Long Layoff ENDS!! The Maybe Tonight is back in action

Well it has been WAY too long since I’ve had anything fishing/boating related to speak about. This, unfortunately due to the fact I experienced motor issues two weeks back. I am well aware that “stuff” happens but I have been very fortunate in my boating years and this marks the very first time I’ve had a boat out of order due to mechanical problems. I guess it could be said that I was overdue.

On the way across Great South Bay on June 26th I noticed the port-side motor just did not sound right. As I backed off the throttle the sound became even more evident. A very noticeable clicking/knocking noise. I can only describe it as sounding like a car engine that is VERY low on oil. I knew the oil was still new but double checked and found the level was fine.

My party did fish the rest of the day where they loaded up on short fluke to 19.5 inches. The return trip was a mess as I was forced to limp back across the bay on one motor during a VERY crowded boating weekend. Add in the fact that I had to disappoint 3 other parties slated for that afternoon and the next day. Not my fondest boating memory by any stretch.

Brought the boat to the mechanic and the first take was the powerhead was the issue. I left the boat with them for further investigation but was not feeling too optimistic about how long it would be down for.

On Friday July 8th I received somewhat good news from the yard that the powerhead was fine and the issue was related to the lower unit. With the green light given they replaced the unit over the weekend and gave the boat a good test run. She was given a clean bill of health and I rescued her from the yard on yesterday (July 12) afternoon.

I took a nice easy cruise across the bay and as my confidence in the repair grew I let her run. It was a RUSH having the boat behave as good as the day I got it. I needed to confirm everything further in my mind before having anyone else aboard so I headed out Fire Island Inlet in some sloppy conditions. VERY sloppy actually. Not a problem at all. All systems were GO!!!

Back on the WATER!! Beautiful Feeling

I decided to fish some while I was out and found some of the bunker pods despite the big swell and chop kicked up by a 20kt west wind. Spent some time fishing the live bunker on a bunch of different schools but had no luck. I then headed back inside to fish some pieces in the bay and as I had expected the bluefish made very short work of the live bait.

Had some company in Fire Island Inlet

Once the livewell was emptied I moved way back in the bay with the idea of bucktailing some fluke. This paid off pretty well as I grabbed a nice fluke that went 4lbs on the Boga on the very first drop. From there it was back to business as usual with the normal procession of one short after another. It did not matter to me one bit as I was back aboard the Maybe Tonight and we were FISHING again!!!

Photo of the Maybe Tonight taken by a friend

I would not be going on a limb to say it was a VERY long two week layoff but in the end all turned out as well as it could for a mechanical problem of the magnitude of a lower unit.

Tight Lines.........
Capt Paul Mandella
captpaul@maybetonightcharters.com
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