DaveInGA

jbmaine, Yes, that information was quite helpful. I'm not at all familiar with the 4-cycles, but am very interested due to the quiet, clean running and good gas mileage. Anything I can do to save on gas is a good thing. Regards, Dave

A retired gentleman at my gun club I shoot skeet with has a Honda 15HP 4-stroke with less than 8 hours time on it he's not using and wants to get rid of. He's offered to make me a good deal on it. It's either a 2006 or 2007. I don't know anything about Hondas and wanted to get feedback from someone who owns this motor. Thanks, Dave

You don't want to get too rowdy with a 15 HP in those 10HP lakes. Those Fish and Wildlife guys aren't dumb. If you get going too good and start passing all the 10HP's around you, they'll notice. In addition, they'll stop you and it won't be the stickers on your motor cover they'll want to look at. It'll be the Model and serial number labels on the motor and they'll know what they mean. Just so you're aware, Dave

I've fished out of those type boats before and they're generally not much fun to fish out of. I agree with LBH, if you can find a jon boat and trailer, you can tow it with either car. Just get a smaller one the two of you can carry and you'll be fine. Remember, craigslist.com is your friend when it comes to finding cheap jon boats. You may have to do some painting and fixing up, but you can find a boat cheap on there that'll do what you're looking to do. Buddy of mine and his grandfather used to haul two jon boats from the side of the road down to the river with no problems. At the time, we were both 16-17 years old. Regards, Dave

This may be just what you're looking for: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp;jsessionid=BPO5YIKVMOCC4CWQNWRSCOQK0BW0IIWE?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat21278-cat21324_TGP&id=0021475016662a&navCount=2&podId=0021475&parentId=cat21324&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat21324&hasJS=true&_requestid=48861

I've got my boat, it's a 16 foot long by 54 inch wide fiberglass boat, pretty much the same size and shape as a jon boat. I am wanting to paint the bottom with Interlux Brightside paint. The plan is to use all Interlux products the same as LBH did. I'm using the Interlux Brightside to paint the sides and bottom. The problem I have is I have no idea how much primer I need, nor how much paint. Interlux Brightside comes only in quarts. I'm thinking I probably need two quarts of primer and two quarts of paint, but if one quart will be sufficient, I don't want to buy more than I need. Can someone give me an idea of how much paint it will take? The boat is basically new, though it was stored outside for a long while before I bought it. Thanks, Dave

Jig man, Yes, it's a big deep cycle from Sam's. As far as the radio, I just want to listen to talk radio and get the news/weatherr when I'm out there by myself. Surfer, Ues, the boat is similar to gheenoe, but it's bigger, wider and is very similar to a jon boat in size, room and dimension in the interior, but I've already found it more stable in the water than a jon boat and it draws less water. I already own a 36 pound thrust Minn Kota TM. Regards, Dave

