BassnChris

You gonna be fishing the classic at Grand?

I said hardly ever. ;-) You got me!

Bait monkey is not the one that will make you buy the boat. I have read on this very forum that it is the Boat Gorilla that makes you buy the boat. Be very careful. In reference to your request for help, here is my two cents. I make a rational decision about how many rod and reel combos (or whatever tackle, boat parts or fishing items is maybe). After I reach my designated item count.....I must sell one of whatever it is I want to buy. Unless of course it is replacing something damaged. Also, I set a specific dollar amount that I can spend and I don't spend a nickel more! Be strong my friend and always stick to the rules you set for yourself.......that's what I do! Ps. I never ever,ever, ever stray from that rule. Well, hardly ever.

Not sure on the 101#.........I went 82# and Amazon was best.

The third fisherman is usually my 9 yr old son. I feel safer with the distance between us. He has already hit me in the back of the head with a roadrunner at high velocity. That hurt a bit, let me tell you.

I usually fish a spot out........not what I would call run n gun.

I often have 3 people in the boat and it just get crowded on the rear and front deck. I already have it set up with a 3rd pedestal seat......just lift up the 'buddy seat' and insert the pedestal. but that person has to walk on both the floor and the seats. If I removed the bench seat completly and had 3 pedestal seat bases in that space.........when fishing the operator and right side passenger seat could be removed and place on the front and rear deck pedestal bases......and then the 3rd seat cold be raised in place with a pedestal and they would not have the uneven (not as uneven) surface to fish from. Give them a little more room to fish. I really wish I had thought it through and not purchased a dual console..........................but now I must live with it for a good while to come. Let me know if you would like more infor or I need to clarify.........................I do not want it to look too redneck engineered and it will need to be safe as well as funtional.

I searched but found nothing. Had the thought to remove my bench seat and install some 3 pedestal bases so the seats could be used as passenger seats (without pedestal) while underway. Could then use them with pedestal while fishing if so inclined. Thought and or concerns to consider?

If you think it needs the stabilizer then buy one and install it.............you are the best judge on that! I would get it installed ASAP once I felt it needed it.....because if I did not, then something would break while I lolly dodled around.

http://dig-in-anchors.com/

I had a 597ciHD DI and I liked it fine. This year I was wanting to buy another one for the bow.......but I decided I wanted something I could network so I sold it and bought some other units. I think your unit has good DI images and is a great little unit.

This some very good advice.

That's the way they all used to be back in the day. I am in the market for a new trolling motor and the handle style crossed my mind too. Remember, you will have to run wiring to the bow......because I imagine you will want to keep the batteries in the back. What I did to my Jon boat back in the day was to mount these at pedestals on the lower deck so it kept the center of gravity lower in the boat. Congrats and stay safe.

There have been a few around here that we're legit.......no or bad motors. But always beware.

I was going the humminbird route but lucked into some extra dough, so was able to get lowrance. Lowrance are more expensive and yes the HDS units can be networked and share the same structure scan hardware and software . I would say to hold off and save all you can to get the unit you want. That way you won't be disappointed. Not recommending......but I purchased through Amazon and saved a few hundred dollars. Was going to buy the second unit on Amazon or EBay ...but found a steal at my local Bass Pro that I could not miss out on. There is always Craigslist, classifieds and the boards flea market. ALWAYS be careful when using these methods to purchase items.

I would not have bought my boat if I had seen this stat last year. :-) OK..........maybe I still would have bought it.

I bought my boat last spring and it was my first. I only went to one lake 45-60 minutes from driveway to ramp. Made about 10-12 trips last year with one trip for a week. So I voted never..... But this year.......I will travel more. Starting with the Bass Resource Roadtrip to Pickwick. I imagine that will be the farthest for me this year. I would like to make it to Table Rock, Bull Shoals maybe. Alas it will all come down to money and finances.......and Our elustrious el Presidente and the congress has already reduced the money I will be getting each payday. Sorry, a bit off topic. I would plan on using the RV type locations to charge the batteries......I usually like to camp on long trips so I would find a campground site with electric and just plug it in at night. Staying in a motel I would follow the advice to call and ask if they allow the charging from the rooms or have rv elec hookups as sugested earlier.

Both of these guys have an excellent point concerning the condition of the wood.....and the critters.

I am not aware of his family's financial situation nor the relationship between the two.......but around here most folks sell things they do not want around unless they are not worth selling.....then they 'give' them away. not trying to be too negative.........hard to say when you are so far away from the boats. Worse case scenario could be quite expensive, but if you can figure it out with a tank or two of gasoline and a couple of stops at McDonalds with no other costs....then just look at it as a roadtrip with possible bonus. If you get there and decide it is not a deal then you can just say thanks but no thanks and come home without it. So unless the money you will be out to take the trip will put you in a financial hardship or some other relationship type problems....then I say go take a look and might score big time.

In my state of OK......the motor has to have a title of it's own......and in some states the trailer does too. Make sure you can get those if required in your home state.

x2......at least. It will be a considerable amount of work and $$$. Not trying discourage.....but be prepared.

another thing to consider is the condition of the trailer......that is a long drive for a trailer that has been sitting and or neglected. You would not want to get stranded along the highway somewhere with burnt wheel bearings or have a tire go flat or blowout!

If you go out to http://www.humminbird.com/ or http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/ they have some pretty good images and explanations of how their sonar works.......just pay particular attention to the depths they are using for a given image.

Hyper-vigilant if you please.

Here are few pics. Maybe not best....but I am happy with it. here is where the previous owner half-hearted a fix Here are the 2 holes left from the old transducer mount Here is the area repaired