Bomber7

My 97 Stratos 175 hp Evinrude - I named her Bomber7 - that was my call sign when I was in Iraq in 05 - I'm a retired Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician

Got my first bass boat ... well it's a step up from my little 8 foot pond boat ... this is a 97 Stratos, runs great ... haven't had it out that much as the weather here in Nebraska hasn't cooperated much. Named her Bomber7 too - that's been my user name on many forums ... I'm a retired AF Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician (Bomb tech) and the number seven is for my favorite baseball player Mickey Mantle

Retired Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal tech - 21 years service (1985 - 2006) and two wars

I have a Sun Dolphin Sportsmen so I think the seat bases are different but what I did to mine was cut an old garden hose and slipped it over the seat rails - it makes it slide easier and doesn't dig into the plastic boat. The Sun Dolphin seat rails are solid steal so after one or two times out when I first got it I noticed it was digging in and cutting it up so what not much but I thought long term I would have problems. So I did the hose trick and it works great. Hope this is helpful.

Hey lilsweeper - I purchased a MK TM bracket off e-bay for $30 - if you don't mind spending that much - it works great for my rudder - I sure there are pictures of it on this thread but you'll have to search for them. If not let me know and I'll try to repost them. Actually I'm thinking of doing a video of all the mods I've done to my boat since I first got it 2 years ago.

I purchased a small 12v battery to use for my Lowrance Elite 3X finder - works great

you wouldn't happen to have a picture of it - I'm also thinking of upgrading from a Hummingbird Fishing Buddy to a better finder. Thanks

I have the same boat and have a 55lb mounted on the bow - since they didn't put a steal mounting plate on the bow like they did in the stern I took two small pieces of sheet metal and mounted them and then mount the TM to that. Works great - also have a bigfoot switch on the pilewood floor I put in - let's me control it but I still have to steer with my hand. Through out this thread I have posted pictures if you can sort through the pages and find them - if not hit me up on IM and I can share them - I have done lots of mods to my boat.

cool would like to see that set up too.

I play the theme from Jaws and the bass just jump in my boat

Thanks Thornback - I've been looking at them - do you have any you recommend - I'm a big guy so I like to have something that is comfortable but does the job ... you know in case I stink to the bottom lol Don't have to get one right now cause all our lakes here have that hard water on them so I have time before they thaw - plus now I'm moving from the deer season mode to turkey season mode .... fishing of course fits in there too but like I said lakes are frozen over and this guy doesn't go out cut a hole in the ice put a heater in a shack and hope a fish swims by your bait LOL

I fish alone pretty much 100% of the time ... well I only have an 8 foot pond boat - so not much room for others. I have it equipped with all the required safety gear ... I don't always wear my life jacket when I'm tied up fishing or working a shore line for bass but its right there with me along with my throw cushion. If I'm in deeper water I'll wear it. I only fish no wake lakes in my area (there are several) - most of the time I'm close to the shore or in the flooded timber, so if I fell overboard there would be a tree to grab onto. This year my plan is to get one of the Co2 jackets - those seem more comfortable to wear all day fishing - they are expensive but one's life has no price tag right? Anyway like many stated here let someone know where you will be fishing (like my wife would know where these lakes are lol) but at least I try and don't do anything stupid.

I got a wide assortment of those canopies - actually I like the canopy in the photo cause I have the same boat.

you got any pictures of that thing on the water and how it sits, handles in the water? Pretty neat set up

That thought did enter my mind too jbw252, but I have seen people do this before buy a new toy use it for a while then stop .... however most try selling theirs a few years after realizing they aren't gonna use it again. Maybe this person is a Cubs fan and says wait til next year a lot lol

I think it's in Auburn NE - not far from me however I did see it advertised under Omaha/Council Bluffs IA site of Craigslist and also under Lincoln NE. Auburn is south and I hunt down that way so I might check it out.

I live in Omaha NE and saw that one too .... same thing wish I had 3K - beautiful boat.

she's a keeper Your dog looks like he wants to have a snack - don't think my dog would be a good fishing partner as he probably wouldn't stay in the boat.

As Admiral Ackbar would say "IT'S A TRAP!!!!"

I did that same thing to my seat rails.

A new boat??? What?? Are you kidding me?? Is your company hiring?? lol Dang I retired from the Air Force after 21 years and though I got some nice gifts and great benefits for life ..... hmmm a new boat would have been sweet too Congrats on the new ride - post pictures if you haven't already done so (only looked at this first post and I'm off to read the rest)

If I recall correctly when I bought mine from Dick's I got to the DMV to register it and had to go back to Dick's and get them to sign it. (Think they do it on purpose so you buy more stuff the second time in the store lol) Lucky for me Dick's and the DMV are only 10 mins apart. I would call your DMV to see what they say - explain the situation and they might work something out. If not call the dealer you got it from and speak to a manager - have them pay for your gas and time to drive back to the store to fix their screw up (maybe in-store credit). They should know that the title needs to be signed .... it's not like they have never sold a boat before right? Anyway hope this helps and things work out - once all that get taken care of and you hit the water .... life is good.

You ain't kidding about if someone wants it no lock will stop them. I know this is about trailer locks - but a few years ago I had my hunting tree stand set up (a hang on and ladder stand together) stolen. Me and my hunting buddy after locking it with several locks, chains and cables said well if it get stolen they obviously want it more then we do. And yup went out one day after the season to get it all down and there on the ground laid all the cut cables, locks and chains. Really sucked cause it was a nice setup that him and I used for a few years and killed several deer out of them. oh well live and learn - I now have a portable climber that only weighs 21 lbs so real easy to pack in and out of the woods - I won't leave another in woods again ... unless it's private land and no one else has access to it.

I have the same boat - love it and I have made many mods to mine. As far as what mods to make first - I did the seats - those plastic ones it comes with you will soon find out are not very comfy - I got padded one at Walmart for about $30 each. If there is anything else you would like to know just ask me on this thread or a private message. There are pictures of the many things I have done to my boat in this thread if you are interested in going back through all the pages.

I love my super crew cab (F150 FX4) has a short bed but it's big enough for me - the four doors are nice - had one years ago that was just a crew cab and getting stuff in and out was a pain in the .... you know. As far as the rods go - mine are not over 7.5 ft so they fix diagonal for those that are one piece and of course the two piece when broken down can go inside or pretty much anywhere. hope this helps