Missing Red Fox

[Mr. Fisherman]

As I sit here bored and longing for the Ocean to lay down and permit me passage yet again I long to read Gregs stories and look at the pictures he always took the time to share.
I visited his site but the stories lack the pics, I am sure due to the sheer volume he has already uploaded.
I could sure use a good story....

I read all of Ray's stories of the boat he built that look like a C-Dory and Bill and El's latest adventures too.

If the conditions would inprove and I could keep the dogs out of the vet I would go make my own. Always good to live the story...
But I sure do miss Greg....

[Redƒox]

Hey It's been a crazy summer with no end in sight yet.... I'm off again soon for another week
I will get to posting more pix (the way I like to) and try give notice over here, (link) soon as I can...
Matter of fact I just posted the start of another story on my site, if you don't know already. If I only had more net-time, I would add pix to the stories as well...

PS: LOVE THAT FRONT PAGE PIC'!!!!

[Mr. Fisherman]

Greg, I read them all... twice...
I really need to go fishing...

[Redƒox]

How adorable is the new logo! great job! Been wanting to do that for a long time now!

I just got in, and for a change I got right to posting all of what I wrote of the latest journey, on fox-trots.

PS: I'll be working on the other one before it, that never got finnished. I'm just publishing them without getting overly concerned about how I may be better satisfied if they were better. It's not easy, but worth it. Just sumpin' that's in my heart to share for now, this point and time in my life.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Just finished reading the last 4 installments, well done. It was like I was there enjoying a big stoggy with you.
Thanks for taking the time to write that up....
Looking forward to more...

[Redƒox]

Next time out I'll light one up in your favor then Ray. Thnx for the thnx, I got plenty more to post, and might get to it sooner than later. I closed the site for "chat" and now it's much less work that way. I'll be working on it as time goes by.
Funny how one becomes another person in a way out there. I don't get much desire for certain treats like them stogies around home, just out there. Who-da-thunk!

[Redƒox]

O.K. Son! More boat-logs (with pix this time) on my site. There will be 2 -more parts to go yet... (takes time)

They are all on the left menu in order of (newest ones on the bottom) Port Chalmers (latest) Lots more comming (I aint done C-Dorying yet!)

OUT.... poof**

[Mr. Fisherman]

Outstanding Greg, I sure envy you and your lifestyle.
I guess I need to cowboy up and start doing more boaterhoming even if it is just on and around the Columbia.
I hope to make the inside passage trip next year if everything goes well.
I don't see a new fiberglass cockpit cover yet. I was thinking about fabricating something out of that old growth plastic lumber .
I would like to know more about your dinghy and the motor you have for it.
Thanks for taking the time to share your stories bud, I really need them sometimes.

By the way, what is an ATF?

[Redƒox]

Just popin' in before I poop out to tell yas I completed part 4 tonight.
Ray your welcome! thnx for speaking up We'll quack latter bud, I'm out.... ZZZZZZZZ

[Mr. Fisherman]

OK Greg, I think I need to come up and play.
I really liked the pic of that piece of ice you held up, awsome.
Hopin you find time to answer the questions above and finish your last installment as you got back to port.
It is interesting to read the stats, great mileage. What is your curent fuel capacity? Do you have a quick connect system to change tanks>
Inquiring minds want to know.
I have a 58 gallon main tank with 3 6 gal tempos and a 20 gal spare.
I have logged well over 200 miles and had a few gallons left in the main with no problem. Never tapped into my 12 gallon reserve on those trips.

[Redƒox]

Okay... lucky for you today.... RAY!! I'm feelin like a 'nice guy' ---
again

Well, we had such an awesome summer... I ain't got that durn 'hard top' done
yet. Now your getin me to think towards that "lumber" idea! You know... I
still want it to have a "translucent top" for light purposes. And if I do it
in fiberglass, it will save me a ton of $$ (that plastic stuff is
super-duper-spendy!) I have decided when I do "do it" I'll invent a
'sliding-top design' of some kind... don't want 'sumpin hangin overhead -
all the time!

Now it's high-time for another 'Yamaha commercial' (you asked for it----lol)
The 'Baby boy' is the new '2.5 four-stroke' very light and it 'makes fuel'
as you go! I believe I had some info on it in one of my 'chapters' on my
crummy little site, a while back. So far so good! I would not have gone with
a larger engine, that lil' bugger really pushes it! now I also have the
inflatable canoe! it's the engine of choice for the smallest of dinghies and
canoes. That 'dinghy is 7-ft' 8 or there abouts, buts a heavy lil' bugger.
Planes with just me in it with the 2.5----no problemo! along with my
'invention' I been slowly developing, it planes at ridiculously low
speeds!, most importantly though.. it's a quiet little ball of fun

My fuel system is now them; 2 'gunnel tanks' that are 27-gallons each. A
12-gallon portable as a reserve, plus a tank or two of the small 2-gallon
tanks, I use to fuel the dinghy and the 'gen. Going alone and not
encountering any 'open-sea' running or much 'rough-water' I'm good for about
250-300 miles most times. Add another person and gear, and the numbers drop
(of course) my 'low-fuel-strategy' is: If ya can't make it back to port,
maintain on the main engine (if it's a four-stroke) about 4-'kts,
(preferably on the kicker) that usually at least doubles or triples your
range... allowing you to get back to port on minimal fuel. Then again... ya
gotta go with the tides to! (sometimes)

Ray from what I know about your boating-style, and them figures, I get the
impression your bucking a lot of open-sea and carrying a lot of weight.
Peeps' are heavy-cargo...
throw in some big 'buts...and your really in for it! (LOL) course, on your
return-route; you've consumed a lot of fuel! and are lighter if ya didn't
get any fish...

