Hello all, new member, new owner

[mainefinn05]

We just purchased a 1974 19-6 on Saturday.  Ran it Saturday, it has a 1994 115 hp Yamaha with the transom redone and raised in the same year by the marina.  She appears to have good bones, no smell at all in the bilge through the hatches, previous owner redid the decks last year.  He epoxy painted the under sides and glassed and epoxy the top sides and added non slip.  I'll need to replace my center forward hatch next spring.  My gunnels are a little noodled but I think I can fix that buy adding wooden rod holders with a top rail under the gunnel and secured to the floor.  I have some specific questions.  She makes about 34mph with a full load of fuel and two on board, seem right? My prop is chewed, as in no tips, or bent back, etc.  I'm thinking a SS prop if you think its worth the extra coin, and if I do what pitch/size? I have searched the forums and found limited specifics.  Next question is she gel coated? I would like the fair in the hull.  I have some hull areas with exposed glass from a previous roller trailer, should I glass patch or body fill and paint? Lots of old screw holes topside I was going to fair up as well before painting.  My wife, also my fishing buddy, has the skills and knowledge to spray anything out of a gun, looking for suggestions.  By the way great site and what a great riding hull and I love the fuel consumption for such a seaworthy package in my eyes.  Prior boat was a 15' gull wing that ran like a wet noodle and we bluefish and striper out of the Saco River in Maine.  Thanks in advance!

hoping i got a deal and a good platform, $2400 with a loadright trailer, fishfinder, new vhf and everything works as it should. He included all basic gear, jackets, tons of line, and an awful sturdy anchor for the boat size.

[GoneFission]

Welcome MF!  Lots of questions there - post some pics so we can see what you are talking about.  But to take on a couple:

- You won't get good speed without a decent prop - and stainless is the way to go.     Check out Craigs or eBay and you might find a deal.

- The original boat was gelcoated, but many have since been painted.     You will need to check it out and see what you have.  A little scraper action in a not-so-visible location can tell you if she's been painted.  It's a blessing to know or have someone nearby who can lay down a nice, glossy coat of paint!    

- $2400 seems like a deal for a rig you can use right away.    

- Check out the motor before you go out - new water pump impeller, thermostat, and lower gear lube would be minimums on a well-maintained motor.  Also, repack the wheel bearings on the trailer to make sure you get to the ramp and back on the first trip.  

[gran398]

Agree. You did fine on the price.

Also agree on the prop. Correct stainless prop, you'll pick up 4-5 mph.

A lady who can use a spray gun is awesome. If it's beneath the waterline, and the gel is still there, and hasn't been awlgripped...go with glass and poly resin, then she can spray gelcoat.

If it has been painted below the waterline, and was epoxy primed, etc...you can take the quick way out and go with marinetex epoxy on the gouges, then paint.

You can't gelcoat over epoxy or paint

[alandry100]

welcome to the forum - I am also on SOL and fish the same areas - I would not go SS, if you fish shallow (with rocks), which you do if you fish Southern Maine than I would stick with aluminum, buy a new one, get the other one refinished, and have two (for less than the cost of a SS). If you ding a rock (which are everywhere) with SS are a lot more likely to mess up your lower unit.

[mainefinn05]

New impeller, lower unit oil, bearings and bearing buddies and thermostats within the last year.  When trolling she pisses so loud it's almost all you can hear.  I don't think I will plan on getting too shallow but we'll see if she lets me go stainless, wondering what pitch if so.  Also most of the original bottom paint is almost gone so wondering if I should just remove it all and then fair in the exposed glass and rebottom paint or just saind and rebottom paint.  Hope these pics come across ok.

pre first trip clean up with a steam cleaner [attachment=2:38nhe6qf]photo.JPG[/attachment:38nhe6qf]

Buddy with the first blue on my boat [attachment=1:38nhe6qf]Mike's Blue.JPG[/attachment:38nhe6qf]

top up [attachment=0:38nhe6qf]top.JPG[/attachment:38nhe6qf]

[Blue Agave]

Welcome mainefinn05  

SS is the way to go as far as props go.  If rocks are an issue in your area look into getting a prop with a breakaway hub.

