jaaron01

I bought the 110 Fishin buddy from walmart. Use it every trip, and batteries are still going. Gives the water temp, and marks underwater structure. Perfect for what I wanted. I didn't need to see how many scales the fish has on each side, or the color of his eyes. I use mine to find ledges, and changes in depth, and it works perfectly. Think it was like 109.00 at Wally World. With Fish finders you can spend as much as your little heart desires, but is it really worth it?

On the Rudder, Just google it. Try "bass hunter+rudder", you'll find plenty of places that will take your money. There was a company that was selling them, and it's posted several pages back, but they were expensive for what you get. I think like 60-70 bucks, and I invested $20.00 in mine but I made it.

I'll tell you I got the Everstart Maxx 29, and never had a problem with it. Think I paid like 79.00 for it at walmart. Biggest thing with these batteries is don't run them down and let them sit a long time. Soon as I get off the water, I hook that thing up to the charger and get'her charging. Lead Acid batteries don't like being run down and left in that condition. Put a charge on it as soon as your done, and your battery will last much longer.

So we had some strong Thunderstorms last night, and the wind somehow overpowered the cover on my boat. So if any reports of a crazy guy out using a mop and bucket on his boat at 5:50 in the a.m. come in, it was me. I couldn't stand the thought of the boat being full of water while I was at work. Took the carpet out, and the lifejackets, and started mopping and rinsing. At least the inside of the boat is nice and clean now, and the lifejackets got a good cleaning. I'll be rigging up some additional bungee cords this evening to help keep the cover from blowing off in gail force winds this evening.

Hey for hauling it around with a van, I'm in the same boat. However for about $90 bucks and free shipping, I ordered a Curtis Hitch online from either autoaccessoriesgarage.com or etrailers.com, don't remember which one, and installed it on my van myself. Came with the stinger and ball, all one package deal. Took me about 1 hour to install, but the local shop wanted 250.00 for everything, then an extra $116.00 for wiring a trailer hookup on the van, when it already came with one. Then your only looking for a trailer, which there again, Craigslist comes in handy.

For the seats, they do like to slide around, but that can be good sometimes. I was wondering if I bought a rubber waterhose, and cut about 16 inches, then split longways to slide over the seat metal rails. If the seat would still "seat" properly in the rails, but not slide so easily around? You can get the replacement hoses for hose carts at walmart for like $7.00, so would be much of an investment if it didn't work. I decided agaist the "high" performance prop after reading some reviews. Seems they cause TM's to overheat if you run them on high, and burn out the motor. Think I'll stick with my factory prop. As for the seat's sticking when swiveling, i used some of that white grease in a can, and sprayed on the bearings in the swivel and that loosed things up alot.

I'm thinking of changing the blade on my trolling motor with a 3 bladed prop from Kipawa. I know that using this "High Performance" prop will void the warrenty on my Minn Kota, but was curious if anyone else had used these, and what were the results? http://www.kipawapropellers.com/

I started off looking for a Jet Ski trailer that I could just add a floor to. However after posting on Craigslist what I was looking for, a guy replied with a 4X8 ft utility trailer and wanted $200.00 for it. But after seeing the trailer in person, and noting some issues, he gave it to me for $100.00, plus a new light set. All I did was add the floor (which it didn't have) for about $40.00 with 8ft pressure treated 2x6's. Today I found on Craigslist a couple jet ski trailers for like 100 to 125 a piece. As mine is an 8 ft'r it was a little easier getting a trailer that fit, than finding one for a 10 ftr. I would just look for a utility trailer without a floor, that's what I did. Trailer is light enough I can pick up the rear by myself.

Unfortunatley that won't work on my boat. Apparently my boat is deeper than most. When I run the straps over the boat, there's a good 6-7 inches of space from the top of the battery to the top of the boat. I did however use bungee cords for the seats to hold them in. I lift them off the rails and sit them down on the floor, then run my bungee across them. I drilled small holes in the rails so the bungees would attach and stretch across from side-to-side. I just thought using the plywood would be easy, plus stiffen up the floor, although it doesn't need it. I do love this boat, and now with a trailer it's even better. I've had a lot of folks eyeballing it and asking questions, and as I do have it stored on the side of the house, I thought I better get a little insurance just in case. I take the trolling motor and fishfinder off, along with my fishing poles, and leave the rest in the boat. Thru Progressive for $119.00 a year they insured everything against theft, fire, acts of GOD. I guesstimated it would cost about $1600.00 to replace the trailer, boat, battery, upgraded padded seats, etc.

