Went to Delaware Thurs evening for crappie. Got my boat in the water and left the main boat ramp. Just got out of the "no wake" and cranked it up. Was headed North in the middle of the lake and looked over at my buddy to tell him where we were going and looked up, what I saw was a HUGE tree floating in the water. It was to late....I hit it and went over top of it and hit it with my motor. I shut off the motor and tried tilting it. It was jammed.. What we could see...the motor looked ok and we continued to our spot. It got better as we slammed 20 slabs..10" to 12" crappies in 3 to 4 ft of water under and threw a lot of dinks back. Got back to dock and got boat back on the trailer. We got the motor loose with some tugging. The motor looked ok with a visual check. Just be careful out there folks and watch these lakes with all this crap floating out in the water from the high waters. Thank god we didnt get hurt and my motor is fine. Be careful and good fishing to u all !
I almost tagged an entire tree on LoO, Mizzou. Was station at FLW. We cruised up in a large bay before ss. Running back to the ramp in the dark. Caught a wierd image in the moonlight. Shut her down quick. Drifted to within about 15' of an entire tree adrift in the middle of the lake, that wasn't there on the way in.
Last summer some guys pontoon was adrift at Buckeye. Passed it by about 50' in the 4am darkness. The guy was walking along the shore later that morning asking if anybody saw his boat, claiming somebody stole it. I think he forgot to tie it off.
You definetly have to be aware of obstructions at all times.
Muskarp, I grew up in mizzou and spent alot of time on LoO... That is not out of the ordinary. That lake haas some weird currents. Good fishing, and Party Cove is a blast, but keep an eye out especially in the main channel.
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I was there saturday and seen a tree floating in the water out from the marina. I came close to hitting it before i could see it. I wonder if its the same tree. Seemed like alot of trash in water.
Mudkings that is exactly the same area I hit it. Its a large tree and I cant believe its still there. My earlier post that started this thread stated I didnt hurt my boat......well I was wrong ! I took it the Hetzners Marina and I do have damage to my motor. My tilt is damaged. The housing bolts and bolt mounts are damaged and the tilt guides are bent. With the impact, the motor mounts took a hit and got damaged. All in all its a $890.00 tree. Thank goodness for insurance. If all goes well, the insurance adjuster will okay it tomorrow and I can get parts ordered and have it fixed within 2 wks.. My motor is a 1979 35hp Evenrude and Ive been told Evenrude doesnt make them anymore (?). Well I just wanted to let ya all know that the tree that is floating out in the middle of Delaware lake is mine.......I paid $890.00 for it. Dont hit it,I paid a lot for it. Be safe all and good fishing. Chad
I was out on alum Saturday night and saw tons of large debris on the surface. I run a hyperdrive mud motor so it doesn't bother me. Please be careful, I hate to hear about people damaging their boats.
Mudkings that is exactly the same area I hit it. Its a large tree and I cant believe its still there. My earlier post that started this thread stated I didnt hurt my boat......well I was wrong ! I took it the Hetzners Marina and I do have damage to my motor. My tilt is damaged. The housing bolts and bolt mounts are damaged and the tilt guides are bent. With the impact, the motor mounts took a hit and got damaged. All in all its a $890.00 tree. Thank goodness for insurance. If all goes well, the insurance adjuster will okay it tomorrow and I can get parts ordered and have it fixed within 2 wks.. My motor is a 1979 35hp Evenrude and Ive been told Evenrude doesnt make them anymore (?). Well I just wanted to let ya all know that the tree that is floating out in the middle of Delaware lake is mine.......I paid $890.00 for it. Dont hit it,I paid a lot for it. Be safe all and good fishing. Chad
Sorry to here about ur motor man thats sucks. I hope the ins. treats u right and everything gets fixed. There was alot of boats and jet skis out there wonder if anybody else hit the tree. That tree was big but very hard to see. I wish u better luck on your next outing.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and concerns. I just finished up with the insurance adjuster. The mechanic states my motor mounts are either broke or bent do to the movement of the motor. States he wont know more until he gets them out but knows from years doing this and replacing many of them through the years they are one or the other.The adjuster is asking and wondering if the motor is moving the way its moving due to the motor being a 1979 and being "worn". I told him I would agree IF I wouldnt had hit the tree so hard but I believe the mechanic is right. The adjuster states that the mechanic can work to get to the mounts and get them out BUT if they are not bent or broken from the accident...the cost is on me which would me $65 x 2 for the mounts and 4 hours of labor ! I told the mechanic this and he stated to me...." Chad, Im so sure they are bent or broken....if there not...you dont pay me " Wow..now thats what I like to hear. If anyone is in need of boat repair or work, Hetzners Marina outside of Prospect(south) on Rt 203 is the place. Steve is a stand up guy. Gonna drop it off next Tuesday and hope he has it fixed in time for the Wounded Warrior fishing Derby cause I sure would like to take a vet out for a good time. Thanks again all and please be safe.
Beware !
Beware !
and went over top of it and hit it with my motor. I shut off the motor and tried tilting it. It was jammed.. What we could see...the motor looked ok and we continued to our spot. It got better as we slammed 20 slabs..10" to 12" crappies in 3 to 4 ft of water under 
and threw a lot of dinks back. Got back to dock and got boat back on the trailer. We got the motor loose with some tugging. The motor looked ok with a visual check. Just be careful out there folks and watch these lakes with all this crap floating out in the water from the high waters. Thank god we didnt get hurt and my motor is fine. Be careful and good fishing to u all !
I took it the Hetzners Marina and I do have damage to my motor. My tilt is damaged. The housing bolts and bolt mounts are damaged and the tilt guides are bent. With the impact, the motor mounts took a hit and got damaged. All in all its a $890.00 tree. Thank goodness for insurance. If all goes well, the insurance adjuster will okay it tomorrow and I can get parts ordered and have it fixed within 2 wks.. My motor is a 1979 35hp Evenrude and Ive been told Evenrude doesnt make them anymore (?). Well I just wanted to let ya all know that the tree that is floating out in the middle of Delaware lake is mine.......I paid $890.00 for it. Dont hit it,I paid a lot for it. Be safe all and good fishing. Chad
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