]

Mine are naturals. The larger 45 and 47's are turbo's.
From all I have been able to learn they are very reliable. 10,000 hours has been mentioned but I don't know.
There is a ton of info on the Bayliner Owners site in the Motoryachts section.
They are a simple engine and there is one mechanic (Earl) who goes around the country in a motorhome and is the best. But there are others local but not everywhere. The same engine is used in trucks so parts are available and easily obtained. Some marine only parts like the manicooler are very expensive.
I am pretty remote so if I have a problem likely I will be the mechanic.
There are a lot of owners on the Bayliner site and I can't remember anyone having a failure that wasn't caused by water entering the engine. From all I have learned I feel good having them but that might change if I have problems. :smt001
A few earlier 38's had Chrysler Mits diesels. They are trouble.
A good cruise speed is about 16 mph. I usually run at a bit under hull speed.
Thanks again for the welcome all.
Doug

Welcome aboard, Doug.

The 3870 has a TON of room for it's size. I almost looked at one but couldn't quite deal with the slow cruising speed. The older MY's were of a much higher build quality than their entry-level boats of that time IMO.

How reliable have those Hino's been, are they naturals or turbocharged?- and how difficult is it to get parts and a mechanic that knows how to work on them? Just curious...

 

[2000SEARAY280SS]

Wow what an introduction and vetting process for a new member.:grin:

Welcome to the site and I feel I all ready know you. I do some work down at Mayport NAS from time to time. The St John's river is always tempting when I am down there.:thumbsup: