Mid-Season Check In

[Jay K]

First off, it is really nice to be posting on the re-launched site. Very eager to be part of the re-launch and continue contributing as best I can.

With that being said, I am still managing (somehow) to find a way to hunt with a 1.5 yr old, working spouse, and running a business myself. I have been picking my days as best I can. Sometimes I'm getting a couple hours in before work, sometimes on the weekend, and probably some late afternoons soon too.

The season started off with a decent amount of birds in NJ. Highlight of the first hunt was a decent early-season shoveler. This was a first for me and was nice to be able to scratch one of these off the list. Managed to also bag some teal on that trip. NJ season openers are unique in that we seem to get what would normally be a lot of late-season birds, coming in early. It's a short push. Then they leave. Finally, they return later in the season. Gadwall, shovelers, etc.



North zone first-split came and went. On the re-open, I went back to the same are with the goal of bagging a bird I've been trying for now for 9 years: a drake pintail. I knew where I needed to be, when I needed to be there, and I went. It involved poling onto a mud flat that was only accessible at 1/2 tide either direction. There were a good number of birds that day. Bagged a nice hen gadwall. Then mid-morning I looked up and it was about to happen. Here comes a hen and a drake sprig. The male seemed to balk at a good finish right as the hen was almost feet down. As I dropped the flaps, the drake immediately went "nope" and turned around. As I swung the gun on the drake, I realized he was too far. The hen came into view and I took her. Nice bird which I am grateful to harvest. However, still looking for a drake.



More zones began to open, I began to explore. Had some very poor hunts dealing with fog, floating debris, and birds becoming quite stale. Never the less I tried to appreciate each for what it was. If anything, I was learning from my mistakes. Black ducks continue to provide entertainment and decent gunning.



The Invader 13 and my new Yamaha 25hp continue to treat me very well. The Yamaha is what I had needed for years. I spent many hours tinkering on old 2 strokes. Most ran very well. However, they never gave me the level of confidence needed to explore in 32 degree temps, in the creeks and bays, in winter. My wife last year said "Just go get a new motor and stop tinkering." That was all I needed to hear.



The Yamaha flush system is very nice. No more digging out muffs, starting the boat, for post-hunt flushing.



My son enjoys time well spent in the Invader 13. If he keeps going on this trajectory, looks like I may have a hunting buddy for years to come. The only problem now is getting him back out of the boat. He usually wants to stay as long as possible, opening and closing the flaps.



Looking to get back at it this weekend and then pausing for the Christmas-craziness.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Jay

Up until recently I dismissed four strokes and favored two strokes. That was based on my early experiences with them. They were heavy, sluggish, and carb issues like 2 strokes. 20+ years later the weight is close to that of two strokes and the power comparable. I think fuel injection was the key ingredient they didn't have in the early years. My next purchase will be a four stroke.

Congrats on the success and I see a lot of father-son time on the water for you. Good times.

 

[Carl]

Thanks for sharing!
I am lobying the home CFO for a new 4 stroke electric start.

 

[Jay K]

Jay

Up until recently I dismissed four strokes and favored two strokes. That was based on my early experiences with them. They were heavy, sluggish, and carb issues like 2 strokes. 20+ years later the weight is close to that of two strokes and the power comparable. I think fuel injection was the key ingredient they didn't have in the early years. My next purchase will be a four stroke.

Congrats on the success and I see a lot of father-son time on the water for you. Good times.

Eric,

I had felt the same. The boat had a 1995 Merc 25 with pull start on it prior. That was about as light of a 25, 2-stroke, as it gets. I believe the specs were 112-115 lbs. It was great but the reliability started to become a concern.

The new 25 4-strokes are only coming in slightly heavier. I believe my F25 is 135. I found that added weight to be acceptable. When they were 175-185 lbs. that was a deal breaker. I also now understand the new Merc 25 4-stroke actually comes in a few pounds lighter than the Yamaha. And for sneakboxes, the Suzuki 20hp is a featherweight.

It's all really great. I've quickly gotten spoiled at 5am in the cold just pressing a button and going. These newer motors really are super convenient.

 

[Carl]

You were in the exact same position I am right now.
Even in warm weather, my 2003 Merc pull start starts inconsistently. Some days fires right up, others it more struggle than my 55 year old shoulders wants to deal with.

 

[Jay K]

You were in the exact same position I am right now.
Even in warm weather, my 2003 Merc pull start starts inconsistently. Some days fires right up, others it more struggle than my 55 year old shoulders wants to deal with.

Carl,

Those old Merc's are problematic. Mine actually treated me very well, considering. Carb kits were expensive and difficult to find, water pump kits were expensive at $75, and the design just had a bunch of shortfalls. Water jacket covers and exhaust manifolds perpetually leak, carb design was very quirky, and a couple other issues. Mine started 1-3 pulls but for the life of me it continued to have this plug fouling and sputtering off idle. I must have gone through the carb 4-5x. I even installed new Boyesen reeds. As a courtesy, I tested the compression for the buyer and it was 125 psi both cylinders so the internals were still sound.

In any event, I was very happy the day I sold it. The ONLY thing I miss is the twist-shift on the tiller handle. Once you got used to that, boy, it was a dream to set and pick decoys.

 

[tod osier]

On the flush, I had read that it doesn't do a great job on the top of the motor. This is for my 1999 F40, so a long time ago. I've always used muffs. I actually use muffs quick running and then just put it on the hose for a bit. I know that is a stupid system I'm using, but there was concern at the time that the flush didn't work that great.

 

[Jay K]

On the flush, I had read that it doesn't do a great job on the top of the motor. This is for my 1999 F40, so a long time ago. I've always used muffs. I actually use muffs quick running and then just put it on the hose for a bit. I know that is a stupid system I'm using, but there was concern at the time that the flush didn't work that great.

Tod,

I think they might have fixed that. I know around that time was when they had corrosion issues on the higher HP motors. That could have been the issue. I will definitely look into it though. Starting on muffs is probably a good way to be sure its reaching everywhere.

To your point, I often wonder how it fully flushes if the t-stat isn't open.

 

[Carl]

Sounds like we have the same exact issues.
I actually hate the twist throttle/gear shift combo.
I shoulda kept my Nissan 18 when I sold my old rig.

 

[tod osier]

Tod,

I think they might have fixed that. I know around that time was when they had corrosion issues on the higher HP motors. That could have been the issue. I will definitely look into it though. Starting on muffs is probably a good way to be sure its reaching everywhere.

To your point, I often wonder how it fully flushes if the t-stat isn't open.

You have to also consider that I'm just suspicious by nature. .

 

[MIKE-SID]

I'm a 4 stroke fan now too. My 20hp Suzuki electric start on my invader 13 is a dream. In fact I just bought a brand new 6hp Suzuki for my 14' aluminum.
Jay, glad to see you are getting some ducks. It's been slow for me in the marshes of CT too. I thank God for Canada geese, they seem to like to play when the ducks are ignoring me.

 

[Dani]

Sounds like a great mid season so far to me.

I have a problematic two stroke and y'all are pushing me more and more over to the new 4 stroke camp....not quite there yet but maybe soon

 

[MIKE-SID]

Sounds like a great mid season so far to me.

I have a problematic two stroke and y'all are pushing me more and more over to the new 4 stroke camp....not quite there yet but maybe soon

You only live once Dani!

That statement has gotten me into a lot of trouble, but I rarely regret it.

 

[Jay K]

I'm a 4 stroke fan now too. My 20hp Suzuki electric start on my invader 13 is a dream. In fact I just bought a brand new 6hp Suzuki for my 14' aluminum.
Jay, glad to see you are getting some ducks. It's been slow for me in the marshes of CT too. I thank God for Canada geese, they seem to like to play when the ducks are ignoring me.

How fast does the 20 push your 13 along? It's a trade off for weight going with the Suzuki 20. If I am not mistaken they are darn near 100 lbs wet.

It's gotten slow here in NJ again. I am due to head out soon. Hopefully the blow we had over the weekend into Monday pushed some of the stale birds out, and some new in.

Sounds like a great mid season so far to me.

I have a problematic two stroke and y'all are pushing me more and more over to the new 4 stroke camp....not quite there yet but maybe soon

You won't regret it when the time is right. Like Eric said, in the old days, weight was the issue. Now it's just perfect. No more mixing oil, playing with fast idles in the cold, etc. I do actually still have a 15hp 2 stroke in the garage as a spare/backup though.