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Native Propel Drive – Just Add Oil?
DISCLAIMER: I’m not promoting that you go out and do this conversion on your propel drive unit (you may void your warranty…), I am strictly sharing how I went about completing this task for those who may be contemplating or have thought of doing the same. The choice is strictly yours and yours alone…
Since purchasing my used Native Slayer Propel 10 a few months ago, I finally got around to performing my first inspection of the propel gear drive assemblies. I noticed that most of the lithium grease had flung off the contact areas of the gears where it is most needed – not good… I studied the parts breakdown of the propel drive unit online and also watched a maintenance video and disassembly video produced by Native Watercraft. When compared to a lower unit on an outboard motor or even a differential on a car, I saw no reason that the propel gear drives could not be in a constant gear oil bath as well. With this thinking in mind I chose to convert my drive to use a synthetic gear oil in the gear drive chambers and show how I went about accomplishing this task.
After this conversion I will be performing routine inspections on the propel drive gear assemblies and will report back if any failures occur but I highly doubt that this will be the case.
Happy 4th of July!!!
Family Fun Day at the Zoo
Visited the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens with the kids for the first time here in Florida. Nice zoo but quite small. There were not a lot of animals types to see, but still managed to have a good time before the afternoon sun made it too hot and uncomfortable.
Scupper Drain Plugs
For a while now I had been thinking of making a set of scupper drain covers for the Native Slayer 10 so I went ahead and began prototyping today and here is what I got done so far with the 3d printer…
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3087951
Re-living the past
Wow, while rummaging through old photos, I found my PB Bluefish from back in ’75… It sure brings back some awesome memories! 
That fish is special not only because it is the biggest bluefish I have ever caught but because it chomped down on my finger when trying to retrieve my only weighted treble hook that I used for snagging bunker from its throat and would not let it go. I vividly remember the muscles on the fishes head expanding as he continued to squeeze his teeth onto my finger tighter and tighter like a vise. My cousin who was with me at the time had to get the kitchen knife to try and pry its mouth open enough in an attempt to release me. After a couple of tries, he succeeded in creating a gap whereby I was finally able to pull my finger out as I sprayed the kitchen wall and ceiling with blood that seemed to have sprayed everywhere from the gashes in my finger upon its release from the fishes mouth… That’s when my mother entered the kitchen and completely freaked out because she thought all the blood that was splattered in the room was from my cousin and I trying to clean a fish! Once she realized what had happened it was off to the see the doctor to get my finger checked out and get a tetanus shot but not before she gave me a good wallop to the back of the head lol…
I will forever remember that day when the bluefish entered that river by my house and trapped the bunker there. The water turned blood red as it churned and boiled with fish trying to escape for their lives. I could see bunker swimming near the shore with only half a body. I don’t even think those dying fish knew that they were bitten in half but continued to try to swim. By the time I returned home from the doctors and went by the waters edge, most of the action was over. The water was red with blood with many fish floating on the surface indicating a massacre had indeed occurred.
My hand was all wrapped up with gauze so I could not fish even if I wanted to but that’s okay because a week later it happened again, the bluefish returned, but this time I had learned my lesson – ( never stick your hand inside a bluefishes mouth even if you think it’s dead! )
Online 3D printing Services
A small demonstration on how to begin having 3d files printed using a online 3D printing service when you do not own a 3d printer. I used 3DHubs for this example in which I have no affiliation with this company.
► 3DHUBS → https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint
► My 3D Printer → https://amzn.to/2LFnGWA
► PETG Filament → https://amzn.to/2Mempqy
Native Slayer Seat Riser Mod
My Offshore Camera Rig
This was my solution to capturing video from high above on a large fishing vessel using a small diy camera pole with a solar powered battery bank for all day recording. I designed it to be placed on to a fishing rocket launch tube which are found on most large offshore fishing boats and be easily and quickly mounted as well as removed. Preferably the camera pole should be positioned in a rocket launch tube that will provide the camera with an unobstructed view for recording.
My First Offshore Fishing Adventure
A dream come true for me to catch a Mahi-Mahi, a species that has been on the top of my bucket list of fish to catch for as long as I can remember with a bonus Red Snapper to finish the day!
