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1971 Menemsha
guitarfish	#1  Posted on 11/06/18 - 2:05 PM
Member Posts: 175 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/24/10	Is there a consensus on the horse power needed to adequately push a couple of people along in a 1971 Menemsha. I haven't had this boat in the water yet but am I correct in thinking a two stroke 70hp would be adequate? It will be used in SF Bay, the delta & out the Golden Gate. I know max hp rating on this boat is 100hp & maximum power is best, but there is a huge difference in price between the 70 / 90hp. I cruised the net and one soul was reported to be running a 50hp Honda. Money is an issue so..... 1971 Menemsha 16 and 1978 15' Custom
gchuba	#2  Posted on 11/06/18 - 5:39 PM
Member Posts: 1675 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/31/13	Some others may have more knowledge but I believe the Menemsha has a 17' Montauk hull. That being said, and taking the extra bow weight into consideration, I would say a 70hp would be minimum. I would probably put on a 90hp if my vessel. A good friend has the Yamaha 70hp on his mid 80's Montauk and pushes it along quite well. Not a speed burner loaded for fishing.
Weatherly	#3  Posted on 11/07/18 - 4:19 AM
Member Posts: 752 Comments: 4 Joined: 12/31/06	Guitarfish: Congratulations on your purchase of a Menemsha 16. Less than 240 blue hull interior Menemsha 16 boats where manufactured, so you have a nice boat. Did you purchase the boat with stencil 3A4443, from the seller located near Winter, Ca? I am familiar with the boat. It came with a Johnson 70 3 cylinder looper 2 stroke outboard motor? Right? You wrote: "Money is an issue..." So, is there something wrong with the current outboard? A 70 hp two stroke outboard motor will push the Menemsha 16 just fine, even with 4 passengers aboard. I will share a secret with you: The Menemsha 16 model is the best riding 16 footer model boat that the Fisher Pierce company ever produced. Why? Because the added weight of the "cuddy" superstructure allows for a very smooth ride, even in bouncy seas. Your specific boat will need some work though. Specifically the transom has numerous holes that need to be patched. And the outboard is not mounted properly. My recommendation to you is to fully diagnose the condition and repair the 70hp outboard so that it is running reliably and mount it "two holes up." The motor needs to have through transom installed fasteners into the lower part of the splashwell. You also need to replace the brass drain tubes to keep the factory sealed plywood and foam dry. I know you want to do some console work. I can tell you from my first hand experience that removing the console from a Menemsha is a difficult task; not impossible, but difficult. I removed my console to refinish it and I replaced some of the plywood. I have photographs I can send you if you are interested. Anyway, let me know if you have questions since the Menemsha is unique, often called the Ugly Duckling. Oh, yes, the head needs to come out since direct discharge is now illegal.
guitarfish	#4  Posted on 11/07/18 - 11:22 AM
Member Posts: 175 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/24/10	Weatherly, the stencil # ends in '6', though it is indeed from Winters. My issue is not with the current motor but rather my aging back. The motor has no trim and tilt, so I risk temporary disability with each launch. (Only slightly kidding). -I have already inquired locally for transom hole repair and gelcoat. -I am inquiring also for canvas fabrication. -Head will likely come out when the Coast Guard orders it, lol. I will figure how to disable it prior. -Transom appears very solid. - I looked closely at the brass tubes and saw nothing to cause concern, did I miss something? I would be very interested in how a sailor in Massachusetts knows of this little Whaler. And I could make use of the photos of your console repairs for sure. This little project has already consumed all my available time just cleaning, polishing and assessing the next steps. My father was born in Springfield, Mass. by the by. 1971 Menemsha 16 and 1978 15' Custom
guitarfish	#5  Posted on 11/10/18 - 9:01 AM
Member Posts: 175 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/24/10	You here Weatherly? 1971 Menemsha 16 and 1978 15' Custom
Weatherly	#6  Posted on 11/10/18 - 10:55 AM
