87 222 150 Black Max pic

[Ben87]

Here is a shot of the rear quarter and the 1987 150 hp BlackMax we've had since new.  The motor runs however it needs some bushings in the steering shaft as it bangs coming out of the hole, the idle is not consistent and it is just time to retire the old girl.  All we've gone through are stators, plugs and impellers/water pumps so we're trading her in for an 06 Optimax 150, the 150 has been perfect, either empty or loaded up, the boat flies, so I'm not sold on 4-stroke or needing more than a 150 to get this boat going, even with the old carbureted V6, I'd get around 4-5 mpg, so I expect a little better with the new Opti on there, I can't wait.  New scuppers are on the way, both the rubber flapper and the Attwood plastic ring are on the way out so that is one more thing I'll need to get.  

You might not be able to see that I've taken the trim which goes around the inside of the gunwale, it is a long one piece, piece of trim, every once in a while it would fall down so I cleaned the inside of it off and will glue it in place, or at least dab a little every few feet or so to keep it up.

I do plan on refinishing the little teak in the boat, the rodholders, cupholders in the console and the partition piece in the bow, it will really set it off in the boat.

[RickK]

Why does the motor have 175 on it?  Someone just put it on there?  A mooring number? I ask because you're talking about a 150.

[Ben87]

One afternoon, while surfing behind the boat with little brother, towline gets caught on lower part of motor cowling, ripping it off, replacement spine for motor/the part with the sticker/hp# doesn't come with decal so little brother upgrades motor to 1-7-5, for the price of $3, we got 25 more horses, great deal eh?

[RickK]

That's funny.

[Ben87]

The kid, who was about 13 at the time wanted the biggest power increase available and wanted to bump horsepower up to 250 but I told him that it would be too much on the boat, so I convinced him that the 25 hp "mod" would be the best way to go.  Still, he stuck the numbers on too far away for it to look stock, anyhow, it is still a riot.

[Tailgunner]

Reminds of a guy at work who couldn't afford a Harley. He bought a Yamaha and put Hardley Davidson decals on the tank.

[Ben87]

I'm waiting for the dealer to get in touch with me to tell me that the new motor is in, I talked to him on Wednesday and he said that it was on its way and should be in by next week, I'm just so anxious, ya know?

[Tailgunner]

I hear ya. My mantra has been, "if I wanted patience I would have become a Dr".

Water is till cold, herring just got here. We still have time. Normally I am in the water by now running Lobster pots. This year I decided to do all the work before I go in the water. It's hard waiting.