J Francho

New glasses

Coffee in the AM, then water. No alcohol in the boat, save that for when I'm safe at home.

That was a sweet deal. Keep looking! Be patient.

Keen Newport H2O are anti bacterial/fungal wading sandals. They are very ugly, but the most comfortable I've been able to find.

From 20-something years ago:

You want to hit some of those bays on Michigan. By the time I was 16, I was chasing smallies in Lake Ontario with a 15' deep V tiller.

The OP is in Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan, has a $6-8K price limitation, and it's his first boat. A tiller or side console deep would suit his waters better. A mod-v or glass bass boat would severely limit the water he could safely fish.

Rubber? No. You'll want to use a fender if you're attaching a plastic battery tray, though. The screw heads would be too small. The tray should have all the hardware.

These two statements are contradictory. You're going to have to get a good roof rack to accomplish your stated needs.

You would be securing the battery trays to the floor of the compartment, not the hull. There shouldn't be any fears or issues with that. That's why it's there. Self tapping, stainless steel screws are probably the easiest route.

I mean, how shallow are you tyalking about? Most deep - V draft in about 14". It all depends on how the boat is laden.

This topic comes up every so often. I think @Darren. might do this? I don't have any confidence in it, and haven't tried it. I do it the traditional way, as detailed here: http://www.richz.com/fishing/blog/?page_id=552 He beat me to it!

I don't use any spray. JJ's and/or Megastrike.

I have said this before: I don't have brand loyalty, but I do have model loyalty. There's certain baits that just do it for me. I know what they're doing, and what to expect, and they get bit.

Actually, the nod-v are a little more stable than a deep V. They can't handle the same big water as a deep V, and they can be a bit rougher riding in chop.

They aren't giving a break because they feel bad you're paying taxes. They do it because many use the IRS as an interest free savings account, and get a big refund. Retail stores clamor for that refund money. Hence the term "tax stimulus." The refunds stimulate sales in the retail sector.

That Crestliner would be on the TOP of my list. That's a real nice boat. My buddy has the 18' version. There is a difference between some brands. Lund and Crestliner are top level boats. Lund are riveted, Crestliners are welded. Both hand made in the same factory. Both far better made boats than Tracker. That isn't to say Tacker are not good - to the contrary, they pack a lot of value in for a low price. Personally, if you're looking at deep-Vs, Alumacraft, Lund, Crestliner, PolarCraft, would all be in my top choices list.

240 covers most people in boats 30-34" wide. If you're worried about being seen, get a flag. You're not always paddling, so the bright colored paddles is a waste of time. I have a custom bent full carbon paddle that's black, run a bright green flag on a VisiCarbon light.

You can find people that had hull issues with every make of boat. Fishers were decent boats. I agree, the price seems a bit hefty, though the kicker adds some $$$ to the bottom line. This one would require some serious inspection to see why the price is high. I'll take a pass on the Tracker.

Why on earth are they putting a Class IV hitch on a V-6 SUV? Total overkill.

IDK, never threw a Crazy Legs.

The Crazy Legs is a completely different bait.

Good baits, good action. They get bit. Claws are less durable than Rage Craws.

I've seen more guys roast their V-6 SUVs towing boats than I care to mention. Get the vehicle with the towing package, and stay well within the max limit.

That's a security feature. See a device that isn't yours, change your password.