It don't come with a frame. It's made especially for the Bass Hound 8 or 10 ft'r. It just slips over the top of everything and has an elastic courd sown in it, which is supposed to catch on the seam of the boat.

Got her loaded on the trailer, and under cover. Seems like a decent cover, i think it's worth the 32.00 dollars or whatever it was. It's not paper thin but it's thin and light so we'll see how it holds up in the nebraska weather. Used the trailer today, and lord is that nice. Back up, push her off, fish, back up, float her on then puller her out. No back pain at all. Still need to get a sheet of plywood for the floor so I can strap down my battery and not take it in and out all the time. I'm just afraid of having to hit the brakes to hard sometime and sending that 60lb battery rolling thru the boat.

try this http://www.easternmarine.com/stearns-8-10-bass-hunter-boat-cover-83404 Should arrive today. But seems like a decent cover.

My only concern would be if you hit something underwater "and it will happen" would it break your rod holder off? Several post back, I went with the old Trolling motor I got from craigslist for like 20.00, it had the metal shaft. Cut both the motor and control head off, so just the metal shaft with the mount left, and found an old piece of scrap sheet metal from a sign shop and bolted it on. Nice and solid, and don't stick up, has it's own mount already built in. Best feature is it has a tilt, so I can tilt it up and it will lock in place. I'm a little bit of a redneck myself, but it works greeaattt! Ordered a boat cover this week, so I can get the beast out of the garage and on the trailer permanently. Didn't want her outside without some protection from the elements. Once I get her put on the trailer, and under cover I'll post some photo's. Found a nice cover on-line for around 38.00.

I was thinking now that "lifting weight" isn't so much an issue, that I might go ahead and add a piece of plywood on the floor. Sand all the edges really good so it wouldn't rub any holes in the bottom. And somehow strap my Battery down to that. Also seen were a previous poster had added a pedestal seat up front, once he had a plywood floor. I was thinking of making one of those for the front and leaving the back standard like it is for when I have my fishing partner with me. My only concern is those seats add stability to the sides of the boat, and keep them from caving in when the weight is in the center of the boat. Haven't added an anchor yet, as most of the lakes around here have plenty of tree snags in the water, and I generally tie up to them and fish, or just troll. Also with the plywood floor I'd have something to add the "big foot" controller to, should I decide to snag one of those. As for the trailer, you can't see but i did leave a "gap" between the pontoons, and have two 2x4's the length of the trailer, on edge and (covered with carpet as well) as guides for the boat to slide up on. They stick up about 2 inches just inside the pontoons. Keeps the boat from shifting side to side while towing and rubbing on the wheel fenders. Also makes like easier when putting her back on the trailer as she just guides right up and on. Here's a photo of the trailer before the boat, you can see the guides. Did have to a fender welded on but for $100.00 it was still a steal.

So got my trailer all set up and ready for this weekend. No more lifting this thing up and out, she's ready to slide right in the water. Got the 4X8 trailer from a guy on craigslist for $100.00. Added $40.00 worth of treated 2X6's, and the carpet was free. Perfect size for what I needed.

For what it's worth I bought one of the Humingbird Fish'n Buddies the 110 model. Everyone said they shake too much when going to fast with the trolling motor. I put one ring of Black electrical tape around the base were it fits into the holder, and that seemed to clear up the issue. This thing works just like any other fish finder, and a buddy with his boat was out with me, both he and I had the same readings, depth, temp. etc. etc. So if anyones wondering about getting one of these....go for it..well worth the 119.00 at Walmart. Also working on getting my trailer fixed up and registered with Nebraska. I'll post some photo's once she's ready to go.

