bass or bass ?

Never heard of Sentry before. I have used Sta-Bil marine with great results. I've also used Star- Tron with great results. I tried Seafoam for the first time as a carb cleaner recently. Didn't seem to be of any benefit to me and it's VERY expensive compared to Sta-Bil or especially to Star-Tron.

Harbor Freight Tools sells a lighted magnifier mounted to a weighted base with a gooseneck . I keep one of these on my boat. With the light I can see to tie lures , Carolina rigs, or bait rigs for catfish with no trouble. The weighted base is @ 6"X4" and uses AA batteries.The magnifier is @ 4"X3". Happy fishing.

When I'm fishing alone or with just my partner on my boat, we release all fish unless badly hooked. If we are camping overnight on the shore, instead of staying on the boat, we keep some for dinner and breakfast. Also when we have a group fishing/camping trip, we keep everything for a dinner/breakfast fish fry. We fish for bass, stripers, crappie, and channel/flathead cats on all our trips.

Very cool. Mine will not eat pellets or anything that doesn't move. I wish they would eat the cichlid pellets (I was told they would) because the live bait is getting expensive. When I had bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel cats in an aquarium, they all ate frozen krill from the tropical fish store.

Self employed dental laboratory owner/technician and semi-pro musician, playing electric and upright bass, hence my posting name.

Hey Cottontop, I'm a fan of old and unusual vehicles too. I owned a BSA hardtail chopper for 27 years. Totaled it twice and rebuilt it from the ground up 3 times, including right after I bought it for $450. When I was done this bike was unfailingly reliable, and everyone who knew me knew that for any bike run or event it would be there. I probably invested a total of $3500 over 27 years. Between rebuilds the only money spent on it was gas, oil, spark plugs, and tires. Certainly no highway bike, with no high top end, but very quick and reliable, and a lot of fun during those years. Happy fishing.

A friend had a Mark Twain style ski boat with one. We used to family camp with them when the kids were younger during the summer. Despite the fact the top was there, on the boat ready to deploy whenever we wanted, it rarely ever was. It was something of a pain to put it up and although it got you out of the direct sunlight, it did get warm under that top unless there was a good breeze blowing. They're completely impractical for fishing, especially for the person on the back deck. Mine goes up and down very easily. And with normal daytime temperatures here being 110 to 115 every day from April to October, I'll never be without one again. And even with the top up, during the heat of the day, my partner and I are simply too hot to do any effective fishing until sundown.

True, but I bought it 3 years ago . I only had $2000 to spend. I was able to come up with the motor overhaul money 6 months later. I bought all the other repair supplies at Lowe's on my Lowe's business card , except for the flotation foam, and did all the labor myself. It was all a matter of finances. If I had to come up with more than $2000 at any time during this time period, I'd still be bank fishing , and this boat was by far the best available on Craig's list at that time for the money. Sure, there are great deals now that the economy has been destroyed, but I'm in a worst financial situation now than I was 3 years ago, or even 1 year ago. Who isn't?

Very, very nice.

Thanks cottontop. The previous owners did keep it in a carport. I only have a boat cover. However, I have had to do some work on it. The boat is a 1977 Glastron Sportster, motor is a 1967 Evinrude Starflite 80hp. I bought a boat that looked really nice and was told was in excellent condition before ever getting it in the water I spent $2000 to have the motor completely overhauled. The motor is a 1967 Evinrude Starflite 80. Runs like a champ now . After a few fishing trips on the lakes around here I noticed an ever worsening crunching sound under foot in 2 areas of the deck. The boat is a 1977 Glastron Sportster, 16'. I pulled up the carpet in those areas expecting to replace a little plywood and be done with it. WRONG. The plywood was so rotten I could just rip out chunks with my hands. My mechanic told me to replace the deck and stringers. Never tackled a job anything like this before, but at this point I was committed. I cut out the fiberglass all around the inside perimeter with pnuematic cutting tool and removed all plywood. I left the old stringers in place (1 down the keel, 1 on either side 1/2 way between keel and side of hull) as they weren't totally rotted out. The original stringers were pine, and plywood deck was 1/2" plywood. I bought red oak to make new stringers and 3/4" marine grade plywood for new deck. After cutting and shaping stringers to fit in place I treated all the new wood to waterproof it before installation. Mixed fiberglass resin, then diluted it 50% with acetone to allow it to penetrate into the new wood, and treated the old stringers as well .I applied 4 coats to completely seal and coat wood. Pulled out all the old open cell foam from the hull (it was all waterlogged and weighed a ton ), bought twice as much new foam, closed cell to prevent waterlogging. Installed the foam, and bolted new stringers to old ones, sandwiching the old ones with new on either side, Useing stainless steel bolts. Screwed down new decking with brass screws. Applied new fiberglass cloth and resin to seal down new deck and form it to the hull. Bought new high quality outdoor carpeting and glued it to the new deck, using a roller to get it smooth and even. Then installed new high end pedestal seats from Cabela's to replace the original back to back lounge seats. Since then I have also added a new bimini top, Minkota Edge 50# thrust trolling motor, marine band radio, Sirius satellite radio, Eagle 320c depth/fish finder, compass, submersible fishing lights, dual batteries on a 1/both/off switch, fishing rod storage tubes for 8 rods, motorcycle headlights for night time operation, interior cabin lights on both sides of boat, and a solar battery charger to keep batteries full charged at all times. I did all the work myself (except the motor overhaul ) over a period of about 5 months last winter. I love the end result . I get constant compliments on the boat , it looks brand new , and runs like it too. Total expenses are about $6500 . That might seem like a lot, but try to buy something in the condition that this boat is in now for that amount. It was a lot of work, but for me it was well worth it. Happy fishing. Allen ~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

After switching the battery in my hand held spotlight, I opened my boat locker lid and the battery slid off the lid into the lake. That's it .

