Thread: Goes to show you - even boat mechanics sometime get it wrong

A few days ago I had to quit fishing because the foot control for motor direction change was stiff and hard to press. I called my boat mechanic and he said the cable probably wore out and I'd have to buy a new bow-mount, foot-controlled trolling motor. Amazon had one for $607 and I ordered it.
As a last ditch effort I figured: why not take a look at what's going on when the motor is down out of the water with me pressing the foot pedal by hand? Same problem.
But then I looked at the bar that runs from housing to motor and noticed that there are actually two bars: one above the height adjustment handle that doesn't turn and another below it that turns the motor.

The one plastic part that go around the bars have hose clamps for the one above that is tightened with no restriction seeing as how it is for prop depth. The other is for adjusting how freely the t.m. turns via the foot pedal. I loosened it and the motor turns freely like the unit is brand new! Got a refund from Amazon after canceling the order and saved myself . $640 (tax included). Good thing I didn't listen to him this time.

Another problem cropped up with my truck. Got ready to fish but the truck wouldn't start and couldn't be jump started from my car. A friend told me it was hopeless and to dump my 2003 Chevy 4x4 and get a new truck . Ever notice how much new trucks cost!!! Second mortgage time!

Before I had it towed, I put it on the charger - just in case. After 24 hours the green light shown on the charger indicating a 100% charge up from the 12% before charging. It started easily! ...and again and again and again! Must have left the dome light on with door slightly open. Good thing I didn't listen to my friend, same for my boat mechanic who obviously doesn't know Jack about trolling motors!

Now you know why I post what I know about lures based on experience-based experimentation and not from fishing articles that are nothing more than advertisements.

Originally Posted by MDCrappie

NO WAY I would ever dump a 2003 Chevy for the junk they are rolling out now, especially if you do your own maintenance and repairs. I've got an 02 that I just gave my son.

The only maintenance I do are oil/air filter and spark plug changes (the same for my old John Deere riding mower). The rest the mechanic does. Granted, the horn doesn't work, it needs new tires and the emergency brake cable snapped recently - but so what! As long as I can tow the boat to and from the waters I fish, less is best vs all the sophisticated crap that is on the newer models. Got no problem rolling the windows up and down - by hand!

BTW, my 1995 Toyota Camry runs fine used as a b/up to my newer leased Corolla. I looked under the hood of the newer car to jump the truck battery (no go) and couldn't believe how full of parts there were! I couldn't even find the spark plugs!)

(now if I could only fix my aching back and sleep more than 5 hrs. a night ! )