Yeah I know about the big foot, and was thinking of getting on for my TM. Its just a foot switch you splice into the wiring on the TM, and it's basically and on/off switch. Very handy on a windy day. Speaking of which I took my little 8ft'r out on the big open lake, with about 18-20 mph gusting to 34. I decided to head across the lake to get out of the wind some, and the water was rolling between 1 ft to 1 1/2 feet. One hand on the seat, and one hand on the TM. Made it across in one piece and was actually surprised at how well she did. Didn't take on any water, was fairly stable considering her size. I was rolling around about as much as the larger boats. I wouldn't want to try any higher wind, and it wasn't on purpose, but I've got more faith in what she's capable of now. Sturdy little boat, and I love it!!!! Got my trailer hitch installed and now I need the trailer. I'll post once I get it, and fix her up. Guy has a 4 X 8 trailer with no floor, brand new, and wants $200.00 for it, as he bought 2 at an auction and only needs 1. I"m thinking of instead of putting a floor on it, just having about 4 or 5 square rods welded across the bottom, side to side, about 1 to 2 feet apart. No need for wood floor as it's going to get wet anyway backing into the water.

So I decided to get myself a little utility trailer for my boat. Wednesday I'll order a Hitch for the Van, and I've got a fellow whose got a 4x7 utility trailer and wants $200.00 for it. We'll see how it all works out. Should save the old back some, and the trailer is small enough to stand up against the wall in the garage in the winter times.

Anyone on here located in the Omaha, NE area? Just curious.

Someone was asking earlier the best way to store there boat over the winter. I carried mine down in the basement for the season. Also I can work on it down there in the warmth. Did upgrade my seats to the padded Wal-mart seats they sell. Also still trying to get everything situated the way I want it. Still trying to figure out a rod holder of some type but not much luck yet. Everything is either to big or wont fit. I'll post some photos' later today when I get my camera up and running. Was wondering if anyone had used one of those Huminbird Fish'n buddies? I was looking at the 120 model, but couldn't decide if it was worth it, or just get the 110 version.

I do like your setup with the carpet and seat, that looks awesome. Every trip I make out in my little boat, I come up with a new idea on the set-up. I'm just vetting ideas at this point to make sure its what I want, before I do much customization. Keep the photos com'in.

Walmart...Everstart Maxx 29 Marine.....$75.00 I use this with a 34lb Thrust Minnkota, no problems, plenty of power.

Your boat must ride a little lower in the water than mine. I set a good foot above the water, and I've not had any thing come close to getting in the boat. Or your boat is much heavier than mine with the additional ply. Another thing I see is the front of your pontoons seem more block shaped, as mine are V shaped. Might be why water comes over the front.

My advice is put the trolling motor up front, and find something to make a rudder for the back. Seems most trolling motors are better suited to pull, then push. Just my couple weeks experience, but seems at the lake those guys with the motor in the back are constantly fighting trying to keep the front end going were they want it to. I fish on a large electric only lake, so I see everything from canoe's to jon boats. I have no problem pointing my boat in whichever direction, with the rudder installed, she goes were I tell her to, expecially with a wind blowing, and the rear end follows. I was thinking of a drift sock as well, but no one seems to have any experience with them, or at least there not sharing.

Okay so went by walmart and found a 60 inch umbrella for $10.00. As I'm getting new seats in a couple weeks (padded) thought I'd experiment with these first. Found some PVC pipe, and Epoxied a small piece onto the handle of the umbrella (once I removed the foam handle from it). Then made a wedge and screwed some more PVC onto it. Made sure it was anchored onto the chair good, and made a notch at the top of the chair for the umbrella to go through. Should be able to withstand the wind up to 10-15 mph but we'll see. Also made it adjustable up and down, for me or the 6 year old. Main idea is keep the little one cool & shaded so I can stay out longer. Once she's hot / bored, its generally game over, and sometimes 2 hours just isn't long enough on the water for me. If this idea works out, then maybe I'll try something a little more stylish when I get my new padded seats, but for $10.00, its worth a try. Little one wanted her 1st Catfish put on here, so enjoy.