Flatfish

I think the deck's on both are the same size, the difference is the location of the rod locker, the bass version is in the middle of the front deck, and the crappie version is down the side. Very large door and large storage area(more rods) on the bass version, Just check the rod length for each box. Don't believe they have the bait buckets in the live wells on the bass version, their are suttle differences between the two that you wouldn't realize unless they were sitting side by side.

I don't have a rod locker on the boat, the regular lake I fish is only 8-9 miles from the house all pavement. If I go to another lake that might have gravel or dirt roads I put my rods in some sleeves that lawn chairs came in (reel first). This keeps the reels clean and ready to fish.

My 1988 25 Merc does the same thing, and has for years, this is especially true if I shut the motor off while still in gear and coast into a spot. It is a quick reminder to slow down, take it out of gear and then go to the front deck and fish.

If I bring you a dozen minnows every Sat morning right by this tree will you bring me all the Lucky Craft Lures you find down there. Deal, and don't tell anyone else about this conversation

Just lost a good friend at Lake of the Ozarks by a drowning accident, this guy drove Sprint and Midget race cars all his life and was in extremely good physical shape. He retired from racing and had a Co. installing docks at the lake, he always wore a life jacket, he got hit by a wake from a larger boat and went overboard. I haven't seen my friend for several year's and the new's of his death was a shock, seen him take some violent flips in his midget and get out like nothing happend. He always took good care of his safety equiptment, don't know what happened but what ever it was cost him his life. RIP Gene Gennenten

Hobby's, aren't they wonderful, every time I go to Cabelas and spend $30 to $50 for lures and plastic for that week's tourney I think about how fortunate I am, paying the $25 to $60 for entry fee's I think how fortunate I am, you see the last hobby was circle track dirt racing, entry fee $100 for me and the crew(pit Passes), $100 for fuel (at least), $200 at least for tires average each week, hit one of them concrete wall's and grab the wallet, it's gonna hurt. $4500 to freshen that very expensive motor up, at least once during the season. Have a catastrospic failure of the rotating mechanism (blow up) and, well that would put you in a nice Skeeter or Stratus. I do miss the racin, 40+ yrs of them war's leaves a mark, both on your body and your wallet, but this fishin thing is all right, relaxing, rewarding, and a lot less expensive. Got back into it in 2001 and haven't hit any concrete walls or had the bottom side up and that is a plus. Every time I hit the water I think how fortunate I am, and between here and BDO you'all have taught me a lot, enlightened me to this wonderful sport, just wish I had started sooner. Thank You All.

I was watching "This Old House Classic" and they have a "What Is It" section and had a white strobe light on a chain. Claim's it will keep Squirrels out of your attic, Well it worked, had one in the attic and it only took 2 days and it was gone. Well a mouse is just a smaller version of a squirrel, put a strobe light on a small base and sit it on the floor of the boat under the cover, let it run a couple of hours every week. Might get some interesting call's, Why's your boat blinking??????

Pull the prop and see if by chance you have wrapped up some fishing line around the shaft, that will take the seal out fast. Wipe it out real good, top off the LU, and put on some ear muffs (on the lower unit not your head), and run it, watching the seal area for leaks.

Well lookie here how smart I am, mine is already wrapped, of course it was because my wire is to long, but now THANK's to Raul I can tell people why it's that way. Thank's Raul that is a good piece of advice.

LBH that is very interesting, just wish I knew what some of them BIG words meant(scratching my head thinking HUH), I like Rattle Traps for that very reason.

From personal experience using both, I use the XL in 10 and 14lb around here and on our Canada trip change to the same weight in the XT and casting distance is considerable shorter, but on a good note professional overruns are fewer.

Here in Kansas it changes every 5-10 min.(old wives tale) I have seen 85 in Jan. and snow in June. Just stick your head out and if it's cold it's winter and if it's warm go fishin.

What about shaping the hull out of styrofoam insulation and glassing over that, then shaping the interior and have the pluming and wiring, live wells and lockers, and the transon and pedestal mounts in place and glass the inside. the foam would provide strength and light weight.