I have eliminated any "quick connects" in my system for reasons of
reliability (simplicity) there is really no need for any, cept for the
12-gallon spare, which I soon will pipe-in to the mechanical-selectable fuel
switch. From this line that will run from the fuel switch, instead of right
into the fuel/water separater (like it is now) will go the line to the
'reserve 12-gal'; That line is the only 'quick-connect' in use, for the
option of putting in one of my large fuel-barrels to tap-off-of (as another
main tank) for really long trips (like the from; the sound to the southeast)
if I should desire to do so (probably will.... have to give up my 'smokin
and drinkin' to do that trip though!

Along the this line of thought... Are you sure your propped right? Can you
pull
within (at least) 500 rpm of redline (?) when heavy; preferably 300 rpm.
Myself,
I would like to see 200 rpm of maximum----no less---optimal, avoid lugging
it.
(the boat getting heavier and heavier) chose to step-down a notch (17 pitch)
from a 19-pitch. I lost NO speed (still can pull 35-mph!) Also I noted; the
17-pitch prop seems to be the 'pivotal-point' of optimal-performance from
the prop maintaining it's 'traction' and that 'stability-of-ride' (aka:
minimizing the 'fly-swatter' effect) or the bow falling too quickly over the
waves (as I would put it).

"Cowboy up" Indeed! (Hey can I use that, I like it). My 'cowboy' I put to
work, while my 'Injun' just wanted to be out in the 'new canoe' all the
time! Good thing I have multiple-personality huh!


What the hell is this "Inside Passage trip" anyway.... can I come!... is
"obnoxious RedFox" invited...?

A.T.F. = (Alcohol. Firearms. Tobacco) you knew that!! Keep in mind; I'm
really a light-weight when it comes to all that poison, so I'm just BSn'
most the time!

ARG, I'm out. Hope I didn't loose ya! Did any of ya'll survive this one...
hehehhehehe....

[Mr. Fisherman]

No, I'm still here....
Duh me.... ATF ..slaps forehead....

Greg, with the 20 pitch on the 90 Suzy I can get up to 5400 RPM loaded for Tuna.. Thats 3 large men, an 11 yr old boy, about 500# of ice comercial tote, 150 quart and 80 quard coolers and all the fiching gear. The boat jumps on step even with that load and I have seen 34 MPH in open water... boy was it smooth out there that day. With a light load in the river I have seen 36 mph. I think I am proped right .

The inside passage trip is likely just a dream.... something I would oh so love to do... but I don't think my spouse will buy into letting ,me go. If she does I will take my son. You would be very welcome to come along. Are you thinking buddy boat or passanger?

At the very least I want to explore the Sound and the Channel Islands. That will happen for sure....

Ahh to dream.... see what you started?

My main tank is actually dual 29 gallon tanks that fit in the transom under the splash well. I sure love the range I get. Need a flow meter and it is on the list.

Thanks for the timely updates. I sure enjoy them....

[Redƒox]

Innerestin! And impressive performance from that engine! That's the "gear reduction system" working in your favor, to be sure!

I would bet you would prefer a step-down in pitch (17) at least when heavy like you are. I was doing exactly the same and was satisfied for years that way, pulling 5400 max' while super heavy. Then I banged up my prop and decided to try a "pitch-down" instead of the O.E.M. 3-blade 19-pitch. When I did.... WOW right away I noticed hidden performance that seemed like I almost turbo-charged it!!

Sounds to me like your a skosh heavier than RedFox when out for tuna. That newer hull is your advantage. This summer out and about with pirate Sundog and crew, we did some measuring and comparing, and found the newer hulls to be significantly wider! thus you draw less water than I, and that can convert into higher speeds and generally, better load-carrying.

The trade off is; my hull is ridding lower in the water... possibly giving me better 'stability (while under-way? (seems like it anyway). I don't think I could live with out my single-engine-transome design I have grown to use to it's utmost potential.

The ultimate "Angler" model, (and even the "Cruisers) would be to convert the transom to a "bracket-design" for the main/s, and have your kicker on the transom on it's own folding adjustable-bracket (like the Classics) and rip out the sea-well so you can have a full-transom-design (hello gunnel-tanks) so one has access to all of the cockpit! .... then again, you'd be 'billed as' a "24-footer"... therefore getting ripped-off that much more for moorage! I don't know.... I think it would be the hottest and smartest "24" "22" fishin/cruising machine around in terms of being efficient, trailerable and sea worthy. I definitely am going to 'bracket' my baby some day... if the transom ever wears out! These dang C-Ds die hard! don't know if I'll ever see the day of the conversion.

And yes, you'll luv them flow meters! I thought mine "took-a-dump" but I discovered it to be a pin-hole in the remote fuel line instead, causing an air-leak! (da-ooh)

Naah I was just kiddin... I don't see me ever getting down that far to meet up with the group... if I did... you know me, I'd have to have my own baby! Matter of fact.... I don't see us gettin "out" at all this winter... were still trying to "get the hell out of Dodge" ("Ancho-rage") Lookin towards the Southeast again! My beautiful 'PW Sound is going to become a "people-spill" some day soon. It's too close to Los-Anchorage not to be!

I'm Out..... Poof***

Good to BS again Ray! Try that 17!