[ It's time...]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 15, 2001 by Capital-Journal

It's time

for some

boat tips

The bill came to $33.89. It consisted of stuff I needed to get my boat moving for this spring.

The boat is a 1984 Ozark with a 1984, 75-horsepower Mercury outboard on it.

It's towed on a Rolco trailer.

I never had it out this winter. But it sat outside and I didn't know what kind of condition the harsh weather left it in. So, Wednesday was kind of a get-the-boat-in-shape sort of day.

First, hook the battery charger up to the primary battery, the one that operates the lights, motor, livewell, sump pump etc. Once that's charged, you do the trolling motor.

And while all that's happening, you go down to your nearest marine dealer. In this case, it's Lakeside Marine Service at 1444 S.W. Auburn Road.

You spend a little time with a mechanic who has been in the business for a few years and get to know what there is to know about getting a boat into the water for the new year.

Dennis Anderson has been a boat mechanic for 20 years, first in Manhattan and for the last 11 years here in Topeka.

He's seen the best and worst of boats.

THIS IS THE TIME of year Anderson gets busy.

"The first out are the fishermen," he said. "Most of the real serious fishermen are cut and dried. They know what they need to start the spring fishing season.

"But then you get the folks who have bought a boat during the boat show season. They bring it in and want to make sure everything is working right even before they take it out. It's sort of a Spring Madness sort of thing."

Anderson had lots of advice for folks (like me) who are ready to get their boats in the water.

"You can buy a motor flusher that hooks up your lower unit with a garden hose," he said. "You can start your motor and see how it sounds. When you do that, make sure your motor is pumping water out of the side. If it isn't, you've got a problem."

Other checks include the gas tank.

"I sniff the gas," Anderson said. "Don't let your kids do it. If it smells like varnish or different from ordinary gas, it's gone bad. Just dump it. What's a few bucks? You also need a stablizer compound in your tank."

And if you're going to tow your boat any distance, say a mile or two, pay attention to your trailer.

"You should jack up the trailer and spin the wheels," Anderson said. "If you hear a grinding noise, it's probably a bearing going out. You'll have to replace it."

AND FINALLY, IF you think it's getting near spring and you're yearning to get on the water, don't hesitate ... to get your boat in to a shop.

"It's a crazy time of year," Anderson said. "We're not real busy now, but all of sudden we're three or four weeks behind."

It's also a stock-market kind of business now. Johnson and Evinrude motors have gone into bankruptcy during the last couple of months.

"We still have a lot of (Johnson/Evinrude) parts in stock," Anderson said.

"But we're having to pre-pay for those parts. It might take 30-45 days to get a part for those motors."

Best bet to buy?

"My favorite motor to work on is Mercury," Anderson said. "They don't seem to wear out like the others."

What about the Japanese lines?

"I don't know," he said. "You get Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki engines in, but they don't have parts dealers around here. The closest dealers for Japanese parts are in Kansas City. You have to wait for them and maybe they don't have the parts."

I got my parts after I left. I'll try starting the boat soon, probably in the next hour (according to my battery charger), and then maybe make another visit to Lakeside.

OUTDOOR NOTE --- There will be a hunter education class prior to the spring wild turkey season. It will take place at the Optimist Club on N.W. 50th Street, across from Seaman High School. The dates are March 21, 22, 27 and 29 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Sponsors would like students to pre-register. To do so, call Mark Gauntt at 582-2834.

JIM RAMBERG

Outdoor writer