Finally found a suitable boat and am in the process of planning for the rigging (new Riverhawk B-52 boat0. I'm trying to keep things simple and as clean as possible. Here's what I'm looking at right now. Would love to get comments: 1. Running lights for night runnning - dedicated fixtures on the outside hull VS. plug-in poles. I can install the dedicated fixtures on the front easily, but what about the tall back light? Maybe a folddown or a telescoping pole? 2. Bilge pump w/plumbing - 500gph Seasense model that Academy Sports stocks (very compact with a low price) vs. an Attwood combination pump (more expensive and a bit larger) with integrated float switch wired directly to the battery with an inline fuse. Better choice? Best location to route the tubing and outlet for the water? 3. Trolling motor wiring front to back - 15 ft. of dual lead 4/0 copper cable with 3/8" and 1/4" hole terminals soldered at each end. Buddy of mine is giving this to me, so no cost involved. 4. Trolling motor battery - The biggest group 27 I can find, probably the largest TM battery Sam's Club sells, since I'm a member. 5. Igloo Marine cooler w/seat (Live well) 6. Igloo cooler, small (food and drink) 7. Cabin lights (small lights for night fishing, internal to the boat for rigging and putting on a minnow in the boat) - I'm wondering if that LED rope lighting that has become popular might not work well. Here's some I'm looking at: https://ssl.adhost.com/noveltylights...pid=262&step=4 Anyone have a good solution on rigging these? 8. 2 each 12V cigarette lighter style outlets - For simplicity/neatness sake, I'm thinking of getting one of those Minn Kota boxes with the battery gauge, external lugs, and integrated 12v plug. I'm thinking one 12 volt outlet on the battery box at the front of the boat and and one at a rocker switch panel in the rear of the boat should be enough I'm guessing. Any suggestion on the number of rocker switches I really need? I'd like to do the "less is more" approach. Wiring it is a non-issue with my background. Learning what works best is. 9. Insulated, powered minnow bucket, 12V capable (will use 12V outlet for aerator) - Am looking at the larger minnow buckets carried by Academy Sports. Anyone have a suggestion on which one or how large a one? They don't seem to be expensive. 10. AM/FM radio - Am considering a portable/handheld transistor radio. I'd like to get , if anyone makes it, a AM/FM handheld integrated with CB or VHF capability (and NOAA weather), that would be best. Since I don't carry a cell phone, a CB would be an excellent emergency communication tool. 11. Decking to level bottom of boat (no carpet, painted with non-skid surfacing material) - Right now I'm looking at either 1/2" Marine plywood or pressure treated plywood painted on the top surface with the Rustoleum two part stuff they have for Garage flooring. I plan to add the non-ski shark bite to the paint. I'd leave the bottom surface exposed so it can breathe and won't rot. 12. Exterior (in the water) fishing lights to attract baitfish - BPS (and others) sell simple waterproof lights that you tie to a cleat, plug into a 12v outlet, and just drop over the side into the water. Seems easy. Does anyone have a particular recommendation they've had good success and dependability with? I think they also have them at Walmart in Gainesville (Big stock of marine stuff there by the lake or at least there was last year.) as well. 13. Some clips to store my oar neatly on the side or bottom of the boat. Anyone have a recommendation? 14. A fishing net to seine minnows or other baitfish. Anyone have a particular brand they've been really happy with? 15. Rod holders for transport and for trolling or just being able to securely put my rod down with the bait in the water. I'm figuring on two racks of three each for transport and eventually four each of the "trolling" type. I'd love to hear suggestions on this one. 16. A mushroom or river anchor (8 to 10lbs) and 50' of 1/4" or 5/16" nylon or polydacron rope, and maybe a small bucket to store it in (bucket can be used for bailing in an emergency). I have nylon yellow rope. I also have a bucket for rope/chain/anchor storage I think. 17. Two 10' pieces of 1/4" cotton rope for docking situations. 18. Emergency first aid kit, flashlight, bottle of sunscreen, small assortment of basic tools (2 screwdrirvers, wire cutters, adjustable wrench, cheap stainless knife/multitool) - Already have the first aid kit, the flashlights, the sunscreen, the basic tools and the multitool, though it isn't a cheap one. I'm aware whatever I keep aboard the boat can be "swallowed" by the water at a moment's notice. I plan on carrying a decent knife and my leatherman when I fish, but keeping a cheap multi tool aboard for those "riskier" moments, like cutting fishing line away from a prop. 19. Tie down base for coolers - one of those jobs with 4 angle brackets you mount to the floor and have a strap/ bungee cord to lock the cooler in place.

Actually, in my case, GA Bass hunter is right. At the end of the day, my fair skinned self would be blind and burnt to a crisp. I like white boats and would love a white interior, but I'd be fried if I did that. Hence the light grey or tan. Dave

A buddy gave me a Humminbird Matrix 17 fishfinder. Trouble is, it didn't come with the wiring, base or transducer. Can someone point me to the online dealers with the best prices on Humminbirds? Thank you, Dave

I'm picking up a new fiberglass boat at about half it's retail price. The interior was painted a fairly dark green and is too hot for the Georgia heat. I'm going to have to repaint it either light grey or tan. I've found a couple options so far and wondering what the best option would be for durability. Right now I'm looking at either Duraliner bedliner in grey or Rustoleum garage flooring two part epoxy with added shark bite for traction. Any comments or suggestions welcome. Thank you, Dave

Gentlemen, Thank you for the information. Does anyone know a good parts source for this engine? Thanks, Dave

Way2slow, I don't know, I'm new to boating in freshwater and to two cycles in general. That's why I"m asking, to find out. If it's a non issue, that's great and I'll move forward from there. I just picked up a rig today with a 1976 Johnson 15HP Seahorse on it and I didn't want to ruin the motor before I got going good. Dave

I've been doing some research and determined TCW-2 has become hard to find. I'm wondering what the deal is about older two stroke motors and the newer and more easily available TCW-3 oil. How far back in time can one go and still buy a motor that's compatible with the new oil? Does anyone know? I'd rather not buy something where I'm stuck with a motor I can't find oil for. thanks, Dave

There seems to be two schools of thought about these plastic bass boats. Those that have had them seem to the most part love them, but have later sold them for larger boats when the could afford a larger boat. I was looking at them as a "get me on the water fishing" boat for as small amount of money as possible and the issues related to stability with smaller jons don't seem to happen with the plastic boats. I think I may end up having to get one of these, fish the smaller resevoirs and river until such time as I graduate tech school, am back to work and can afford a boat to go out on the larger lakes with. I'm thinking a 30 lb thrust motor, a single battery and an older 7.5 HP two cycle Evinrude of Johnson oughta set me up about right for the time being. I think I'll shop for a used one of these. Thanks everyone for their help. Regards, Dave