G-Daddy

Yes - have to admit my TowBoat experience was on Chesapeake Bay.  The only time I had a tow on Lake O was at Wilson and a guy from the Yacht Club towed me from there to the state part launch.  Haven't needed a tow in the last four seasons at the Oak, but I understand the difficulty of getting TowBoat to come that far.

Had to do this one a couple of years ago on Li'l Bit (aka Green Sportcraft).  http://www.norscotshaftseal.com/Instructions.html

Having had to use TowBoat once and Trailer Assist once, I will never be without either.  My TowBoat bill of $1500 was taken care of by the insurance and I can pay a lot of years for that. 

From MacRaes Blue Book:  http://www.macraesbluebook.com/search/company.cfm?company=515281

My bet is it's Chinese.

Be careful buying off brand swivels.  Stick with the Torpedo, Spro or Sampos.  Some off brands are cheaper for a reason. 

I drive 350 miles to the lake to fish. Towing the boat I get 10 mpg and empty about 16.   I am not going to cheap out on something like a swivel.

Good job.  We will be up in a couple of weeks.  Spent the rainy day yesterday going through tackle.  Glad you are catching.

Thanks for the report.  Getting the boat ready for our trek to the Oak in about three weeks.  Reports like yours get us fired up!

_{as the summer moves on you will find and learn to use temperature breaks.  That is one of the most productive aspects of a probe on our boat.}

Michigan Wheel used to have a prop selector tool on their website.  I used that last time I changed outboard props, but that was years ago.

Try Wileys Riverside Marina. It is just past the county docks on the same side. The rates are very reasonable. The owners and everyone who docks there  are good friendly people. I have been there for 18 years and never had any problems with theft or any other issues. Look them up online or call  (585 ) 682-4552

Wiley's are good people - they will treat you right.  Trailer storage is no problem.  Showers and bathrooms available at the top of those 52 steps.

Get rid of the wife and price limit is solved

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Or she gets the boat in the settlement and you don't need the sonar any longer.

Also sidewall flexing is different between radial and bias ply tires.

Last season our power cord went bad. No voltage at the plug so we had nothing. Replaced the power cord and worked great the rest of the season.

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See if I could get this guy to take $500:  http://www.lakeontariounited.com/fishing-hunting/topic/51118-new-price-furuno-585-fish-finder/

I have Traxstech, Berts, and Cannon Dual Axis on the boat and all three types are well made and rugged.  My favorite is the Berts, but that is the only one that has ever broken for me also.  Berts replaced it in less than a week.

I can pull my 25' Sportcraft with my half-ton Suburban, although it is a real workout, so you would be good with a 21 or 22 tinny.  My trip to Lake O from home is nearly 400 miles.

No fishing this weekend. Just bought a new F-250 and I'm having a cap installed. Also need to do a couple of repairs on our place near Chincoteague. Never fish the tourneys - too many crazies.

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G-Daddy,

 

The only question I have is when you get "repeatability" by controlling the down-speed which is the bigger factor? The fact that your lures are running the same speed or is it because when you are duplicating speed you in turn are also getting your lures at the same approximate depth?

 

Depth and Temperature data helps you to pinpoint that temp break.

We try to repeat everything that works.  Don't think it through too much - just do it.  By the way, where on the Chesapeake do you fish.  We spend some time out of Somers Cove in Crisfield and fish Tangier Sound a good bit.  Getting some good reports for tthe rock out of there now.

Let me start with a disclaimer. We fish from mid-July to Labor Day. We have found repeatability to be the key to trolling speed, but when we can find a temperature break, the probe can be invaluable. Some of our best fishing has been over a temperature break on a hot August day.

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No not a pretty part of town........hope you are still married.

47 years and counting - and she came back with two spools of coated cable.  Then last season when I needed a power cable she said - ORDER IT.

Agreed! If you have problems with the unit you can drive it to their location in Buffalo and they can test it while you wait. Takes 5 minutes + they have all the parts on site such as coated cable spools.

Yes - two years ago when you couldn't find a spool of coated cable anywhere I sent my bride on a journey to Buffalo to pick up a couple of spools (while I went fishing).  When she came back she said, "Don't ever ask me to go there again."  She was not impressed at all with the part of town in which they are located.

Just above the seacock on my Sportcraft there was a fitting that you plugged a garden hose into.  I ran a short hose to a 5 gallon bucket and used that for suction with the bravo water pump on the engine intake and filled the bucket from another hose.  That worked well until I repowered and the new engine has a fitting right on the engine where you plug in a garden hose direct.

I used the Torpedo cable with a manual Cannon rigger last season with no problem.  I use a fish shaped rigger weight at 14 pounds.  I will make sure to watch for twists this year.

Never had any problemswith these:  http://www.downtimecharters.com/Ideas/Planer_boards/planer%20boards%20build-new.htm

I just can't get around the concept of drilling a 2" hole in the bottom of a perfectly good hull :rofl:

That's why I had BOE Marine install mine.  I couldn't bring myself to do it.