Al Wolbach

Tandem axles tow like a dream compared to single axles, no pitching caused by tongue weight changing and behave very well behind a tow vehicle. However if you have to move the boat around by hand in a basement or garage a tandem axle is nearly impossible to reposition except with a vehicle. By the way, when considering total weight don't forget, up tp 50 gallons of gas, 2-3 gallons of oil and sometimes 30-40 gallons of water in the livewell.( and of course 20-30 lbs of fish )!!!! It adds up fast. Soft plastics are very heavy. The last boat I ordered I got the tandem axle and have never regretted doing so. You never know the boat is behind you except when taking off after a stop( due to weight ). I normally only pull my boat 20 miles or less to fish, however I do travel out of state several times a year. Whatever you decide on get the surge brake with disc. I ordered mine with drum brakes and do regret that decision............................Al

When your crankbait is in contact with the bottom or targeted structure do you move the bait with the reel or rod tip? Keep cranking or pull with the rod...........Al

Check out the pro-air system two pages after your link. This will add some O2 to the water and use your pumps to change out water every hour or so..............Al

Many people like the rubber nets for the reasons listed above but I have heard complaints of them not moving thru water very well because of heavy resistance to the water. Requires a stabbing type of movement instead of a sweeping motion to net fish. I do not own a rubber net just repeating what I have been told.......................Al

The last time I checked you could not use a hotfoot throttle with the Verado. That would be enough for me to pick the OPTI.............Al

Either will make him happy. If you want to make him really happy buy him an Ardent with 3 year warranty. Great reel, great warranty....................Al

MHO, buy the best you can afford and never wonder what might have been............Al

Trilene XL gets my vote.....................Al

I'm not sure the 3 bank charger will work for you assuming you are using a regular lead acid battery for your cranking battery. I don't believe, once the charger is set for AGM batteries, that it will fully charge your cranking battery. You may be better off with a 2 bank and charge your cranking battery with another charger as needed. Way2Slow can probably respond with accurate info. He has helped many with his battery advise............................Al

I have been looking at a different model but I have been advised to get the external antennae also. Apparently the internal antennae is not as sensitive as the external. Makes sense.........................Al

I don't mean to steal the thread. What knot do you use to attach the baloon to the line? I have always used a styrofoam float about the size of an egg. I always wanted to try baloons but was unsure how to attach the baloon. When you are fishing for what could be the fish of a lifetime no time to experiment..................Al

If you should get Charleston AFB, South Carolina, you would be only 20 miles or so from Santee-Cooper. Any of the states you mentioned have better year round fishing weather than you are used to in Michigan. Good luck.................Al

I purchased two Presidents last Jan. and returned them for two Supremes. No problems with either, just decided I wanted the external magnetic adjustment on the Supreme. I believe the Supreme has one more bearing than the President, but that was not an issue for me. I prefer the external magnetic adjustment for fine tuning a reel, just personal preference. I do not like to disassemble a reel on the water to make any adjustments for conditions. Both of these reels have been fished very hard this year without any problems of any kind. I would recommend them to anyone.........................Al

Paca Chunk Sr

Smart decision. Hope she serves you well........................Al

Way2slow, I would like to thank you as well. I have been following this post since your info applies to me also. Very informative and probably has saved me a lot of grief. So much info is available on the web but often contradictory. I did contact GNB about my batteries, using the phone number you provided, and they were very helpful also...............Thanks again...........Al

LBH, aren't you from Rhode Island? If so, your next door neighbor is from another state. LOL Sorry, that popped into my head and I couldn't resist....................Al

Stranded wire not solid wire................Al

Many thanks............Al

Way2slow, thanks a bunch. The battery I'm trying to identify is a GBN product also. Would you share a phone number for GBN? This battery does not indicate a gas valve regulation nor does it slosh. However, the label is in tact..........Thank you.........Al Sorry for stealing the post...

Way2slow, I am trying to identify a battery. If it has a nonimal float voltage of 13.5-13.8v, does this alone identify an AGM battery? Thanks.................Al

Bill, I waited to see if anyone else would respond to your question. A product you may want to try is Camp Dry. It is really made for rainsuits. It is available in this area at most outdoor sports shops. I have used it on rainsuits and my boat cover for years. I spray once a year. It cost about $5 a can and one can should do the trick. It is available at BPS.........................Al

I have read the comments of everyone on this post with interest. I believe both stores are very good places to shop and basicly equal in most catagories. I am a part-time employee of BPS, as some of you know, and an occasional customer of Cabelas. You will see two age group employees' at most BPS stores,very young and older. The pay scale is the reason. The older men and women have retired from their professions and just enjoy talking with fellow outdoorsmen and sharing their experiences. Many of the younger are students that can work flexable hours and still attend school or it is their first job. I don't believe, in most cases, you could support a family on the pay scale offered by BPS and I suspect Cabelas' pay scale isn't much higher. The pay scale is the reason you may find it difficult to find a knowable person to talk with at BPS. I am 59 years old and retired from two careers and not looking for a third career. However, I enjoy working at BPS for the most part. I am a tournament bass fisherman and enjoy talking fishing with others and occasionally helping someone with a problem and I have learned a lot from customers. Until six months ago I thought a spot remover was a carpet treatment. A customer with time and patience explained to me how to fish them. I am still occasionally ask for a lure I have never heard of, much less fished. Trying to determine the fishing experience level of a customer, without offending them, at times can be difficult. If I had a piont to make when I started writing this I forgot what it was so just bear with me please. Tights lines all................................Al

Chug Bug, don't take anything I have said personally, I'm not busting your balls. How your boat performs has no effect on me at all. Same for what you purchase. Yes, I have a heavy bass boat that performs well with a large engine. The dealer I bought mine from will not install a smaller engine on this boat because it would cause performance issues. In reality what you purchase doesn't matter to me at all. You asked for opinions and you got them. I was only trying to prevent you from making a mistake I had already made. I wish you well with your purchase..................Al

LED lights in a word.............Great..........................Al