A year or so ago there was a show on the Outdoor Channel called “Das Boat.” A quick internet search brought me to the conclusion that it was just another way to say “The Boat.” The premise of the show was that this old beater boat was salvaged and sent around the country on various fishing outings. At each stop the boat was modified to fit the needs to catch the target fish in that particular episode. It was a good watch and interesting to see what was done to improve the old boat.

I recently experienced my own version of Das Boat. I have always been hesitant about hauling my new boat down to Red Wing during the winter. The corrosive road salt scared me. That’s when I found myself missing my old Swamp Runner flat bottom aluminum boat. I contacted my friend Ted and inquired about the possibility of renting his boat during the winter months. His told me that I couldn’t rent it, I could use it, but that it was up to me getting it “seaworthy” again. The deal was struck.

Ted’s boat, a 16-foot Alumacraft Waterfowler with a Mercury 25 horsepower motor, was “barn fresh:” not abused, just not used. What I mean is that mice had taken up residence in the motor and the carpet needed replacing. The project actually started in January and spilled into February which was a perfect time to fill up those cold days. I had the vision of Swamp Runner II underneath all those impending repairs.   

The first and biggest challenge was the motor. I should have kept track of the number of butternuts that I pulled out from under the hood. I was thankful that the mice had moved out sometime before I removed it. The wool-like mouse nest was almost wrapped completely around the power head but thankfully did not cover the carburetor. An air hose and a shop vac cleaned up the mess quickly so it was on to the spark plugs and other minor repairs and replacements.

I used water muffs to diagnose that the water pump needed help. I probably couldn’t have done that repair on a new motor but on the old bullet proof Merc, that task was within my pay grade. After a quick YouTube refresher, the old came out and the new pump went in. I was getting closer to the water.

The last and probably easiest upgrade was replacing the old carpet with new camouflage marine foam. It not only looks good but it’s also pretty comfortable under foot. With a few more upgrades, it was time to take the boat to Red Wing.

If the outing on the Mississippi River was only measured by how everything worked, it was a success. The water pumped, the plugs sparked and the fish finder found fish. Although I only caught four saugers, the walleye’s cousin, they were pretty decent and enough for a couple of fish fries in my garage.  

I miss the original Swamp Runner and I miss fishing in my newer boat, but resurrecting Swamp Runner II was so worth all the time, effort and money to get it back to its former glory.

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