Member Posts: 752 Comments: 4 Joined: 12/31/06	You have several options to consider for lifting and trimming your outboard motor. The simplest device to use to raise your outboard is a manual outboard motor tilter https://www.wholesalemarine.com/garel...MQEALw_wcB You could make contact with WC member Johnyrude200 and ask him if he could supply you with an OMC brand trim/tilt assembly you can install onto your outboard motor. His contact information is located in his member profile. You could install an aftermarket CMC brand power trim/tilt assembly. You should know Mills Canvas was the original supplier to Fisher-Pierce company and they can sell you a complete custom canvas set for the Menemsha model. Mills canvas is the absolute best canvas for your Boston Whaler. Regarding the brass tubes, you really cannot see that they have failed because the area where the tube fails is usually right in the middle of the tube where it sits in the foamed area (about 6-8 inches towards middle of the tube.) Also the neoprene o-rings fail after 10-15 years so while the tube on the ends may look good, you have no way of telling visually that water is leaking into your hull because the o-ring rotted away. Here is a link to a photograph of my Menemsha console taken after a few panels were replaced and the wood refinished. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qi...pZVVd2OUxR Regarding your head, you could disconnect the hose attached to the through hull fitting aft of the head manual pump (the circle cut out in deck) and installed a small holding tank in place of direct discharge. Use a rubber plug and 4200 adhesive sealant to plug the hole in deck. Lastly, one of my friends sent me information about your boat, when it was for sale. Edited by Weatherly on 11/10/18 - 11:36 AM
guitarfish	#7  Posted on 11/11/18 - 8:33 AM
Member Posts: 175 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/24/10	Good information! I had my woodworking buddy over to look at the console yesterday. He had a few good ideas, but I'm not sure he is cognizant of the 'restore' level I'm seeking. We will see how it goes. I am in a one step at a time mode. I am in buff mode, but give my shoulders a rest by pulling other items apart. I removed both Scotty down rigger bases yesterday after buffing the port side. Found a surprising number of holes. I will have to do gel coat repairs of a 4"x3" area on each side. I should be pretty good at fiberglass repair by the time I'm finished. I missed this entire fishing season working on the old boat, I pray this is not a 'Here I go again' scenario. I rebuilt / upgraded a lot of my fishing reel arsenal, only to leave them in the cabinet this year. But now I'm whining so.... Thanks so much for the pics. 1971 Menemsha 16 and 1978 15' Custom
gchuba	#8  Posted on 11/11/18 - 9:01 AM
Member Posts: 1675 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/31/13	guitarfish, I pick my "poisons". I have 2 boats and my Whaler sits with the drain tubes out waiting for me to pull the deck and service the fuel tank. I feel your pain. I had all my reels rebuilt by Alan Tani out of San Jose. Great job and he freed up my time. What he can do in 15 minutes takes me an hour plus between clumsy hands and dropped hardware. He also has all the parts available on his shelves and I love it when he comments "......well we're in there, might as well replace.....". Very reasonably priced. I agree with Weatherly on the brass tubes. Mine looked good but when I decided to remove them, the the brass failed from the inside where they sit in the foam. Looked good from a visual inspection. I found the easiest way to remove was to slowly and gently grind off the collar. I bought full lengths of McMaster Carr pipe and used a small piece as a driver and tapped them out. That is a delicate portion of the boat. You will be amazed how thin the gel coat is.
guitarfish	#9  Posted on 11/11/18 - 9:30 AM
Member Posts: 175 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/24/10	Garris, I have known Alan for 20 years too! A great teacher. But I have never had anyone do repairs on my reels. With one exception, Alan's tutorial on the Daiwa 50H was done on my reel. I never used it and recently donated it to a veteran. Saltwater wise I am a ProGear fan but still have Penn's and Daiwa's. Freshwater is a Shimano tale for me. Thanks for the input and 'condolences', lol. I have a 12' Gregor, a 2man BassHunter, and three different solid pontoon float tubes if I need a fishing 'fix'. I am totally and completely in love with this boat, so working on her has been a labor of love so far. I find myself standing and staring at her a lot. 1971 Menemsha 16 and 1978 15' Custom
gchuba	#10  Posted on 11/11/18 - 12:16 PM
Member Posts: 1675 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/31/13	I fish nothing but classic Penns. I screw up trying to work the lever drags. Penn 6/0, 4/0, any and all of the smaller ones. My thumb has an innate sense with working the star drag and rod tip. I understand labor of love. My second boat is a 1977 23' Penn Yan. I purchased it for the salmon permit (transfer to my Whaler) but the hull whispered gently in my ear ".....restore me.....". The Penn Yan is just a few more serious days of work away from me going back to work on my Revenge. Your Menemsha is a beauty. Good luck with it. Alan is a great guy.