abelfisher

Dont forget a trailer jack, spare trailer tire, and the tire tool in case of a flat on your trailer. I always carry stuff in case i end up having to spend the night somewhere unintentionally. Flashlight, knife, waterproof matches, etc. Also I always keep an extra set of clothes in case I fall in (also have a couple of extra towels) Toilet paper.

You and your builder probably know this already, but be sure to put one of those "tubs" for lack of the right word, with a drain under the washer if you put on your second floor. This helps in case of water leaks or overflow, etc.

i thought the prop torque will pull you to the right Yeah, you're right. I must be dyxlecsic (sp?)? I would still check out the trim tab though.

The torque of the prop causes this, but you may have a trim tab out of proper setting.

It's good you are planning ahead. Be sure you put the exterior access door on the opposite side you plan on having your boat. Otherwise, its a pain to get in and out of due to the tight spaces. Also, be careful where they place the water heater. Mine is in the corner of the garage, the side my boat would be stored if the garage was long enough, and the water heater eats up too much floor space. Besides there is a safety concern with a gas tank close to gas water heater. I am like Glenn, you want enough room all around so you are not fighting the boat when you need to get around it. Place an electrical outlet close to where your on- board charge will be so you don't have an extension cord across your garage floor. Hope this helps!

You are a Redneck, if.................. LOL, Jeff Foxworthy where are you?

I agree with Team D. Go buy one at Walmart.

Way to go Nick! Congratulate your mother as well! You are a lucky son, young man!

There you go, Ben! Best of luck to you! Priority ONE: Get the education! Everything else will come.

Well, thank goodness, I finally have my boat back! My son Jacob is coming home tonight and we are planning on going all day tomorrow. Thanks for all the kind words guys, I sincerely appreciate it!!! It has been frustrating, but things can always be worse, as they say. Thanks again!

Sounds like a little waste of time to me. Unless you can get the environment right, what are you really going to learn. And after you learn it, then waht. What are you going to be able to do with the info? Ok so the hook dissolves in 4 months.......OK so what? Better idea, Wash you car!

Change leader material and check your knots. Wet line before tightening the knot.

They also sell dropshot rigs already set up.

Get a J O B! You are 17. Plenty old enough to start working to have the things you want. How bad do you want the boat. Enough to work for it. If not, why should your dad work for it? Don't mean to be harsh, but I have been through thsi stuff with y kids. Heck, When I was a kid..... OK I won't go there. But you get the message.

NO! I call the dealer and the story goes liek this. Me: Hey dick, ABel here, what's the status of my boat: Dick: Well, the parts aren't her yet. But we shoudl get them today, Then in a couple of hours you'll be back on the water. Me: Dick, how do you know they are coming today? Dick: Well they didn't come yesterday so they gota be coming today. Me; Did someone call UPS to see where the delivery is? Dick: (silence)...uh, oh yeah, they said it is supposed to be here today. Me: Ok, Call me when they get there. So, afterrt thinking a few minutes i thought to myself, "Ol Dick doesn't have a clue" So i call Mercury and talk to a lady named Steph. I explain the situation and she askes for the serial number of my boat, and check into it. Comes back and says, that part has not shipped yet. Me" Huh? How come it hasn't shipped yet? StepH: (God bless her) She was right up front and said that obvioulsy Mercury was at fault here. She said the part number changed and it has not shipped. She asks, "Do you want me to ship it out today" Me: Yeah and OVERNGITH! So she takes all the info and promised me it wil go overnight, but she has to get approvals first. So I call her back in a caouple of hours. She assures me the part was approved for overnight and that it was going out. SO I call the dealer to let them know the part had not shipped but it was going out tonight. Dick: Oh yeah the parts that were coming that I thought was your shipment was somone else's. Me: No S h i t, Sherlock! My part will be their tomorrow. Have someone ready to install, and I'll call you at noon! Moral of the story: Sometime you have to actually get involved and not take anyone's word as gospel. Hopefully, the part will be there and installed or another weekend bites the dust. So that's the status. Me;

