I have the 20ft Explorer Sport but should be close to an 18ft. Prior boat to this one was a 18ft SS like you mentioned.
Floor to top of the side locker is 14″. Top of the side locker to the rail is 8″. Side locker is 13″ wide at the top.
Sold.
Sold pending pickup Monday afternoon.
20210321_125905.jpg
Weimaraners at our home… back when he was little.
FullSizeR.jpg
PM sent
Bought that exact package new from Crystal Pierz Marine back in 2004. Ran it for seven years. Loved the boat. Handled big water fine. If you’re expecting it to be dry with just a single bubble then you will be disappointed. My passenger routinely sat behind me to stay out of the spray. Fished mostly Mille Lacs so had a mix of wave types.
The motor I had was not my favorite… would just fly when it ran. The needle and seat in the VST tank cap vent would never seal and forced extra fuel into intake manifold causing it to never idle properly. Would load up and stall in the most poor of instances. Ended up learning it was a casting defect from Suzuki and finally fixed it by taking a cap from a blown up motor that actually idled. Dealer had replaced the tank cap four times and couldn’t find a good new one. Also had water in the port cylinder bank that were rebuilt three times under warranty. The second summer it was at the dealer for eight weeks because port cylinder jugs were scarce due to that issue. Last time I looked on Brownspoint.com which is a huge Suzuki dealer on the east coast that I routinely got parts from, they were unavailable. I finally figured out that the water was coming from the exhaust covers on the side of the cylinder becoming loose due to no lock washers or thread locker on the mounting bolts from the factory. You could see the water streaks on the gasket that sealed the water jackets in the head cover and would leak water into bottom cylinder. Final straw was a blown stator that cost me $1500 the last fall I owned it. I had figured out the low speed electrical circuit was bad and wouldn’t start. Took it into local dealer(different than original one) because I didn’t have tools to pull fly wheel and wasn’t interested in that mess, they confirmed my diagnosis after asking to borrow my service manual since they didn’t have one for Suzuki two strokes.
I probably got the one bad motor out of a thousand good ones. I didn’t get too upset since the original dealer really went the extra mile to try and get that motor fixed.
I have mine on a Lund Explorer with a Shorelandr trailer. Love it. I loosened the mounting bolt so it pivots a little so it won’t dig into the bow. Usually my buddy driving the truck when we load the boat tips it down a little so edge on the bottom of the bracket is down away from the boat.
What is this roller you guys are talking about?
Seen a lot of suggestions for a Mercury Tempest Plus at 19p for that rig. Does boat have SmartCraft gauges?
I have an Otter Resort with a bench that is from the time they only came in non-insulated purple or green canvas. Probably over 10 years old with no rips or wear throughs. I put a couple layers of duct tape on the hinge where the bench cross beams attach to the sled in the rear and over the screws that hold the upright part of the bench to the pivoting hinge. Both were fairly sharp. Also, on mine the aluminum bench bracket that is by the front canvas clip on the sled, would be right behind your knees when sitting on the bench, bounced around the first time I used it and almost destroyed the canvas clip and stitching. I took it apart and cut front lip of that bracket so it doesn’t touch the clip. Problem solved. From your pic it looks like that bracket slides behind the clip but it will bounce around.
The full size 800’s had some issues with heat building up under the seat causing melting and warm buns for the occupants. Engine was mounted pretty much under the seat. No first hand knowledge but read about it on researching my purchase on Ranger type forums.
I love my 2014 900XP Crew. Kids and wife enjoy rides and ice fishing. No issues after 800 miles. BIL picked up a used 2009 700 Browning edition this past fall with no issues so far. Neither of us have tracks, I run rear chains for ice fishing. Would think both would easily have power for tracks.
I have the IPod mount from the above post. Mounted on dash of Lund Explorer. Kinda buried under my locator but works perfectly.
Interesting. Guess I’ll have to check my locators in the morning. I have only Lakemaster MN and WI chips so I don’t think it would be on one of those.
Which Humminbird unit do you have? My 998 at the time I was out there had a really good map built into it without a chip. Check it out by zooming out a ways and scrolling over where you think you’ll fish. Zoom back in and see how it looks.
Quote:
IPass it’s going to be… I think. Has to be worth what ever just so you don’t have to wait in truck lines.
Really, work on IL, IN, & OH tollways.Is there anywhere one can get an accurate estimate of what the toll costs would be using I pass, for 4 axles (2 on truck, 2 on trailer) both ways and just put that amount into account?
I think when you get close to running out, doesn’t it add a certain amount back into your account maybe leaving a high balance after trip (if that makes sense)
Thanks everyone, really vauable info.
Yes. I’ve used it many times all the way across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
It does add a set amount to your IPass account and it sits there till you use it again or goes over that amount. I think it adds $40 each time if I remember right.
Get the IPass. I grew up half way between Port Clinton and Toledo and have had countless numbers of trips back there from Minnesota over the last 25 years. More than a few towing a boat. It’s tollway starting near Rockford, IL and going all the way through Ohio so the avoid the toll app won’t help you unless you take side roads aand add extra time to the trip. The IPass works in Indiana and Ohio also. In and around Chicago the IPass lanes are separate and you don’t even have to slow down unless traffic is backed up. The other states you have to go through toll gates but only like at 10 mph. Ipass automatically counts axles and the tolls are 1/2 price if you use the IPass over stopping at a booth.
