Splat

Hydrofoils cause more problems than they are often worth. Try a pair of smart tabs. You'll never look back. http://www.iboats.com/Marine_Store/dm/cart_id.656105559--keywords.smart%20tabs--session_id.103914560--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0 Bill

What if you used a standard cooler but but places a round insert in it with air holes cut in the bottom and sides to allow for aeriation when you have shad? Bill

I'['d like to know where you found that, and who messesd up the listing price. I just looked and couldn't find anything like that. I would have ordered 5 of six of them! Bill

When loaded correctly the tongue weight will be 10% of tatal haul BIll

115amp hour basically means you can either A: draw 1 amp for 115 hours or B: Draw 115amps for 1 hour Bill

I would think it's not only because it's meant to be used as a exterior sealer on houses. I would think they would have to make it so it wouldn't soak up water. Bill

I prefer the rod holders that hold the rods upright Like these: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0013542014970a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&sort=all&QueryText=rod+holder&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&No=36&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&N=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0 I have the six rod holder and couldn't be happier with it. The rods are vertical so you do have to be mindful of casting side arm, but I just mounted mine dead center in the boat and they haven't gotten in the way yet. Sorry it's a bad picture but you can see how I have them mounted, Good option if you have the room to mount. Bill

Very nice! It's a fish getter. Just curious why u used both LED and incandescent lighting? Seems like it might be a little bright to use at night? Nice carpeting job tho. Bill

A few choices here. Black lights will work fairly well, they also have the added bonus of making Clear Blue Flourscent line "GLOW" so you can see it along the bank. Cabelas makes many types of black lights that will simply clip or suction cup on your gunnel. Secondary choice would be some high powered RED Led's. Red light has the awesome property that it doesn't cause the Rhodopsin Chemical in your retina to break down. This allows you to use red light and maintain your night vision. I use red led's like these http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_67660____SearchResults Bill Bill

Wax won't do anythinhg but put a coating over it and make it harder to get off. You can try baking soda and water mix into a paste and try to rub it out. Or use a commercial product like CLR (think yoyu can get at wally world) or I've heard of people using just plain Lemon juice. Bill

Your only options from controlling from the middle of the boat is to go with a electric steer model. Like a minnkota Terrova. Some guys don't like them, however I have one and love it. I have the standard foot pedal plus the wireless co-pilot remote that attaches to the current rod I'm using. I'm really happy with mine and would highly recommend them to anybody, the cost is more for one, but on a boat like mine they were the only real option. Also if you go with an electric steer, spend they few extra dollars and get one with "Autopilot" You'll never look back, it's almost really a necessity. Here's some from cabelas, they sell reconditioined ones, that's what I bought and have been very happy with it. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0055423013620a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=reconditioned&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=reconditioned&noImage=0 bill

Simple power to weight ratio is MUCH BETTER in a outboard. BIll

All boats block out the sun light above them, the blocked out light makes them appear black surrounded by a light blue ocean. All colors will appear this way. Color doesn't matter, they all look the same. People with bright red and yellow bottomed boats, catch just as many fish as boats with blue or grey bottoms. Bill

Hpw about Smart Tabs? Any opinions on those? Bill

What is the screw threading into? Loctite only works for machined screws going into matched threads. Bill

Del I'm sorry, I mis read your post. When you said "I bought 3 nice bright led lights and" I took it as "I bought 3 nice bright RED lights and." Would still be interested in how you like them. I'll have to take a look at my local wal-mart. I stopped at "Boaters World" here by Great Northern yesterday and saw some LED lights like you have, I think they were only 6 led versions tho, I was interested but was curious as to the brightness, for $16 a piece I wanted to research some more. I'm looking to install white for general illumination like when loading or unloading at night, and also red for when I'm actually on the water. Red is so much easier on night vision. So Let me know how it works. Bill

You should rotate the head on the trolling motor so the tiller is pointed at you. BIll

I'm curious which RED LED's your using? And also how bright are they. I'm looking to install some red ones under the gunwhales in my boat but am looking for something with some decent brightness. Maybe some pics when your done with this project would help alot. Bill

A grinding noise can be very typical of cavitation in the pump caused by low fluid. Check your fluid level first. Start easy. When you pop the cap off the reservoir look at the oil inside and look for signs of water and or air. This can appear like a milky looking fluid, or rainbows in the oil, even froth like that of a good beer. You may also want to try bleeding the line going to the tilt piston and see if you get any air from it. These sign's can indicate a leak somewhere in the system. Do you have signs of fluid leaks anywhere? Grinding can also be the pump it's self, but like I said lets start simple first. There's not a lot inside of a hydro pump that can go bad, but when they do they are costly to replace. Bill

Someone told me simply get yourself a 25watt lightbulb and a cheap lamp and place it on the deck of your boat under the cover and just leave it on. It's supposed to create enough air current to help eliminate this problem. I've never tried it. BIll

I looked through probably a hundred diagrams and couldn't find one that didn't include a ton a safety switches and other stuff that would just get in the way. So I drew one. Hope this helps. Bill

Piece of cake. You'll need to run a cable from your battery, to the large terminal on a starter solenoid like this one: http://www.stens.com/dealernet/catalog.html?sType=5&&&&&∂=435036 You'll want a 4 post one, they are available at any local home depot, or lawn mower repair place for under $15. This solenoid will handle the large current for the starter, that a push button can't. Off the second large post run a cable to your starter. Now get your self a push button or any MOMENTARY SPST switch. You'll want to run a second smaller wire from your positive battery terminal, or fused switch panel to the momentary switch. ON the second terminal of this switch run a wire to one of the small terminals on the solenoid. Off the second small terminal on the solenoid run a wire back to ground on the battery. Make sure the engine is grounded TO THE BATTERY with a decent size cable.#6 or #4 gauge should be fine. This should also be the size cable you ran from the battery to the solenoid, to the starter. There you go. When you push the button it sends voltage to the solenoid causing it to close the contacts and send voltage and current to the starter motor. Let me see if I can find a diagram to better explain this. Bill

Carpet feels better, and provides a little more cushion while standing for long periods of time. Color may become a consideration with darker colors absorbing more sun and heating up. Also the bed liner stuff tends to be shiny, and often reflects more sunlight up causing more glare, often it can be painted with a flat paint to help this. Just depends on the actual product your using. Treble hooks will snag on carpet. So it's 6 of one, half a dozen of another. Personally I'd go with carpet. Bill

It's just a golf cart motor with a lower end bolted up. They are neat if you can get it running. Plan on using 6volt batteries for better run time tho. Bill

I just wanted to add in my first post I said 5 minutes tops. It's just a rule of thumb. Find a routine and stick with it as someone else stated. It's really no big deal being by your self. Just plan ahead a little that all. And don't be afraid to ask for help, Really, it's easy. Likewise guys if you have a few free minutes and see someone struggling, or looks like they are new at this it's always nice to walk up and comment on their boat then ask if they could use a hand. Many people are afraid in this day and age to ask for help, in fear they might be turned down, or ridiculed. Bill