As far as I know, fishing in my family starts with me. With 4 brothers, 5 sisters, I am the only that has taken the sport as a passion. I am passing the passion on to my son, Jacob, 23. He comes home form college about once every 3 weeks (drives 2 1/2 hrs each way) to fish with the old man! Hopefully he'll pass it on to his son as well. I rememebr the first fish I caught when I was about 8. Been hooked ever since. I rememebr the first rod and reel my mom bought for me. It was a $13 Bronson. I still have it and cherish it. The rod is about 3 1'2 feet fiberglass. I cherish Saturdays as they are the only day I get out and fish. This weekend Jake is coming and we are fishing all day Saturday and maybe part of the day Sunday. He is driving home tomorrw night when he gets off work. Another 2 1/2 hr drive. Can't wait. Just hope my boat is ready.

Lack of ramp ettiquette Skiers that get too close and everything else all you guys said!

Before I bought I boat, these are a few things I kept in mind. Not in a priority order. You will have to priorotize with regards to what is mist/least important and the budget you have in mind. Quality of workmanship Durability Ride in rough water Deck space. (This is a big deal for me. I have seen some boats with a very inefficient layout. ) I liked a very simple yet spacious layout. Motor power Seats (Comfort/ Durability) Storage sapce. (Rod lockers handle 7+ rods??) Deck material under carpet (Aluminum or wood?) Size of gas tank Size of livewell Quality of trailer Dealer and Servie capabilities What accessories come standard? (ie on board charger, etc) Given my budget I ended up buying a Fisher Prohawk 180 (18 ' Aluminum w/ 115 EFi Merc) I really like the spacious layout , workmanship, storage, etc given my budget) The only real disappointment I have with it, is that there is no place on the trailer I can put on a spare tire carrier. I am still looking for an "extended" version of the mount.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the kind thoughts. Maybe it did happen for a reason, Madhouse. I am going to think it did. It's just that I had planned on a great weekend of fishing. Oh well, there will be plenty of weekends left. Cajun, I appreciate the offer. If you weren't so far away, I'd take you up on it!

Well I must not be living right. The part that was supposed to be overnighted via UPS never showed up today. So I am stuck! The dealer now wont be open again until Wednesday. As I mentioned one of the parts had to come from another plant in Wisconsin, but they didn't ship it until the next day after the two intial parts were shipped, and now UPS didn't deliver on time. So ol' Greg is out without a boat until at least next weekend. My wife just left today for 12 days and I was planning on getting 3 days of fishing in this weekend. :'( I may head up to a wildlife reserve tomorrow and bank fish. Haven't done that for 15 years. I am pretty ticked about right now. :-/ :-/

The key to C/R is a very good sensitive rod.

Well, I haven't opened the can yet, but I am taking it with me! I did talk to the dealer today. They got some of the parts this morning. Where they came form they didn't have all so there is another shipment being overnighted today to arrive tomorrow morning. I guess is is some kind of plate. He said the plate I had was warped and when the engine cools, the water and oil would mix. Some kind of production problem. ANyway, long story short, the part is supposed to be there tomorrow morning. He assured me the boat would be ready for me tomorrow. I certainly hope so. I am taking my wife and daughter to the airport in the ealy AM (they will be gone for 12 days) and I ain't sitting around home, if you know what I mean. I plan on fishing! Thanks for all your interest. I'll keep you updated tomorrow. Say a prayer for me.

My one and only sponsor is C A S H

DO IT! The Water's FINE! ;D

I called the dealer today. According to them, they Mercury is overnighting parts to them. I am assuming if they receive in them in the morning, I may get my boat tomorrow evening. Keeping fingers crossed........ I'll update as I know more. At least I would think since the motor had to be torn down to diagnose and know what parts are needed, as soon as they arrive, I am hoping they jump back on it and finsish the job.. :-/