ohioriverrat

I'm not only cash limited, I have yet to figure out how to fish! Yeah, I've been "fishing" for forty five years, but not on any level that even warrants using this web site. However, since that has recently changed (my wife has gone gag-ga over fishing! Even made me buy a bass boat!), I (we) am a blank canvas. I have many hobbies. Therefore, I cannot justify $200 dollar rods and reels. My trip to Cabela's last weekend netted me a St. Croix Triumph rod for about 70 bucks and a Quantum baitcaster for about 90. And I just purchased a couple of Flueger spincasters to go with one I already have (Used). A couple of lightning sticks later, and I'm like a pig in s***! I've never had anything close to this quality of stuff, so I wouldn't know if they were junk for a given purpose or not. Someday maybe, but not now. Now would y'all kindly teach me how to use this stuff in yer spare time?!

I just purchased the Clymer service manual for my motor (Johnson 110). I purchase a manual for everything I ever buy. I may sell the item, but I keep the books! An internal combustion engine is an internal combustion engine. If you know anything about engines, your boat motor is little different. It still takes fuel, spark, and air- in the correct mixture at the right time. Fuel delivery may be a little different (reed valves, two stroke), and linkages look daunting, but they are not. The service manual is quite detailed, and has many photos. If you are mechanically inclined, there is little you will not be able to do. Amazon.com has a good list of service manuals. Just be sure to get the right one. There will be three or four for your year model, but horsepower might be different. Get oily! Mark Another $000,000,000.02

I too just finished an old 1988 Javelin 16 ft (do not know the model #). The expanded foam was by far the worst of the project. It is shot in and expands to fill all the voids and it bonds to all surfaces. It does not just "fall" out. Wife and I dug and cut and sawed foam out for a week and a half. Then had to make a long tool on a drill motor to "rout" the foam out from under the seats, battery compartments, transom area, and console. I then repaired the stringers/ ribs with new wood (ash) and installed Styrofoam in most of the voids. The remainder was shot in using Crazy Foam. I did not use marine grade ply on the floor. I used a new type of house flooring plywood. It has an exposure rating equaling marine grade ply (1), and it is far less expensive. However, I also coated it both sides with oil based enamel and sealed again after it was laid. As this boat will never see the deplorable conditions it had seen (uncovered under a tree for years), I am confident it will last a long time. New carpet on all the decks finished it off, with all new stainless hardware for hinges and such. I also had to peel all the gelcoat off the entire cap. The blisters were just a precursor to the rest of the gelcoat debonding from the metalflake cap. Most of it came off OK, but some places were stubborn. After I was down to bare metalflake, I shot the whole top of the boat with urethane clearcoat. Then wet sanded and power buffed the entire boat. It is quite shiny now. I still have a concern or two about the old 88 vintage Johnson motor, though it runs good now. I took the VRO off of it due to talking with my local marina guy. He said that the VRO was unreliable, and I sure don't want to buy an engine. I'd rather mix gas any day. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have passed on this ride. However, I just put it in the water for the first time last week, and now all the work and cussing is a faded memory! The first time I cracked the throttle and the thing launched like a bullet (as much as a 110 will launch), I was in heaven. Oh, and don't forget to go over the trailer. Repack trailer bearings, especially if it sat for a long time. I had two bad ones. Cheers, Mark

If you aren't in a hurry to get to Blacksburg, you will encounter the New River off of U.S. Rt 460 at Glen Lyn, and 460 will wind around the river for several miles. I always stop and fish for several hours on the way to Roanoke to visit family. There are many accessible paths to the river from the road. The biggest problem you will have in this area is keeping your eyes on the road. It is beautiful water. Please drive safely while slobbering all over your steering wheel. Cheers, Mark

Hey Brandon. I spent five years at Dover Airplane Patch in the 70s and 80s. OMS ISO docks, Flightline, and ended as Crew Chief for that marvelous beast that is the C-5... on "A" models. You know, gray and white? Naw, you ain't never seen em like that! They all ugly now! But so are the C-17s (although I'm sure they fly better). Only kidding. Anyway... We go back every year. I will retire to the area in a few years. Maybe help out the old guys with the museum a little bit. Go to Sambo's Tavern once a week. Ah, the good ol days. Oh yeah, fishing... Good luck up your way. Never had the chance to do much fresh water fishing while there. I lived on the beach (Bowers). We chartered headboats about every other week. Lemme know what I have to look farward to when I get old (er)! Cheers, Mark

Hey folks! Mark here. Been looking around for a while now, and this forum seems to have a good mix of what I'm after, so I'm landing here. I hail from West Virginia, on the Ohio river side. I'm a 51 year old amateur everything. I have a small machine shop and a large wood shop, both expensive hobbies. I make money, though not enough to support my hobby lifestyle, as an electrical supervisor at an industrial plant. Wife and I like to camp, ride motorcycles, hunt, and now- fish. Wife is into it almost more than myself. SHE had me buy a bassboat (older 16' Javelin w/110 Johnson), and SHE got waders for Christmas (trout fishing). Anyway, I have much to learn. The boat was old and needed more way than TLC, so I know most of what makes it tick- until engine trouble happens. Then I'm SOL. It's time now to learn to take the big uns' out of the water. I actually had a decent past Saturday on the river, taking between us six nice keepers (released), but I know it was probably a fluke. Now, if y'all would kindly give me a hand keepin the little lady interested in fishing, I will keep getting new and cool stuff! And, after all, isn't that why any of us exist? Cheers, Mark