TOT! She Ain't a HELLCAT but she IS a Grumman

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:08 am

Bein' a po' boy but living on a river that leads to the ocean and being a "waterman" I needed a CHEAP wessel (Chekov) and discovered a neighbor downriver had an OLD Grumman aluminum canoe lying in his backyard the past 10 years corroding away which he purchased from a military family at Wheeler AFB 15 years earlier, this thing I guess is at least 30 years old. He offered it to me along with an AMA (outrigger float) from another canoe for a song. Just being a Grumman would have made the sale ( Dad and I LOVE HELLCATS with the Wildcat a close second, TBF Avenger not too shabby too). First thing was adding the AMA to the Grumman to make it more stable in open ocean. Also added an outboard motor bracket from eBay, and cheapo rodholders from Cabela's. I named her Makule Akule (Mah-coo-lay, Ah-coo-lay) Hawaiian for senile mackeral. I added eyeballs to scare the fish into submission. Here's her maiden voyage pics.

Bringing her home diamond in the rough

Maiden Voyage of Makule Akule

Her "angry eyes" (Mr. Potatohead- Toy Story II)

A mile offshore from Kailua Beach

Ugly BUT happy *** in his environment

SCORE! One 2 pound UKU (Gray Snapper)

Another shot of the UKU

Mt. Olomana with the Ko'olau Range in back from a mile offshore

View of Mokolea Rock, Manana Island, Mokulua Islands, and Makapu'u Point in background

Close up of backside of Mokulua Island

The UKU was filleted and sliced into SASHIMI and consumed this night

The last time I was out in Kailua Bay was over 14 years ago, and my Dad was with me. The whole time I was having flashbacks and torrents of memories all with Dad always there, he taught me everything there was to know about the ocean. It felt SO good to be out there in a familiar place again (I even cut the engine and drifted for an hour enjoying the peace and reflecting on my past) but I caught myself talking to Dad and knowing he was not with me I felt SO guilty enjoying this without him even though I know in my heart he would want me to. Love you Dad, thanks for EVERTHING!

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:19 am

Would you please adopt me?

You live in a beautiful world!

Humbly,
bogie

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:22 am

Very nice canoe, fish and photos!

Are you sure your dad wasn't with you?

Ravenman · Post by **Ravenman** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:12 am

Great pictures keep them coming!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:48 am

Absolutely wonderful.

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:11 am

Great post, great pics! I too have an old Grumman that I first hit the water with approx 30 years ago with my dad. He's been gone four 4 1/2 years now. Your post has got me choked up again. Your dad is still with you especially at times like that. God Bless!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:19 am

Awesome Ji! Congrats on the new ride!!!

You know, other than the darn-near communist state government out there (trying to give CA a run for their money on who can be more leftist), you pretty much live in paradise. I suggest a swap - move all the leftists to CA, and move all the good folks there to Hawaii. Of course, there is probably not enough room on the island for all the good folks trapped in CA...

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:10 am

Ji,
If you look in the bow there should be a small oval plate that has a ser. # on it. they often have the date right there with the number. If not there is a web site but I don't know the address right off, but you can tell the date when it was made.
But wait, don't you have that on the paperwork that allows you to have the motor on it? It's hard to tell with a Grumann, they're ageless.
I had a Grumann and sold it to get a lighter sleeker fiberglass canoe. Man was that a bad move. That Grumann sure was stable. I miss it.

You done good man,

Rusty <><

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:12 am

Now all yo need is a mast and a sail!

Looks like a nice place to play! I haven't been to HI for abbout 20 years. Bet it's changed a bit!

Very cool, Love the outrigger!

My boat's covered with frost this am

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:14 am

I have never seen a happier man than you with that smile

.
great pics I really enjoyed them.
pete

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:19 am

Ji, Thanks very much for posting such peaceful and cool pics. For a minute there, I thought I was watching the National Geographic Channel. I have often wondered what it must be like to live in an area where you don't have to watch your back 24/7. Maybe I'm paranoid

You must have very large.........as I admire your nerve to take a canoe/grumann out on the open water. Have a nice day.-------Sixgun

txpete-that little bug had me all messed up----first thing in the morning and I'm still asleep. cool

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:24 am

on another site I had a guy telling me he was slapping his computer screen when he first saw it.now thats kool.

pete

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:30 am

Bro,

You are a man after my own heart, as I knew all along!

Canoes are truly impressive watercraft, far more capable than most people give them credit for, at least in the right hands. Love the outrigger!
I've used mine to get me into spots the other duck hunters could not get their boats into; I'd be standing up poling, dog, gun decoys and camo netting piled high, and sail right past the others. I'd slip easily through 3" of water, while they waded thigh-deep in mud with their gear on their backs!:P .
You'll be much happier if you dump that Tanaka and get a 3-4hp Yamaha or Merc.
Be safe, my friend.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:33 am

If you see any Mitsubishi watercraft headed your way...be afraid! There's a history of that sort of thing there.........

