cart7t

A fiberglass boat is made up of more than just fiberglass. Wood is the primary ingrediant that adds structural strength to any glass boat. Wood, enclosed by fiberglass that gets moist rots. A boat 40 years old that doesn't have wood rot in it would be rare, a boat that old left open to the elements that didn't have rot would be a miracle. But just pretending New steering system - $150 minimum Throttle box with cables - $200 Engine - It's probably shot. Used engine - $1000 minimum Gauges and wiring - $200 Fuel system - the tanks interior is suspect to rust or gunk - $100 Trailer upgrades, tires, hubs, wiring, lights, hitch coupler, springs, winch, dolley, paint - $450 roughly Carpet - $120 minimum Seating - $100 and up Misc (bilge pump, hardware, 5200 caulk, lighting, etc.) - $200 Batteries - $130 minimum $2650 and you haven't dealt with the rotted wood in the hull. That usually involves cutting the top cap off in order to gain complete access to both the floor and the transom. That cost would easily run $300 to 500. Now, how good a deal does it sound like?

Yea, find the closest watering hole is your best bet. That thing is way to heavy to attempt to push it on the trailer.

A 40 year old boat left uncovered for years is structurally good? OK.

How big is this boat?

I'd be on a C-rig like crazy fishing any secondary points adjacent to a spawning area.

Isn't Avids wife coming aboard for this one? Poor woman. ;D

I didn't see this but it sounds like the charter captain should've done a better job of presenting the game and fish laws regarding the taking of the fish. I'd go further, SW fishing regulations are all over the place. Where I go, the gulf, the Red Snapper regulations fluctuate like the wind. I've rarely seen a head boat or charter that had regulations posted up where patrons could easily see what they can take ahead of time. It's usually up to the mate to inform you and hopefully the info they provide is reliable. Does suck though, what the hell would you do with a 720lb BF anyway? It would be like taking a 60lb flathead catfish out of the Mississippi and thinking you had a bunch of gourmet meals out of it..... yeechh.

I've got a couple of these. They work out pretty good.

The originals have a seam down the back, rather ruff. The rapala's will either have a seperate bill for the first version Wiggle warts or a one piece design with a smooth back for the newer "original" wiggle warts. Wiggle warts tune like any other crankbait. They're just more time consuming.

If you're using the original, pre-rapala version of the wiggle warts you're best to use the snap that came on the lure (in the later versions) or take the ring off the old versions (if they have them) and go with a snap on those. Original WW's can be notoriously difficult to tune correctly and often take a little work to get them just right. Keep working with them. WW's are great pre-spawn lures BTW.

I prefer straight shank worm hooks.

I just picked up a Citica D I have for sale and played with it. There's no way a Curado D is worth the extra money. IMO of course.

I think they often use a green wire for the engine PU to the tach. That may vary from manufacturer though.

The most common problem with filling any boat is fuel sitting in the vent line in a low spot restricting it's ability to vent the tank as the new gas feeds in. What usually happens is either the new gas overflows as you're pumping or gas begins coming out of the fuel tank vent fixture. If you have access to the fuel tank vent line you can either attempt to raise the line so gas can't accumulate in low spots or simply raise the line and drain the fuel sitting in the line back into the tank before you start filling up. If you can't do either, you're going to have to slow down your fueling speed. Either way, I never set the pump to full blast, the typical boat has way too many bends and kinks in the fuel line too fill a tank the same way you'd fill a vehicle up. This ain't a pitstop at the Indy 500 we're talking about here.

Absolutely check the soundness of the transom on that thing. I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't rotted.

Well, I've heard Hurricanes tend to scatter the fish. I guess trolling would be the best technique in locating fish.

BTW, should've added this, back in the 70's it was very common for the manufacturers to NOT manufacture the trailers their boats sat on. Basically there were a couple well known trailer makers back then that made trailers for many of the boats out then. I think Ranger may have been one of the few that did their own in-house trailers.

There aren't many ponds in the southern US that don't have some snakes around. Most are harmless, non-venomous kinds. One of the most common hanging around ponds is the banded water snake. While they can be aggressive at times, they aren't poisoness and won't bother you unless you provoke them. Get yourself some gaiter leggings and leather boots and go fish.

They also made the 5.7m which was the standard 17 1/2 those years. My buddy had one of the 5.7's running a Merc 175 Black Max. If it has ABF on it it's one of the American Bass Fisherman series. Those came with more bells and whistles than a straight Terry. Post some pictures of it. If it's not a drive on trailer it probably isn't the original.

Good one

Terry boats went out of business many years ago. As for the trailer, the trailer under your boat may not be the original due to the age. That may be why you're having problems trailering the thing. Terry's Sponsoned V hulls of that era usually came with a channel framed drive on trailer. As for your winch, a 2000 - 2200 lber should do the trick. BTW, happen to have the model of the boat? Is it one of the American Bass Fisherman series?

Saw it on the TV as well. Extremely dangerous move he pulled. Not only endangering another competitor but spectators as well. I'm wondering if he violated any 'bama state boating laws with that manuveur. Stupid is as stupid does.

I've sold a few of the rockets. They are basically identical reels to the 5.3:1 gear ratio Ambassadeurs just with a faster gear set in them.

Your Dad is correct. The only time you'll notice the difference is if you sink the thing.

Jerk bait: Used by a fisherman. (see definition of Fisherman)