Bernie

Cool stuff Merc. You have to wonder how some of that old equipment even worked. Dad has some old stuff around his place too. And maybe a few rarely seen interesting ones as well. Maybe I'll take a few pictures this summer when I think of it.

Glad to see you out fishing Mike! Nice fish

Thank you for the offer Skinny. While it is a product made by OMC, my focus will be on Johnson/Evinrudes. Thank you Paul.

It's been a long time since the last sportsman show I was to. If it is any worse than the last one they should pay you to go.

Thank you folks. This little engine will not be used, just for display purposes. It does run, the engine is tight with good compression, mag plate is tight, lower unit holds pressure, shifts well. It has had very little use over its life. Mostly shuffled around in garages and basements. But I did not replace ignition parts, or carb overhaul. But if the need ever arose it could easily be done. My next one (the 18HP) is getting the full treatment as it will be mounted on a boat this summer.

Thank you Rattletrap. Thank you Wayne. Started on the 18 I got from the auction last summer. Gave it new coils, points and a water pump. It's in real good condition and is going to be a beauty. A customer came in the shop, seen it and said he has one just like it, electric start too. I'm going to try to get it and put the pair on a new cedar for next year. It's just a beginning plan for now, hope it works out.

Thank you Chris. Time machine, yes, it is for me too. I grew up using these nice little engines on the back of a cedar boat. They run so smooth and were so well made. I have a soft heart for them.

There are some programs that are very good, and some, to me, are very bad. Just depends on a persons tastes and interests. I enjoy "Q" most of the time, Vinyl tap, Quirks & Quarks, Vinyl Cafe, Saturday night Blues and a few more.

Thanks fellas. It did turn out OK, I'm pleased with the result.

I listen to CBC a lot as well.....but RC, Wiretap intelligent? Ha!

Nice to see you pick up a couple Randy.

Thank you Ranksda. Merc, Thank you. I'll take a shot of it for you tomorrow.

Hi Craig, sorry I missed the reply to you. Yes that is a new one. It's on a dory that they build for the Toronto Harbour.

I'd be glad to have you stop in Joe! Thanks TJ ! Thank you for the kind words Chris. Yes, it runs, although I did not do carb or ignition improvements. The block is in great shape with good compression, the lower end holds pressure and the magneto is tight indicating very little running over it's life. This one is destined for display. But my criteria is it needs to be able to be fully done if need be. My next one is getting the full treatment as I will be using it. Thanks Dozer! Yes, hopefully we will see you on the water.

Hi Lew, if it was the same colour it would be a 1958. The 57's were same colours but reversed on the hood. 56's were solid colour and a little darker. 59's were white.

Thanks fellas. Banger, the decals are available on-line My link Hey Vance, you know Ross? Good fellow and he is in here often, sometimes just to say hello.

I posted a couple pics in a recent thread of the 5 1/2 Johnson fixup. Here is a pic story on it. Waiting on the gold badge for the front then done. Working on the next one now. An 18 that Wayne gave me a heads up on last summer.

Headhunter, thank you for your level discussion procedure. This is the proper way to do it. Yes, there are places that do harbor fish yet. But most certainly not the way it should be. In my lifetime and my fathers as well the fishing has never been this poor. Perhaps at the turn of the century from the 1800's. At that time many species were harvested to the point of extinction. And from what I understand it wasn't the natives at that time. I believe at that time the blue pickerel was wiped out completely. Not entirely sure of the details.

Thank you for the offer Nipfisher. I rarely fish in the winter although I am out at the lake almost every winter weekend puttering around the cottage or reading a book by the fire. The summertime on the other hand I do enjoy heading out on the water and throw out the anchor to enjoy an evening of fishing. Use to be I could go to one spot, catch a couple and have a snack for supper. Now I need to go from one spot to another just to find one. My brother fishes out on the other side of Lonely Island and does OK but even there it's not the way it was only a few years ago.

Depends where you are fishing RC. To the best of my knowledge Callander Bay/ Deepwater and the North Bay water front isn't being netted...yet. Callander Bay has many shacks and anglers fish it rather heavy. But there are still fish there. Same as the North Bay waterfront area. I fish the South Bay and occasionally the French River. Both are areas that the nets have been used extensively. I guess I'll have to head over that way if I want to catch a Pickerel in the future.

I'm on the lake more days than most anyone I know and have been for 54 years. I know how it works. Moratorium? It's done when the ice is still on the lake and they can't net anyway because it is impassible. It's just PR to put in the newspaper and to Bull those that don't realize it. When nets are stretched across the entire river mouth and populated shoals the fish don't stand a chance. Not all the fish that are netted are put into the quota list. There are those that are on their own. They have admitted this and have said they would rectify that. I hope so. Not sure why I am arguing this as it seems it only goes nowhere, not my intention, I'd like to see solutions. It won't matter soon because there will be nothing left to argue about. There is no simple answer.

From my perspective. Summer fishing by anglers is nowhere near what it was even 20 years ago. Tourist operators are quiet in comparison to what it once was. In the last few summers when I am out on the water I have to look for other boats on the water, even on long weekends. At one time you had to get out early to get your "spot". Yes, there are more shacks out there in winter (less this year) but many of them do not get used on a regular basis. Up until 5 years or so ago on the south end of the lake I could go out and catch a few fish. Then the nets started coming down here because the pickerel were getting scarce in the French River area. As soon as this happened the fishing got tough. The fishery is doomed at the present pace. A few years ago they introduced the slot size. Most follow the rules, yes, there are exceptions. The reasoning the exceptions use is that the slot size fish end up being the ones the netters like to keep. While I do believe they are wrong for keeping them, I understand their reasoning. Does Simcoe get netted? How is the fishery there? How many anglers? Just asking. Sorry to add fuel to the fire, but I believe ignoring this is sticking heads in the sand. The MNR heads must be up to their butt by now. They don't want to address the problem either.

Well handled situation Cliff, by you and his father. I think you have earned the respect from the kid too.

If the engine cranks and it doesn't start on an F150 the module is the first thing I look at. The ignition systems are reliable. We get a few ignition coil break downs causing misfire. Spark plug replacement can be a bad experience for guys that don't know what they are doing so be careful when that time comes around. All in all the Ford pickups are probably the best bang for the buck on the market today.

Working on my little outboard today. Wife has the flu so gotta stay close to home. This is what I started with. And along the way. Decals, touch ups and small parts to paint to do yet.