There is a big truck stop outside of Rockford off of US20 that has the IPass when you first come into town. I think it is $50. $40 goes towards your first tolls and then after you activate it over the phone, it automatically charges your credit card as needed.
I second the go through Chicago at off hours. When I go back to see relatives I plan on hitting Chicago after 7pm and before 5am at all costs. The drunks on the Skyway in the middle of the night are pretty interesting… expect unexpected lane changes…
Thanks again. Over the last week the wife has posted some photos from about 1-2 years ago of him on Facebook for my family out east and it’s reinforced that I did the right thing for him. Just looking at how he was in so much better health/condition then from the last six months. That might help your decision if you ever have to come to that.
Thanks. Been a rough couple of days.
Had to put my weimaraner of 12.5 years down this morning. Two large tumors that had finally caused enough havoc that something had to be done. As tears are rolling down my cheeks now, I couldn’t imagine living the rest of my life knowing I wasn’t with my companion when he needed me most. It’s probably one the hardest things I’ve done in my life so far but I won’t ever regret it.
I’ve been pulling OffShore brand boards this summer with almost exclusively TDD-9’s and 11’s. They pull hard and my boards sit un-level in the water but they still go out from the boat. Usually I put out about 50 feet of line after I snap the board on and they run about 20-25 away from the boat going straight.
Fished the eastern shore from about 7am till about 1pm Sunday. Caught one keeper and had about 6-8 fish on but they spit hook on the way to the boat. Pulling leadcore and planer boards. Fish were all over the map as for color or style of crank. Had most action before lake went calm. Was a beautiful day but weather/wind sucked for fishing walleyes much after 11am.
You looking for new or used?
I’ve worked for Chrysler for almost 14 years. My father worked for them for 34 years. Not a dealership, the corporation. So you can imagine where I stand on this. I can tell you that there are people that I work with that one can consider lazy or bad apples. Just like in the rest of society, they usually take care of themselves by either not showing up to work or moving on to another job that’s easier etc. Do you really think that the Union wants these people in the Union? How does that further our job security?
Actually Big G, I work at the PDC that sends your dealership parts. I’m sure it wouldn’t take a week for you to figure out who’s the “lazy” ones. It’ll take about 15 minutes. But is that the guy that just got divorced and is depressed so his productivity has dropped. Or the guy that lost his daughter to a brain tumor? Should they be fired or their problems compounded because they are in the bottom 10% so to speak? I’ve seen both of these examples at my building. Eventually once you get all the “bad apples” weeded out, there is still going to be some one in the bottom 10% no matter how well they perform their job.
I was part of the local union committee for 5-6 years. There is language in our contract to get rid of these “bad apples” if management so chooses to use it. Yes the is a lot of bureaucracy to end up using it, but it does happen. 5-8 workers in Detroit got fired for drinking and pot smoking over break/lunch. They’re still out of work and should be.
To everyone blaming the UAW for Chrysler’s problems of late, let me just say when the UAW sits down at the bargaining table, Chrysler is sitting right there with them. They’ve got teams of lawyers and accountants figuring out what they can really afford to pay for wages. The rest of it is just pomp and posturing. Should corporations take in BILLIONS of dollars and not allow their own employees to share in the profits? That should be widespread but it isn’t. Why? Because it’s easier for the guy not getting them to bitchh and moan about the guy getting them, than it is to go after himself.
As for my dues being pizzed away, my $60 a month goes for making sure I have affordable healthcare, a clean and safe place to work and a LIVING wage. As for pulling the 10%er along at work, until you walk a mile in his shoes, you can’t point fingers.
Well this has gotten long winded as I suspected it would be.
Flame away!!!
Big G-
Do you work second shift? Because if you don’t, aren’t you supposed to be working and not at your computer responding to a fishing forum website? Must be work related…
And yes I’m at home. I work the second shift.
E-Filed 9pm Sunday night. Had MN state refund Wednesday and Federal showed up Friday afternoon.
I have that exact boat/motor combo. I had to rebuild the 2 low pressure fuel pumps behind the oil tank. The kits have a circle rubber diaphragm that gets eaten/stiffens from the gas. The pumps fill a small tank that the high pressure fuel pump pulls mixed fuel from. The kits are under $20 and takes about an hour to do both. I’d try that before I took it in.
Launched a large 18′ out of the Cove public launch Sunday night. There’s a hump from prop wash at the end of the dock that you’ll have to tilt the motor up for. Plenty of water all the way out to the lake.
My Explorer came from the dealer with the Springfield Air rides in it. They’re the pressurized piston style. I wouldn’t buy another boat without them. I’ve used them for 3 years and haven’t had to replace one yet. Being a big guy, I’m surprised they’ve lasted as long as they have, given the beating they’ve taken
The Red Door Resort has real shallow water just outside of their harbor entrance. Motor bottomed out on the sand. I’d avoid that one also.
Not the exact boat, but I have a 18′ Explorer with a 150 Suzi on it. I run a Michigan Wheel Ballistic 14 X 21. Runs 5500 rpm at 54 mph on GPS. Full trim and it doesn’t blow out. Motor is mounted in second highest hole. Most people kinda shun the ballistic but I’ve had pretty good luck with it.
A buddy has one. Good for two big guys, great for one. Sometimes we rub shoulders. We’re both under 6′ though. Height of the canvas might be a problem.
Warn has a recall on its 8 post contactors for failures and heat issues. Follow your winch cables back to the contactor and see if has 8 or 4 posts to where the cables mount. Here’s the link the the Warn recall page.
