A sweet picture of the 222 at sea.

[Ben87]

Here is a picture of me out on Saturday, fishing.  I had the luxury of having a buddy and my Dad on another boat to capture this image.  I love it because the boat is way-off center, bobbing if you will, and is totally candid, my girl and I are fishing, oblivious to being photographed, they sky is anything but clear and blue, as it is it was around 4-5pm and we were in a rip, drifting along.  Just more to share with my fellow AS owners.  

Did I say that the new motor is so F-I-N-E fine!  Just having to turn the key and go is, not priceless, it was over $11,000, however it is so nice to be able to hit the key and go.  Compared to the old motor where I had to take it out of gear and advance the throttle, and when I hit the key I had to immediately pull the throttle back into neutral, then put it in gear and give it gas fast or it would die, then the engine would buck coming out of the hole because the bushings in the steering tube were shot and then when underway the powerhead would shake, rattle and roll and the motor overall would cause the whole hull to squirrell to and fro when underway.  All this I did not notice because I had gotten used to it all over the years.  With the new engine, the boat is stable and any speed and in any sea, it is like getting a new boat/hull.

I did run in snot Saturday afternoon as the winds were 15-30knots and the seas were 3-5 with a very short period as the wind had whipped the water up good, they laid down some later in the early evening however the ride into the wind was anything but dry, thankfully always wearing full-wets helped.  

The new motor is broken in, in that after the first 4 hours, I can now run a steady speed/rpm for more than 10 minutes.  For the first hour I had to run between 3000 and 4500 for no more than 2 minutes at at time, no problem with that, we found a quiet bay and ran it in, then for the next 3 hours we could not go more than 10 minutes at any one speed/rpm, easy, and it was advised to go full throttle for no more than 10 seconds which was fun.  

I estimate about 8-9 hours now on the motor and about 90 miles GPS and from what I've heard, after 10 hours the computerized break in, that is extra oiling and whatever else will be complete.   I'm estimating that we've burned about 1 quart of Optimax oil so far along with maybe 20 gallons of gas, which is incredible as the old motor would probably have gone thorugh double those amounts.  

As my Dad took this shot with his digicam, I can bring it up to an 8x10 and I'll frame it as the picture will always mean a lot to me.  Enjoy all.

[JimCt]

Great shot Ben!

For some reason, very few pictures posted on ClassicAS are of these boats actually being used.  Happy to see you are out to change that.

[Ben87]

Thanks Jim.  Fortunate am I that I have a buddy with a boat and we both went out on Saturday and I reminded my Dad to bring his digicam and that he was mindful to take this and other pictures as like I said, it is very hard to take a picture of ones self on a boat from any distance, like impossible, right?  I wanted a shot like those in the brochures and I got it.  I love how the boat is heeled over and the sea and sky are both anything but perfect, after all, anyone can go out in a calm sea on a sunny day, but I love the rough stuff and any sort of seas as the AS can take it.  I do love this boat and after looking at the picture over and over, I do love this shot.  There I am twiddling with the line at my rod tip while my SO is fishing, good stuff.  I hope to get more in action, next time my buddy is out, I will be sure to get someone to shoot some of the boat at speed at different angles because I'm into that.

[John Jones]

Cool pic.

What's with the heavy clothing?  Isn't it warm there yet?  

[Ben87]

Ah, ha, ha, ha!  While it might be in the 60's on land, out in the sound it is cool, and with a 2-4 foot sea, and the world-renowned anything but dry ride of the AS 222 hull, I'm in full foul weather gear almost into the dead of summer as the spray always has me chilled, even on a hazy, hot and humid day.  With no sun late Saturday and with the sun low on the horizon, it was chilly-willy out there.  

In Palmetto, you guys must have it good year round, something I can't really wrap my mind around or fathom as I've been in 4-season weather all my life.  The bright side is snowmobiling and the boating/fishing season is just that much more appreciated, at least for me.

[John Jones]

I do NOT miss seasons.  

We have winter here.  I have lived here 5 years and we have had 3 mornings with frost  

[RickK]

I don't miss the seasons either.  Been here all my life and remember standing at the bus stop as a kid and the temp was 19 on the bank sign - down here that is cold. (hell, that's cold everywhere)  I travel enough to get the seasons.  Keep'em "up there".
I haven't used my heat once in a few years although sometimes it gets cold enough to see your breath in the house, by 10am it's warm again.  Been 6 months since we opened the windows - getting close to having to close them and turn on the AC now though.

[John Jones]

I travel a lot too.  I get enough of the seasons.  Like being in Edmonton, Alberta in January.  

I turned the AC on for the weekend because we had a house full of company.  The wife informed me that she turned it back off Monday morning.  We do run a 5K BTU window shaker in the bedroom some nights.  I can't sleep when it's hot and she has the typical female hot flashes at times.  The hum helps me sleep also.

Damn I love Florida  

[JimCt]

Wet, cold, foggy... and now and then a drop-dead beautiful day which makes up for everything.  I wouldn't change a thing.

[RickK]

Ben, I forgot to mention that I like the action photo too.

[Anonymous]

Jim,

Just wondering if you ever got a chance to check out the 22-2 in Old Saybrook?

[JimCt]

Mperc,  Forgot completely about it        

Have to run down the line somtime this weekend so I'll swing by & take a peek.  Maybe we'll put the 170 in and take a jaunt down to Fenwick.  The guy I'm selling the boat to belings to the club there.  Will keep lookout posted for you if you're around.

[Anonymous]

Jim,

Getting my boat back tomorrow. Unfortunately it's soccer tourney time in Avon this weekend. I'll be back Sunday PM so Sun or Mon, I'll be out there for sure... Maybe I'll give you a shout on the VHF. What's your call name?

Mike