The new prop. Hmmm.... we're getting there.

Bear with me as I wax sentimental for a moment.

The photo may be nothing remarkable, but it's a view I worked and waited a long, long time to have:

Idling past the floating cabins at Hales Bar Marina in my Glen-L Utility.

Yes, I know I've had my boat in the water for two years now. Still, the value of keeping this kind of thing in perspective helps a person appreciate where they've come from in more ways than one. Six years ago, I took my very first ride in a handmade boat... a Glen-L Zip, at the fifth annual Glen-L Boatbuilder's Gathering. My dream of building a boat of my own was born.

This was the view when I took my very first ride in a hand-made boat 6 years ago... taxiing past a variety of docked hand-made boats and floating cabins in the shadow of the old Hales Bar Dam.

Last year, at the 10th annual gathering, I was giving rides in my own fully-completed boat, humble though it may be. I was giving rides to other people who were working toward their dream of building their own boat.

Last weekend was the 11th annual gathering, and last year's dreamers were now giving me rides in their boats. What a great experience.

Hey... if you're dreaming about building your own boat, quit procrastinating, and just do it. Get started, and no matter how long it takes, (or how little)... don't give up. Inboard, outboard, sailboat, rowboat, canoe, whatever.... you can do it. If I can build a boat, anybody can. Trust me. Quit procrastinating, and just do it.

Moving on....

G11 was a beekeeper's dream. Bees, bees, bees everywhere. In your face, investigating your coffee, following you halfway across the river. Everywhere.

Aside from that, there were some amazing, beautiful boats there. There was a group of great people who built them... people who have become friends, and who are becoming new ones.

But, I'm sure you're just dying to know how my new propeller worked. 

Well... not bad, but still not enough to accomplish the desired goal of planing with two adults aboard. 

Let me say that, if you're going to build a Glen-L Utility, and you're going to use a 4-stroke motor... get a 9.9hp. "Eight is great," or perhaps I should say "Eight is Enough" if you'll be the only person in the boat. Two people? Get the 9.9.

With just me in the boat, I found that the 6" pitch prop got the boat on plane at lower rpms than the 7" pitch. I did not attach a Tiny Tach to the motor this time. However, when I finally dared to run the motor at full-throttle, it did not seem to over-rev. Not a rocket. But, stable, safe.. and on-plane.

With myself and either of my kids aboard, the 6" pitch just didn't do the trick. Tohatsu makes a couple of 5" pitch props for this motor, so next I will try one of those... probably the 4-blade. We'll see what happens.

New prop

At the G10 boatbuilders gathering last year, I got to learn a little about prop pitch from a more experienced boater. 

We came to the conclusion that a propeller with a lower pitch might help my boat perform better with two adults aboard. The lower pitch should allow higher rpms and more thrust, hopefully getting the boat to plane with a heavier load.

Last spring, during maintenance on the motor, I more-or-less deduced that the "F7" marking on the prop probably indicated the 7" pitch original prop that comes as standard equipment on Tohatsu-Nissan 8hp motors.

So, not long ago, I ordered a 3-blade, 6" pitch propeller from Tohatsu. Today, after a trip to the lake, I put it on the motor. It fit like a charm. Next weekend, weather permitting, I should be able to test it at G11.

Original prop, with its glossy black finish

"F7" marking on the original prop

New-in-the-box Tohatsu 6" prop

The new prop has a matte finish, and flattened tips on the blades

Unlike the original prop, this one is clearly marked with diameter and pitch

New prop attached to the motor. The matte finish contrasts with the glossy finish of the motor.

On the road again...

Replacing the axle turned out to be incredibly easy.

I ordered a Karavan axle that had specs very similar to my old axle. The old one was round, mounted underneath the leaf springs, and was 56 inches long end-to-end with 42-inch spring centers. The new axle is 1 inch longer, with 42-1/4" spring centers.

Luckily for me, it was an easy drop-in fit.

New axle, mounted on top of the leaf springs.

New wheels attached.

The new axle came with 5-bolt hubs attached. Academy Sports was great about letting me return the 4-bolt hub kit and wheel I'd bought, and exchange them for a pair of 5-hole wheels / tires and a couple sets of lug nuts. The whole thing went on very easily. 

I mounted the new axle on top of the leaf springs, since this is how I'd seen it done in numerous YouTube videos. It was also the easiest way, being a one-man operation. I used new mounting hardware for the axle, tightened everything up, lowered the trailer, and tightened the lug nuts some more. Done.

A little repair to the hull

The last time I was at the lake, I got the boat askew as it floated back onto the trailer. The bow came alongside the front roller of the trailer, and the cotter pin at the end of the roller axle scratched through the paint in the hull. The damage was minimal, but still noticeable, leaving a scar at the bow, just under the chine. Thankfully, it didn't seem to go through the layers of epoxy and fiberglass, though a little wood was visible.

To repair it, I simply sanded the area around the blemish, applied two coats of primer, and 3 coats of paint. 

Now, barring any unforeseen problems, trailer is roadworthy and the boat is ready for G11.

Primer, applied over the sanded blemish.

The first coat of paint, drying.

With the first coat of paint dry, the primer underneath was still visible.

Third coat of paint.