Took the XL250 for a short ride yesterday. Started and ran well even tho was pretty cold out. I know that I didn’t want to go much further because it was so cold.

Merry almost Christmas all!

You ain't kidding. It's been cold. Most of our snow finally melted off yesterday.

Would now be a bad time to mention it's been in the mid-sixties all week here in Georgia? :p:p:p

100 miles on the Ural this weekend and the temps ranged from 28 to 42F. Just another ride.

This morning was cold, around 72° with not much humidity. Thankfully, it recovered to the low 80s during the day :)

So I'm a wussy now! When it's too cold, I wrench. Is it dang cold in my metal building? Yup....but at least it's not windy.

I grew up near Fairbanks Alaska and spent 28 years up there. But, I’m now acclimatized to southern Oregon haha! 52 and rainy is now cold to me ;) back in the day, that would be a warm spring day and I’d be running around in a T shirt no joke…

I hear ya. I'm a cheesehead from N. Wisconsin. I was in South Africa for their winter 20 years ago. Stepped out of my hotel in shorts and a t-shirt and it was about 60F. I guess I didn't get the memo that I was supposed to bundle up in a stocking cap and down jacket.

OTOH, I was working in Australia the next year and it was 120 in the shade. And there was no shade. I was dying and the Aussies in the crew I was with were busting my balls about it. I did challenge all of them to meet me on the Chicago lake front in February but had no takers.

Let’s see, put rings in my TC125 and checked the water pump on my free Johnson 15. That’s about it! 125 runs a lot better to be honest. Pretty sure it was original rings.

Well, can’t remember what I last said or where, but, I think on the “what did you buy thread” I mentioned getting both a drill press and a 1976 15hp Johnson motor. The motor has been rebuilt, early 90’s but then sitting in a barn since then. That’s what I was told. Messing with it I have discovered, under the cowl things look great. But the throttle linkage was seized at the swivel. Got it apart and ordered some parts. It was plastic on aluminum so not sure what’s up with that. Lots of grease fittings tho and the pretty sure the motor hasn’t been in salt water. Looks pretty good over all. I got some parts on the way from eBay.

Giant Sears drill press is great. Meanwhile, my 325$ 1980’s Taiwan Chinese lathe… went to turn one thing and the DC motor burned out… soooo upgrading to an ac motor. No more variable speed without messing about with pulleys etc. I’m using the motor from my mainland Chinese harbor freight drill press (since I don’t need it any more). Also, have some belt pulleys on order for that project.

Boats…

Am looking at 2 different ‘free’ boats. A 1986 bayliner 18 foot cuddy cabin, with a force 85 that doesn’t run, 500$.

And, a 1988 Seaswirl 18 foot cuddy cabin, that has no motor but a professional mounted outboard pod is on it (used to be an inboard outdrive) This one is legit free.

Both have good trailers.

I guess, I am leaning toward the Seaswirl since it’s legit free and 5 miles from my house. But, no engine. That means, some amount of cash for an older 85-115 hp engine.

The Bayliner on the other hand, has the Force engine, but they were a strange brand and went out of business in about 1999 I think. They were a hodgepodge of Chrysler and Mercury from what I am reading. So, getting it might not be beneficial as I could probably spend 500-1000$ on a decent mainstream brand engine and be better off in the long run.

Going to go look at the Seaswirl today.

Nope on the Seaswirl. Guy said it had professional engine removal and engine bracket. Neither are true. I think he’s honest but naive. Engine/stern drive was removed, a plate of aluminum on the outside and a piece of plywood on the inside, and a floorboard installed. No outboard pod at all. Right now, the boat is just a giant canoe. Lol. So, passed on that ‘free’ boat.

The bayliner… talked with wife and half convinced her to go look at it this next weekend. 400-500$ isn’t bad and, it has the engine with it already even tho it doesn’t run. And, it’s a legit outboard.

Another possibility is I found a 12 foot aluminum boat on a trailer for 500$. I could hang my 15 hp on the back and use it without going into the open ocean. Will check that one out too maybe?

Gonna look at the bayliner tomorrow…

Updates to follow ☺️

I had my one boat. 18' Sea Ray bow rider I turned "casual bass boat". That was enough for this Toy Head. Next one will be a 12' aluminum I can drop into any pond.

Got the bayliner. So, it’s a 17 foot capri 1988 with US Marine Force 85 hp. 450$. What sold me was, his ad said no spark. I got there and instead he says, it doesn’t do a thing when the key is turned. But he had, a month ago, jumped the starter solenoid and sprayed fuel in the carbs and it fired. I knew then the engine was ok. Is just a wiring issue of some sort. Controls aren’t frozen. Has super nice galvanized trailer. Never seen salt water. Towed home with not an issue. Sitting in car port waiting for some tlc.

Interior cleaning and mods…