Thanks for the pics Ji.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:34 am

your a lucky fellow....living in paradise

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:59 am

Ram Hammer · Post by **Ram Hammer** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:08 am

Great post! Thanks for the pics

PaperPatch · Post by **PaperPatch** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:35 am

canonsix · Post by **canonsix** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:36 am

Ji, with every stroke of the paddle and every slice of the knife your Dad was guiding you hand,

Doug

cutter · Post by **cutter** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:45 am

You can't beat the Grummans, I swear they will float on wet grass. Perfect for porting too.

I think I have carried mine more than paddled.

So...

When can I move in?

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:52 am

Ji, excellent post!!!

I've been look'n for a Grumman canoe for the last couple of years. Used to buy 'em at rummage sales for $20 and leave 'em up north because they were cheap. Can't find 'em anymore.

Nice ride

Kilroy6644 · Post by **Kilroy6644** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:57 am

I didn't even know Grumman made canoes. That sure is a beautiful boat.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:20 am

Wiiiiiilsoooon...!

(The scenery reminds me of the movie Castaway)

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:29 am

Here's interesting article on the history of Grumman Canoes:
http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/ ... navigation
Aircraft technology in peacetime use.
Grummans are still being made:
http://www.marathonboat.com/canoes.htm
Mine's an old 17 footer which I found on local "Craigslist" but they can also be found on eBay (flea-bay).
I just picked up a 60 SF used windsurfer sail & boom from a rental shop in great shape for $15.00 all I need now is a mast, though I may be getting one from Maui which I was given and I turned it into a avocado picker, left with my niece but she ain't using it so it'll be shipped over cheap if not free since niece works for shipping company, can't wait to sail-troll!
I bought my 3hp Tanaka outboard 4 years ago on ebay for $200 in new condition but never got a chance to use it until just recently so it sat for years in my closet. On my second pull of first attempt at starting she started right up, and she starts up every time on first or second pull. She weighs just 24 pounds and is air-cooled so no worries about bad impeller causing overheating, she just purred for over 4 hours yesterday barely sipping fuel, i'm pretty happy with the little Tanaka.

THANKS FOR ALL THE POSITIVE COMMENTS!

Boreman · Post by **Boreman** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:51 pm

Great canoe......!!!!! Good on you. I can see you are a most happy man by the 2 foot smile. I, like you now, know the the joys of owning a Grumman canoe. Mine is an old 17 foot that I have had for 20+ years. It has been on lakes, rivers and the ocean.I would love to paddle mine through your backyard. I know first hand how beautiful your Hawaii is. My wife and I have been there 4 times. My BIL lives in Honolulu at the corner of Ala Mona Blvd and the Ala Wai Canal.We travel there every 5 years for our anniv. We have been all over the islands. A true paradise. Thanks for the pics.

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:07 am

I know what you mean about the prices on Grunmann Canoes. Used to buy them cheap to run thte whitewater in the Adirondaks, If damaged, no real concern. Now you can hardly find a decent one, at anything close to a fair price!!! Art

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:41 am

Wonderful

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:40 am

Very nice set up you have there. I have a similar set up but with an electric trolling motor. I bought a giant battery it weighs almost double my canoe, but I have about 12 hours wide open.
I have never used an outrigger how do you like it?

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:34 am

VERY NICE!!!

1894 · Post by **1894** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:02 pm

Amazing

A post from Hawaii , and I learn that the Grumman factory is alive and well just 50 miles south of me

I clicked on this thread because my Dads old Grumman canoe is in the attic of the barn at camp and I've been planning on getting her back out in the water this year. I'll have to check for the tag , but it's gotta be close to 40 years old by now. We have a set of white styrofoam pontoons for it , and the outboard motor attatchment was a combination of wood and metal. The old Evinrude was siezed up a couple of decades ago.
And Marathon NY., my dads hunting buddy since grade school worked in the Brockway plant building trucks till they closed down.

Gi , I too believe your Dad was right there with you and didn't mind a bit that you were talking to him

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:46 pm

dr walker wrote: I have never used an outrigger how do you like it?

I can't imagine this boat without the outrigger it is so stable now, and I plan on mounting a mast and sail so the outrigger should help quite a bit when this happens. I also use it as a dive platform for when I spearfish and the outrigger makes boarding from overboard much easier. Most commercial outriggers made for canoes seem inadequate in design for ocean use but this one from an older one man outrigger canoe works beautifully. The way I have the 'iako (outrigger arms) rigged the whole thing can be removed in about 5 minutes if I choose to use this canoe in freshwater Lake Wilson and adjoining streams in the middle of the island of Oahu to fish for Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass, Peacock Bass, and Snakehead.
http://www.hawaiibassfishing.com/ http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/fish_regs/freshwater.htm
http://www.aa-fishing.com/hi/art-secret ... ilson.html