Did you get the switch or just the rubber boot, my dealer said they didn't offer just the boot. Haven't tried the local electrical supply house (no time) that handles Micro-Switch and get just the boot. But filling the cavity on the rocker (the part you step on) with silicone extended the life of the boot X2 at least.

Motor Guide Part # 87-MAP15104 The rubber boot is what failes on mine, the switch still works fine. Never did check if I could get just the boot but I did notice where the rocker comes in contact with the Micro Switch it is just a ridge with a cavity in the center. I filled the cavity with silicone and this made a larger contact area for the switch, the switch lasts consirerable longer.

If it is the rivets that are leaking the simple fix is get a buddy and turn the boat upside down on a couple of saw horses, 2 medium size ball pein hammers, one on the inside holds the hammer head against the rivet and one on the outside taps the same rivet a few times, this will tighten the ribs and swell the rivet in the hole. Don't beat the rivet flat, just swell it a little. Should only take an hour or two to do all the rivets. I have done or helped with at least half a dozen boats and all were dry afterwards. Two pet pieves for me are leaky boats and trailer lights that don't work properly.

Call the dealer, maybe it is a field adjustment, could save a 3hr trip and probally won't be able to get it in and right back out without a wait. Pick up a service manual for it, it might come in handy in the future.

MOVE,

A little Pledge or Armor-All sprayed on the bunks makey the boat glide right on, but it will also slide right off. The first time I tried the Armor-All it wes kink of humerious, the boat slid right up to the stop and when I stood up it just slid back off the trailer.

I always carry a spare and a simple solution to the spare parts for the trailer axle for me was to get the spare hub, and a stub axle/spindle. Mount it to the spare tire and lay a straight edge across the back of the tire, mark and cut to length, then have it welded to the trailer tongue, now you have a spare tire mount When you mount the hub/spare tire to the spindle all the spare parts are there, wheel/tire, hub/bearings, washer, nut, cotter keys, lug nut's, and spare bearing buddy, all greased up.

If your light's bolt on to the trailer unbolt them and wire brush the mounting bracket and the back of the light real good, then reinstall the light and test it, sounds like a grounding problem if some of the lights work and some don't. A quick way to test it is turn the light on and place the blade of a flat tip screwdriver between the light assembly and the mounting bracket and turn the the blade a little if it works it's a grounding problem. Or remove the len's and take a short piece of wire, touch the base of the light socket and the other end of the wire to a bare spot on the trailer frame (scrape some paint off, shiney) also if this works it's a ground problem. Most trailer light problems are ground related and not broken wiring,

Please don't take this wrong, but with the injuries you have and this is the best you can expect a canoe might not be the best alternative for a fishing boat. They are tippy at best, and your safety would be the main concern. Sell the canoe and get a wide Jon Boat, A 14' Jon, with a trailer, and the 55lb TM, and a good heavy Battery you are set for a good safe day of fishing. Probally less stressful on you, and that means more enjoyable, and a lot less stressful on your wife. Another thing to remember is cell phones don't work under water.It's hard to give up the things you love and enjoy because of injury or health, it's a situtation your are going to have to adjust to and it sounds like you are well on your way of doing that. Look at LBH's boat, stable, low and look's like it;s easy to fish out of. Just a thought, and I hope you don't get offended, I am really concerned about your safety.

I would like to thank him for his contributation's to our sport and shake his hand, he has a wealth of fishing knowledge and the ability to get it across. He has entertained us, taught us, and from what I heard is still on ground level, Bill Dance would you like to come to KC for some good BBQ, on me.

I don't like Snakes, period, I probally hurt myself worse than the snake would hurt me. I was taught early in life to respect and identify them, still don't like them. There are no snakes in Canada and after a couple of trips there I figured out why, the Mosquitos ate them to.

Looking Good, only suggestion would be to drill a couple more holes in the deck over the gas tank for extra ventilation, a gas fume buildup could launch the deck into orbit.