I am SO angry right now.......

[powell&hyde]

Well Mr 16, whats the latest with your marine engines?

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I intend to try and put up the Gamefisher 'as is".....hopefully someone will want it for parts or as a project engine or some such thing.....maybe I can at least recupe some of the money I've put into the thing.....

As for the Johnson: I haven't had a chance to work on it at all, so that will have to wait until after vacation. I'll take my little boat & motor with me on vacation (13 ft w/ a 9.9 Evenrude)......not what I wanted to take, but at least I won't be fishing from shore.

If and when I can get this damn Johnson running, I'll probably put it and my 16ft John boat up for sale......used it maybe twice in the last 5 years.

[multibeard]

It is too bad that you live so far from Howard City. There is a good outboard mechanic over here. Works full time at a boat sales and works at home on the side. I had hime go over the 25hp evenrude on my project pontoon and it runs great. He rebuilt the lower unit on my 9.9 Merc a couple of years ago.

I told him I had picked up a steel tank to replace the old plastic one that came with the toon. He told me to pick up a new plastic one. He thinks that the steel ones condense h2o into the gas mixture and the ethenol makes it go into the carb rather than just lay seperated in the bottom of the tank.

Do not know if that is the truth but that is his idea. Says he continually works on carbs at his day time job.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Just an update:

We went on vacation and took my other boat/motor. It was working fine prior to the trip. First time I took it out, it started to stall and I had to play with the choke to try and keep it working. Got to the far end of the lake, and couldn't get it restarted! Glad I had the trolling motor, but it took a while to get back (did I mention the name of the lake? It was "Long lake"....and danged if it wasn't!)
Took the outboard in today; Lady behind the counter pretty much said the same thing that was said here re: the ethanol. I guess my question is: can you get gas w/o ethanol in it, or is this another govt. sponsored conspiracy? Would it do any good to use a higher Octane (premium) fuel, or won't that make a difference (my one outboard manual says NOT to use premium fuel....doesn't say a damn thing about ethanol)
Anyway, hope to get 'em fixed and tried out prior to duck season....bought a little Evinrude "Mate" 1.5 hp for the boat I built. I plan on using Hyde&Powells recommended mix and see if that helps matters.
Thanks to all for your input...............