Fall 2018

What a great time to make a post! We are actually in St Pete in between trips to Big Pine Key. I have a crazy work schedule as always this time of year so it makes fishing time precious.

Before we left though lobster season opened in Florida. Don’t know why, but it has been tough pickings out there. We did ok, but certainly did not kill it like previously. Some blame the hurricane, I just think it was a weird season. All our spots were still there, but have to admit the water is not as clear as it used to be. Here are some shots ..

This is a big turtle we chased around the flats

I am not saying that the water is not still beautiful! After all this is the Florida keys I am talking about …

I love those mirrored glass shots. Trust me, it is not like that all the time. The keys are one of the windiest places I have ever been. Wind makes waves, which can make it pretty uncomfortable at times!

Back to the tower work on the Woodytoo. I am close to having the tower rigged as a second station. Everything is in place, still working on adjusting. Lower station works perfect, up top I am having trouble getting full throttle.

Here is the work to date … the biggest pain was running the hoses and cables. All in all 3 steering hoses, a throttle cable and a gear cable through the pipe work. It gave me a chance to fold the tower and console down. Worked pretty slick.

Steering install:

For the controls I installed teleflex dual station units one for throttle and one for gears. I had to manufacture and glass in a shelf to mount them, and decided on putting it on the bulkhead under the current lower station. I am not the best at glassing, but it came out pretty well.

Then it came down to installing the Morse controller-up top, new cables to the lower station control, and then the engine.

True confession time – the reason I was working on the controls so urgently is we broke the gear cable near the engine connection. Of course while offshore, and in a less than desirable sea state. We Gerry-rigged it to get home, and then the real engineering took place! So out come the wire ties and a lot of cursing. Got her done though, and fished the boat flawlessly on a couple more trips.

Seeing is believing …

Of course I had plenty of errors. Glen kept telling me to watch out for a plastic bushing that was holding the cable tube near the engine. Well, guess what it sinks! :). Glad I am scuba certified!

Bottom line – got it all done, and now it is time to tune it to perfection. It sure makes for a different boat and good heavens it improves the visibility!