Although my boat isn't officially a bass boat, I fish for bass and catfish on my boat, and I put a bimini top on my boat last year ,as I was tired of baking in the sun in our Arizona summers. I love it and would never be without one again. Shade makes all the difference to me.Overtons.com catalog has a wide assortment to choose from with all the info you need to pick out what will work best for you.

As a former motorcycle club member , I find the show entertaining. It's no more realistic than the Soprano's though as far as actually depicting "the life" .

I can relate. A year ago I caught a 25# flathead cat while bass fishing using a medium action Quantum baitcast rod and reel. Took about 15 minutes to boat it. What fun huh?

If this is an actual motor made by the Indian Motocycle Company, it would date from the mid 1920's. It would be a 2 cylinder horizontally opposed 2 cycle rated at 15 hp. This would be a valuable collectors item.

I use one to recharge and maintain charge on 2 batteries on my boat. I'm usually 3 to 6 weeks between outings, so it has plenty of time to do the charging. It's been working fine for me for almost 2 years now.

I'm a self employed small business owner and a musician, and husband with 5 grandchildren. Noboby else in the family fishes. I can only get my boat out one weekend a month, so my monthly fishing trips are always 24 hours in the boat fishing for bass, stripers, and catfish.

And I insist that my partner does too!! If you go fishing with me , your seatbelt is on in the truck, and your PFD is on when the big motor is running. Period.

I have a ccw permit. Arizona is a "shall issue" state, so it is quite easy to get here. My regular carry weapons are; Smith & Wesson model 59, 9mm, 15 round capacity.Federal hydra-shok hollow points Smith & Wesson model 629, .44 mag., Federal hydra-shok hollow points.

This is a reply I made to someone else about my rebuild . Hope this helps you. Take your time and have fun with it. I've been where you are . I bought a boat that looked really nice and was told was in excellent condition. Before ever getting it in the water I spent $2000 to have the motor completely overhauled. The motor is a 1967 Evinrude Starflite 80. Runs like a champ now . Arter a few fishing trips on the lakes around here I noticed an ever worsening crunching sound under foot in 2 areas of the deck. The boat is a 1977 Glastron Sportster, 16'. I pulled up the carpet in those areas expecting to replace a little plywood and be done with it. WRONG. The plywood was so rotten I could just rip out chunks with my hands. My mechanic told me to replace the deck and stringers. Never tackled a job anything like this before, but at this point I was commited. I cut out the fiberglass all around the inside perimeter with pnuematic cutting tool and removed all plywood. I left the old stringers in place (1 down the keel, 1 on either side 1/2 way between keel and side of hull) as they weren't totally rotted out. The original stringers were pine, and plywood deck was 1/2" plywood. I bought red oak to make new stringers and 3/4" marine grade plywood for new deck. After cutting and shaping stringers to fit in place I treated all the new wood to waterproof it before installation. Mixed fiberglass resin, then diluted it 50% with acetone to allow it to penetrate into the new wood, and treated the old stringers as well .I applied 4 coats to completely seal and coat wood. Pulled out all the old open cell foam from the hull (it was all waterlogged and weighed a ton ), bought twice as much new foam, closed cell to prevent waterlogging. Installed the foam, and bolted new stringers to old ones, sandwiching the old ones with new on either side, Useing stainless steel bolts. Screwed down new decking with brass screws. Applied new fiberglass cloth and resin to seal down new deck and form it to the hull. Bought new high quality outdoor carpeting and glued it to the new deck, using a roller to get it smooth and even. Then installed new high end pedistal seats fron Cabela's to replace the original back to back lounge seats. Since then I have also added a new bimini top, Minkota Edge 50# thrust trolling motor, marine band radio, Serius satellite radio, Eagle 620c depth/fish finder, compass, submersible fishing lights, dual batteries on a 1/both/off switch, fishing rod storage tubes for 8 rods, motorcycle headlights for night time operation, interior cabin lights on both sides of boat, and a solar battery charger to keep batteries full charged at all times. I did all the work myself (except the motor overhaul ) over a period of about 5 monthe last winter. I love the end result . I get constant compliments on the boat , it looks brand new , and runs like it too. Total expenses are about $6500 . That might seem like a lot, but try to buy something in the condition that this boat is in now for that amount. It was a lot of work, but for me it was well worth it. Don't hesitate to ask me for any advise or help you would need should you decide to rebuild your "good bones" boat. Happy fishing. Allen ~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

When I did a rebuild of my boat I found that Cabela's has a wide variety of seats. Got mine there for @ $165 each and am very happy with them.

striped bass white bass yellow bass crappie flathead catfish channel catfish and when I lived in Florida chain pickerel bowfin gar

and if you look around you'll find some boats that have port side steering.

My draft is in 2 weeks and I haven't done the research I normally do each year. Last year one of my best picks was Steve Slayton fron Houston. Everybody said "who?". They found out as the season rolled on.

Resin by its self is just slightly better than paint, resin without glass will still crack and let moisture it over time.. and will not last much longer than paint. The polyester resin has no strength and still absorbs water. Even with cloth it still absorbs some water... very little, but still does.. the mat or cloth keeps the resin together and walking on it will wear it thin even with carpet, and the wood will swell and shrink just as a wood door does .. epoxy is the ONLY thing that will keep the water out, but it still needs woven cloth to hold things together. Taking the cheap way out will only cause you to do it again in less than a year.. and dont just lay new wood over the old floor.. and screw it down.. your only making it harder and wasting money and time.. do it right the first time and forget it! I did use fiberglass cloth and resin for the final application before carpeting, I just forgot to put that in my post. Oops. my mistake.