Zeta

Sweet looking ride, congrats and enjoy it!

For anyone else using the brazing rods, you MUST use a stainless steel brush for the aluminum boat and on the rods. Just a regular wire brush will not do. I followed the instructions on the durafix website to a T and it worked exactly as they claimed. Hope this helps.

Crack, hole, whatever the brazing rods do work and they work very well. From what you've described, it sounds like you didn't prep it per the instructions. Like Matt said, you have to scrub down the surface and the rod with a stainless steel brush for aluminum (Brush came in my kit). The instructions in the kit I have clearly pointed out that if you didn't use the special ss brush, the rods wouldn't adhere. I will be using this same kit on another hole that's 1/4" in diameter and I have no worries that the stuff works as advertised when done the right way. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to fix a leak on their boat on the cheap.

1987 16 1/2 ft. Grumman Challenger when I bought it in 2002: Now:

In the Spring I don't have to do anything other than put the batteries back in and fire her up in my driveway. Do a quick check of the trolling motor, fish finder, and trailer lights to make sure everything is still working properly then I go fishing!

I'm gonna disagree with this because I used the brazing rods and mapp gas torch on a pinpoint sized hole in my grumman and it bonded perfectly.

Boat is going to look great when you're done fishing girl. Six years ago I scored an older Grumman alum. bass rig for cheap and replaced decks, carpet, and seats. I used 3/4" marine grade plywood. It was pricey and probably even pricier now, but I'm glad I used it. Here's a link to my project. Lots of before and after pics in the link below. My brother cut the decks and we secured them down with stainless steel screws. I did the carpet. I don't want to promote any particular place, but I will tell you that the place I bought my carpet kit from was a godsend and I never would have been able to do the carpet job without their included instructions sheet AND their help over the phone. The seats I bought from Cabelas at $100 a pop. (I see you got seats already). For newbies at this it didn't come out half bad. If you have any other questions that I can help with I'd be glad to chime in, just pm me since I will most likely not remember about this thread. Oh and btw, I'm in SE Mass too! Here's that link: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4phbw/id1.html edit: Your m.o. and aol handle seemed familiar to me. You also have a sportster and are a member on the xlforum yes?

Kewl! Glad to see some other women on this forum! Good luck fishing this season!

Another Massachusetts resident here - I too would call a 5+ a lunker.

Thanks for posting about the gambler sale. Just placed an order. I lost 4 booyah boogey baits, (3 on a cast, 1 stuck in a nice bass) so I'm hoping these don't break like the booyah.

Couple of my fav's: My sister about to kiss her bass Kyle, my friends boy, first time I took him fishing and he actually caught his very first fish. He was one happy kid!

I'm with yakfish. I prefer the sit in but if I were to be using it in the ocean I probably would have gone for something like the Ocean Kayak Caper. My Heritage Featherlite 9.5 has been awesome for the calmer rivers, lakes, and ponds that I fish. I added a rear flush mount rod holder, a set of paddle clips, then up front added four deck loops to strap my gear bag to the front deck. I can fish comfortably with this setup and have gone out for several 6 hour trips. Paid approx. 450 for the yak & paddle. I'm 46 y.o. female btw, so the weight of the kayak was a big factor for me since I have a Jeep Wrangler and have to lift the yak over my head to put it up on the roof. It's working out well and I'm pleased with the kayak for my needs. Couple pics. Second pic is with a lower profile deck bag.

Like the others have said, that's too much money for a plastic boat. I'd go with your other idea of looking for a used boat in the want ads. There are tons of good deals out there. I got my rig in 2002 (boat, 50 hp mariner, galvanized trailer) for $2200. It needed cosmetic work (new decks, carpet, and seats) but it ran A+. Five years later and I'm glad I went this route and I'm sure you will be too if you take some time to find yourself the right setup.

3/8 oz chatterbait or booyah boogey bait Vixen or equivalent topwater plug black senkos

Anyone with trailer light problems due to them being submersed in water should look into setting them up so the lights are above the water level. Mine are like that and I have not had a problem with them in the 5 yrs I've had the boat.