cart7t

I have bought a rod or reel thinking it would work for me. Then sold the old one. Then realized I liked the old one better. So I purchased another of the old reels or rods on Ebay. Then turned around and sold the new reel or rod I just bought that I thought I'd like. Several times. ;D

If you decide to do it I'd suggest registering over at Iboats forum. Their cliental tends to specialize in restorations of older runabouts of that vintage.

It already has for me. They actually did a special on the ice road a couple years ago. That was enough for me. Besides, watching a truck drive across ice is pretty boring. Watching a crab boat facing 30-60ft seas with an occasional rogue wave is absolutely terrifying.

Throw a 20hp motor on the back of either boat and you should have no problem.

As long as they're not black. Florida + Sun + black rubber mat = Frying pan

Tainted food. Cheap knock off copies of products made elsewhere. It's time to shut off china. With nothing to stop them from unsafe manufacturing and in this case, food processing on their end it's time to turn them off. That should take care of it.

Here's a video showing the full capabilities of your boat. while the first half is most 184 Champs, the last half has got 201's on it. That was the 86" version of your hull. They barely changed it. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5689956774383453452&hl=en

I don't try and predict weather though I've watched weather forecasts and guestimated that the forecasters were wrong many times. Here's something for any outdoorsman to keep tabs on. Most of your local weather stations use weather services to aid them in predicting the weather, especially long range predictions when computer modeling is used. The best way to find out which station uses the most reliable service is merely tabulate their next day forecasts, 3 day and 5 day forecasts and then see which ones turned out the most reliable. Of 3 local channels here. One was very accurate, around 80% for next day but was barely 30% accurate for their 3 and 5 day. The other channels also varied greatly. Then, if I wanted to get a fairly good idea what the weather would be next weekend when I want to go fishing, I'd tune into channel A, if I was interested in the weather tomorrow, I'd tune into channel B.

Avid, I'm a level II storm spotter for the NWS here in St Louis. Besides Noaa, I'm sure you've been here considering where you live http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Here's another really good site with a ton of stuff to keep you busy. Great radars too! http://www.wunderground.com/

The pinion gear engages with the main drive gear. It floats on a small plastic holder and the spool shaft goes through the middle of it. That small plastic holder can be installed upside down.

BPS sells a cheaper model with a rubber end cap and assorted lead discs. Works just as well.

That's basically how the Garcia/Pflueger/Daiwa flippin switches work. Shimano has it's instagage on their Castaic which automatically engages the spool when you push on the button on top. Both systems work well though not everyone likes them.. I've used it for years for flippin and especially pitchin. I wouldn't be without it.

Are you certain the pinion gear holder isn't upside down?

I'll tune in to see how the OW guys are doing, specifically Montoya. I've always enjoyed watching Tony Stewart run since his sprinter days and Robby Gordon is a hoot when they stick a mic in front of him. You never know what's going to come out. ;D

That exactly what I do. My cousin paid nearly 100 bucks for an oil change. . But I think the mechanice talk him into wind sheild fluid, and that extra crap. I told him you could've done it your self less then 20 bucks. I've been doing my own since I owned a car. Sorry, oil is the lifeblood of an engine, I've heard too many stories about those oil change places.

Yikes! I was 2 years old when that thing was made. Good luck!

Good taste in boats. Those 90" Champions handle very much like the 86" I've got, Like a sportscar on water. You'll have a blast. 8-)

Anytime my OB suddenly wouldn't fire I checked the kill switch first. It often had been accidently yanked out.

Think I'll go fishing.

Since you're lake has shallow water weed cover I'd first suggest finding out what depth your lake typically thermoclines in the summer. Choose your cover of choice, the lawn chairs sound interesting, before sinking, attach a burlap sack full of dry dog food to the cover to start drawing the small fish in and then sink the cover in the thermocline depth. Points associated with the weed beds would be a good first choice. I used to sink christmas trees at LOZ for several years using this method.

Termites?

Catt, the big difference is you guys are working with a name brand of the era that's still in business. The reason they're still in business is because they took the time back then to build it right to begin with. Granted, any boat poorly maintained is destined for the scrap heap regardless of how well is was designed or made but at least you guys know that quality was built into it on the front end. OTOH, you know as well as I that during the bassboat booms of the 70's and 80's a whole bunch of overnight, one-off boat companies sprang up and built some stuff using questionable construction methods. Some of them merely slashed hulls (made a copy of an existing hull) and slapped a deck on it without care or concern for the buyer. Poorly sealed wood along with a crappy chopper gun operator made for a bad boat right out of the box. Longevity of design wasn't necessary since the boat company basically came into existance to take advantage of quick sales from less than knowledgable bassfishermen of the time. My guess is that's what this Taylor craft is. It's not uncommon to see these kind of oddball brand boats for sale on Ebay or the internet. I'm not passing judgement on this boat in particular but anytime an entire floor is rotted along with rotting in covered compartments it's a warning to beware. The quality of wood sealing used in construction, often one of the best ways to build something cheap, sets the one-off, oddball boat brands aside from the tried and true manufacturers.

Nice fish. She cranked on that long enough that that fish could've been in another county. The whole time I'm listening to that reel grinding I'm picturing those old rubber band wind up airplanes. ;D

$2.74 where I'm at. Saw it for 2.69 on the way to the lake this morning.

Huh? I went fishing with her today! Young and pretty she ain't but she seems to be a real 'rounder', that's for sure.