[Skoot]

Nice looking rig, congrats and welcome aboard.  Hard to tell, but appears to have the original Bimini top. Would you mind sending me a pic of where the Bimini attaches?  My Bimini is also original, but previous owner installed a slide attachment on top of the gunwale.  :(

As for your prop, I would suggest calling a reputable prop shop and give them your current prop specs, plane time/speed, WOT RPMS, top speed etc and what you want to acheive and they should be able to get you really close.  I think there is a link on the resourses form.  If not get a hold of slvring, he found a prop guy that was really reasonable and very easy to work with.

Last thing, I noticed you had those brackish water stains on your boat.  Mine had the same thing and I found that "Sno-Bowl" (and only the brand Sno-Bowl) diluted to 3/4 to 1/4 water then sprayed on these areas cleaned up the stains with ease. (rust stains too)

[alandry100]

I think you should go aluminum, you will be in shallow water and if you fish enough will ding a rock - the performance may be better but for the distances and speed you run around here I don't think it will matter.
To figure out what pitch I would try to figure out what your existing one is. If you have a tach you should be getting 5500 rpm +/- at WOT. From what I understand each inch of pitch will decrease WOT rpm by 300-400 rpm. For reference I was running a 13.25x17 on my 170 with a 70hp Yamaha, I was getting 4900 at WOT, switched to a 13.5x15 and now running at 5600 rpm at WOT. New prop was $150.  By the way  behind those islands stripers cruise in less than 1.5 ft. next sunny day check it out. May have you reconsider fishing shallow.

[mainefinn05]

Ya we routinely chase them in behind those islands in my buddies 15' Whaler with a trolling motor, sight casting with fly rods, fun and frustrating game.

Skoot, working on the pic you requested.  Currently our weather is not co-operating.  Is there a specific reference point within the pic I can help you with?  I was just gonna shoot it with the console representing a flat plane while looking at the opposite side mount.

Alandry you are probably onto something, I don't think that 115 is putting out enough to realize a difference in prop materials.  Think I am pushing almost 6,000 currenty at WOT.  Will check again on my next ride, either tonight or tomorrow.  I rarely have any need for top end as I prefer to just put it on plane for good economy.  Problem is I think I need to remove my current prop and bring it someplace to figure out what it is, I can't find the designation anywhere on it.

[alandry100]

I agree on the fun and frustrating - I have been focusing on the flats this summer and have not quite dialed in but there is nothing more challenging around here than stripers on the flats. Have you pulled the prop? Sometimes they are stamped under the washer on the hub.

[Skoot]

Skoot, working on the pic you requested.  Currently our weather is not co-operating.  Is there a specific reference point within the pic I can help you with?  I was just gonna shoot it with the console representing a flat plane while looking at the opposite side mount.

Thanks, but no rush.  Im just curious where the Bimini attaches to the boat/hardware and with what.

[dburr]

For getting your current wheel fixed you can find the closest shop and drop it off off and depending on how bad she is chewed up you will get it back in a week..

http://www.hhprop.com/locate-dealer/me-prop-repair.php

The boys at Port Harbor in Rockport sometimes have the correct size wheel on the shelf and will "loan" it out for a six pack of something appropriate... Thiers is a Thursday to Thursday deal.

The local guys can call H&H with the hull type and weight along with a few other numbers and get the correct size for you as well.  However, getting the dings out of what you have will make a big differance.

I have a stainless wheel (came on the engine) at the moment and suffed no damage when I found a submerged floating log.. However, my vote for running up here is aluminum too, especially if you are working skinny water, granite is less forgiving then wood... The Old Man always had a spare wheel and wrenches and he ran from Penobscot Bay to Eastport for years with nothing but a leadline and never bent a shaft...

[alandry100]

I know it is counter to my opinion on which prop to get but saw this on CM - doesn't list price.

http://www.classicmako.com/forum/topic. ... C_ID=44320

[Necessary Evil]

Welcome aboard. :)

[mainefinn05]

I have no vibration but I will need a spare/new one at some point. The fishing is good and I took off the next three Fridays to enjoy it all.