91' Lund Tyee- Tourney Fishing need your advice

[Dreamer]

I just bought a 1991 Lund 1850 Tyee and here's my take on the boat.

1. The trailer looks pretty tough as the previous owner ran it down gravel roads and therefore chipped and rusted considerably....needs repainting.

2. The boat is filthy, but appears like it will clean up very nice. It has a Evinrude 150 XP and a 20 hp evinrude kicker both with T/T. It has an electric "3 HP" which works but nothing special.

3. It has a good marine band radio..but a pathetic fish finder/graph.

4. The bimini cover is in descent shape, the mooring covers are rough. There is one hole in one bow cushion and three good pedastal seats (driver air pedastal.)

I bought this boat in a range that will allow me to stick about $1500-2000 dollars extra into it immediately and likely more over the next 1-2 years (this fall- but don't tell the wife) before I can afford an upgrade.

Immediate needs is what I'd like your insight on. I know for sure on a few things, the rest I'd like your suggestions. Thanks

For Sure:
1. One Exra pedastal and seat. Approx. $75-100
2. Extreme cleaning, buffing, maintenance approx. $300
3. General repairs approx. $200

This leaves me with $900-1500 to spend on electronics or on other items that will make the boat appealing/comfortable or fish worthy. If you only had $900-1500 to spend with no fish finder and a second rate electric motor and no other electronics other than marine band, how would you spend it. Your insight is appreciated.

Dreamer

[mnwalleyekiller]

I would get a fish finder with gps mapping with out a doubt. Lowrance is my choice but they are all good. Get your self a bow mount with a long shaft "60" and has some power. If your gonna be touring get a transom brace and save your power trim.
Good Luck!

[Tyee]

Excellent choice for a boat!!!I have one and love it. Before spending a lot of cash on toys make sure all the necessities are there, tires bearing budies, bilge pumps, live well(that drains properly), make sure it has a timer if your gonna be fishin tourneys. Good anchors, rod holders, dont go cheap here, get the stainless ones, they are about 30.00 ea. Then I would look into a nice set of Garmin electronics. their fish finders and map gps are very good, mine are 3 yr's old and not a problem. Lowrance would be my first choice but if you want economics with reliability and a warranty for your price, you can't beat Garmin. Good luck and I hope this helps, P.S. what kind of price did you pay for your new rig?
Good Luck
TYEE

[Dreamer]

MNWK and Tyee,
Thanks for the advice. I paid 8,000 for it- the guy who owned it was asking 9500 but settled for 8K. Boat looks very good, trailer not so good.

I got the unit on the water this evening I was surprised that the electric- foot control worked better than I thought it would. I had a dealer check compression on the two gas engines and they were both fine. All the pumps worked good and the boat didn't take on any water during the 1 hr. that I was out there. Man is this thing DIRTY though. What a pig that owned it.

Anyhow, I will definitely have to purchase rod holders, anchor or two, fish finder w/gps, fire ext., the rest of the safety equip. and vests I have already.

The biggest downside to this unit is the trailer is trash!!! The guide ons are rusted beyond repair at the base and the sides of the trailer look terrible. The bimini top is perfect, the mooring covers are faded and some snaps torn out, no storage cover.

I didn't want to buy a project boat but I guess this one was the one....hmmmm

Dreamer

[TLC]

Dreamer,

Doesn't sound like too bad of a deal...

Give her tons of TLC and she should take care of you for quite some time. The best thing is the re-sale value on Tyee's is very good, at least in the Dakotas/Minnesota.

You can pickup trailers pretty reasonable if that one is shot.

Good luck with your new boat,
Travis J.

[sd walleye]

Before you spend all your money on goodies I'd check the floor out. Look really close between the windshields. It would surprise me if the floor wasn't soft. From the sound of it the guy was hard on his equipment? Something I'd check.

[Dreamer]

SDWalleye,

This was one of the first things that I checked as the older tyees that I've been looking at were notorious for having soft floors. The guy I bought the boat from told me he replace the floor 3 years ago and it seemed all good.

Anyway, I took here out to the lake today after spending all night last night cleaning and maintenancing the motors and boat....man was I excited, just like a 5 yr. old kid.

The boat doesn't have GPS yet, but the speedo says I was doing 49-50 top end. Is this anywhere close to reality? It seemed to me to be closer to 44-46. Anyhow, I'll have her all shined up by the weekend....can't wait to catch my first eye in the boat.

Finally, even better news...I told the wife today that I was gonna have to put about $1500 into her right away to make her fishable and safe...thinking she'd have a coronary....her response was: "ohhh, I thought you'd have to put more into it than that....just when I think I've got her figured out....hmmmm

Thanks all,
Dreamer

[SUPERTROLLER]

I think you need the fishing graph upgraded quicker than you need a new trolling motor. Since you've got a kicker for back-up protection the electric up front can wait until funds become available or a great deal falls your way. Unless you use the front trolling motor alot in your style of fishing. Then you're going to want a graph up there too. Shoot! More money! What about a couple of pinpoint graphs now and a pinpoint motor down the line? It would all tie together and it'd be a great system for you for years of use. Only you can answer the questions of how much you need or intend to use these things. How does your style affect these needs? I would think most of the Spring sales are done but check around for closeout sales or discontinued models and you can still find some good quality stuff. If you're thinking GPS included models you might as well buy top line stuff the first time and not have to upgrade later. (OR) You could buy a non-GPS graph for now and move it to the trolling motor later when you get the GPS-graph. WOW! Are you as confused as I am trying to help you? I gotta go now before I talk myself in to a new purchase. Good luck and keep us posted on your Project Boat. <{{{{{><

[sdwalleye]

OK here is what I'd do. I'd check out scheels and look at buying a reconditioned 824 trolling motor, should set you back somewhere around 500.00. I bought one a couple years ago and it works fine and had a year warrenty. Next I'd buy a X15 for a main locator (699.00 and again for me I'd buy something cheaper for the bow like a x85 if you can find one. Now most will frown on my choce of locator because they both run on the same frequency. I simpley turn off my main unit when I move to the front to run the bow mounted trolling motor. I had a lms 350 and a x 85 in my proir boat and didn't have problems with interfence until I went depper than 20 feet. I run a 7520 and a eagle altima now. Both units work good. I think whatever you buy you'll need to learn to use it and interpit what the screen is showing you. Good luck and have fun equiping your boat.