Sk8man

Justin is right there are very few places where they exist in any numbers now. As kids we used to get them in most streams in the Fingers and Fairhaven etc..but those days are pretty much gone. There is one lake that freezes over where they can be caught at night through the ice but I am not at liberty to mention it without being "strung up". To some they are considered a delicacy while I still consider them "bait"

3 ft eel caught on a dodger squid when I had my 13 ft Whaler. Tried to get the hook out on the outside of the boat but he squirmed up over the side and got loose on the deck and I still had slime for weeks after left after cleaning the boat

Very good points Keith. In 1963 I took an oath to uphold and defend to the death if necessary the U.S. Constitution and I feel exactly the same about that oath as I did back then. Despite some of our shortcomings which seem to center around greed and personal ambitions taking over logic and reason we still are a wonderful and generous nation with freedoms that cannot be taken for granted.

Cool piece of history Jason and something to be proud you are a part of

Aspiring you have a PM

Small section of small diameter surgical tubing placed on the 19 strand (wire can slide up and down through it). Insert the tubing in the jaws of the release. Place the tubing behind the little pin in the Offshore release and lock it down tight (maybe use heavy duty rubber band over the jaws of release to keep from opening?) ? May be clumsy in practice but might be worth a try.....

Thanks Bill another good reason to hang on to it paid over twice that high book valuefor it new

I have the 18 ft Ventura (2002) and love it. I believe the major reason they discontinued the Ventura and went to the Vantage (same hull design) was because the Ventura was not competitive price wise with that class of boat (expensive and many boats available cheaper in that class). The hull design is pretty much the Outrage (offshore boat) hull with a dual console top and it is very seaworthy. I have NEVER had a drop of water in it other than rain and it has been set up for both fishing and pleasure all along. It sits high in the water and I can go into less than 1 ft of water with the motor up. This model seems more equivalent to a next size up boat because they are wide and deep (freeboard). I only have the one pic of my boat in the water so it has been on here before . I also had a dodger made for the front with zip out windows and privacy curtain etc. for the ladies (porta potty fits upfront between seats if needed) if needed and bow cover, side windows for the bimini so the cabin can be closed off in the foul weather too. Pretty much does everything I could ask of it but the custom canvas has to be thought through in terms of flexibility and cost ($6,000 or so altogether). 6 ft and 200 lbs and can stand on the gunwales without it moving at all and several people can stand on one side without it listing to the side like a lot of even larger boats do. All my fishing gear (downriggers outriggers, rod holders etc. is removable. The only holes drilled in it were for the transducer mounting plate depth finder on dash and the kicker bracket. Except for the kicker bracket if needed to sell for pleasure craft it would appear pretty much "untouched". P.S. no intention of ever selling and I don't have any affiliation with Boston Whaler other than being in love

The pic above alone is worth a million bucks WTG That is what parenthood is all about

If you really want to do it right and have the $$$ here is one to think about https://www.bostonwhaler.com/family-overview/vantage-boat-models/230-vantage/ (although I'd eliminate the sink if I had one built)

They drive me nuts and I kinda hate them because of all the racket and messes they make but I also admire their intelligence and wary nature. My wife thinks they are cool because they have "lookouts" and seem to "buddy up". I'm not quite so "forgiving" I guess

Here is a pic from a couple years ago to give you an idea taken at the end of the day

Tip: The crows like anything dead

The $174,000 is only the "entry fee" to the REAL MONEY...the stuff that is "under the table" and hidden from public view just as the backroom decisions are....

They love fish. I usually leave some out back for the one that lives near me.

Not meant as a criticism either.....but having been there in the past

If you fish solo good luck netting good sized fish.

Some folks may wish to take another look at the U. S. Constitution and First Ammendment. It is meant to reference rights of individual citizens NOT legislators or representatives or officials of the government in the course of their work duties constructing their misguided politically motivated ideas foisted off on the general public.