Meals-On-Reels

I rehabbed a late 80's 191 Islander (it had the current body style) into a clone of a 2009. Right down to the interior seats and outside graphics. My dealer actually took pictures when I finished her. I have to say I don't miss any boat I've ever had more. It was deep, felt more like a 21' and I always felt safe, even on some crazy trips where I shouldn't have left the dock. I was stupid and sold it for a few $K more than what I had into her. It trailered like it wasn't even behind me (even when I had my mid-size truck), and I launched/fished often by myself without a single problem. I notice the difference now. My boat is 3800lbs on the trailer, it is definitely noticeable behind my full-size truck, and is a chore to launch alone, but not impossible! On top of that my 5hp Honda pushed it easily. Very easy to rig with all the space on the gunnels and across the transom too.

They were both gambles but good. My current Lake O boat is one of them. It's a 21' walk around. I jumped on it when I saw it because the guy listed it as "boat in excellent condition, motor for parts". He had it priced so low I could seriously re-power it and still be $15k below used book value. He had a ton of pictures and cared enough to tell me about little things like a snap that separated on the bimini top and a slight scratch on the aluminum tower/arch. That made me feel like he was legit. Long story short... I dropped the lower unit, replaced the shift shaft and it has been running like new for three seasons now. I love the boat. It's just such a gamble. Everybody treats boats different. Most of us on sites like these treat boats like an extension of our home. They are cleaned, detailed, and maintained. Then there are those that consider them disposable. Sun faded, rotting from rain with no cover, oxidized... These people consider a 10yr old boat that doesn't have a hole in the side to be "great shape"! It's so hard. Pictures are your best friend. If they're not willing to send you every single picture you want and more, then they're not worth the drive. At least you're not in a hurry and hurting for a boat right now. Take your time and check out everything you find interesting. Good reviews are one thing but finding the boat that has everything YOU specifically need is another. Scan the launches and marinas and keep track of what really suits you. Don't get frustrated and keep looking!

If money is NO option... why not go all the way? Fountain, WorldCat,... Lol Seriously, it's hard to label a brand good/bad based on general opinions. The price of new boats is crazy and almost every manufacturer builds a line to compete with the bottom tier. I own several boats and my Creatliner is one of the toughest. It's a work boat, gets tied to barges, sheet-pile walls, and occasionally has been beached on the shores of the Hudson. It shows little abuse, but is also one of the thicker hull models they offer. They also produce a hull that's as thin as the basic model PolarKraft. They are worlds apart. I know others have mentioned it here but it's sometimes hard to pass slightly older boats by. I see new aluminum boats in the $35k range and would still take a SeaNymph GLS or Starcraft Islander from the 90's. Those models were made for the Great Lakes and still are worth their weight any rough day. (I'm not just repeating what I've heard... I still have a SeaNymph and regret ever selling my Islander 191- that thing floated like a cork in any conditions and trolled fine with a 5HP Honda). It sounds like you're on the right track by being willing to travel. My last two boats including by present Lake O rig, came from NJ and I saved a fortune. Sorry you got burned. Keep at it and don't get discouraged!

Having trouble PM-ing you an offer. Maybe an issue with my phone. I'll try again later.

Salmonite- did you buy the motor used? Almost looks like your charge system was an add-on. I only say that because where your current oval shaped receptacle exits the cowl, you can see into the inside and see wires, where usually it's water-tight. Looks like it should have had the square receptacle mounted in there and somebody mounted the oval one like my 5hp had. That would explain why they keep sending you the square end. Maybe I'm wrong, I just seem to remember my plug exiting the cowl differently, like it was made for that style plug. The other oval end you have will work perfect, they just don't offer it already wired. Same result when your all done. They don't make it easy and offer an adaptor which would make it so simple. Good luck and let me know if you want me to expand on my other instructions. I might still have some of the cable I used if you want it.

The center of the male part pops out and has terminals on the back. Pop out the center part and set it aside. Take the outer rubbery portion to Home Depot and find a shielded cable that fits through the hole in the back (I think I used a 20A extension cord I found in black, but think the charge system is only like 6A so use whatever works). Take it home and thread your cable through the rubbery outer part so you have like a foot sticking out. Strip it and attach a wire to each terminal on the part you set aside. Pull it back through so the pieces go back together and you have your wire/plug assembly.

The piece in your pic looks like its female (holes where the prongs go). The part number I gave you is male (prongs sticking out). It's strange because if you judge male/female from the outside shape of the plug, it's opposite.

Salmonite- here's the part I had #^*#@$- damn, can't figure how to link a pic here while using my phone! Part was 31652-881-024 It's just the receptacle and you run your own wire. It comes out really nice and is waterproof, without just bypassing it and having wires hang out loose from the lower cowl. Search that part on boats.net and take a look. It's $11.66. Still get me your serial if you want to verify. Edit- Is that part 31575-ZW9-000 in your pic (square style)? So wrong... Sorry they keep giving you the run-around.

I sold the Honda so I'm not really much help. Sorry. That's exactly what mine looked like though. Get me the serial number off your motor and I'll dig into it. Those guys are total tools at those places and have no clue. After a few times I just started getting my own part numbers off the teardown schematics. I've had good luck even with orders of 20-30 parts for rebuilds and stuff. Oh- and thanks. We always ran our boat nameless and then needed one ASAP for a tournament registration. We were surprised we couldn't dig up anybody ever using it from searches online. Lol

I never speak to anyone, I just get the part number myself from an online parts schematic and order by part number online. Usually an eBay search by part number is even cheaper if someone has it listed. Never had an issue with boats.net or iboats.

I did the full install on a motor that didn't have a charge system to begin with and ended up just buying the female end section. Got the part # from Honda and found it off iboats or boats.net for like $18. It wasn't worth it to me to make my own (had wire/terminals/butt connectors already) but wanted it finished nicely after the whole install.

Inventory can vary from store to store, by my Wal-Mart even had one when I was in there yesterday. Most boating supply places and dealers should stock them. On mine I was able to locate it on the transom in a compartment the fuel line passed through on its way from the tank to my main OB and kicker. Most filter housings have dual in and out ports. I ran each out port to its own motor. Another way to avoid siphoning if it were ever an issue.