newbiedmv

I use the USGS site for water gauges 20 and 30 miles upstream. They have saved my butt twice now. The CFS doubled and I was able to get off the river. A bad thunderstorm 50 miles up river.

Yep, ya did.... I'll find out next week if it can be fixed....oh well win some loose some ?. I think I know a place that can make the part (3D printer), repair the boards contact trace, and I can sub in the electrical parts if they're accessible. If it's like automotive and filled in with high temp plastic it's trash. I think I can dismantle it in the press. But I've done stuff like this before and you only have a 10% shot doing it blind. Maybe I'll find a newer one out there without the pedal. I liked it while it lasted.

Well yall were right. I got about 15 uses out of the power drive before the pedal started getting flaky. I sent it off today, I guess I'll see. In any case as long as I get it back I can still use the motor on autopilot and power of 1. I was hoping to get two years out of it but that's life. Least I know now what I want, need, and can use/mount. My fishing still stinks so I'm not dropping 8k and a year wait time on a new one and batteries. Oh the autopilot works great at power 1. Don't try it at 10. ?

A 4' wake jars your freaking teeth loose. I swear I thought my boat would fold up.

Semi off topic question . How do to ride out or over a 4 foot wake in a river with a flat bottom boat It hurts me and my boat. Evidently manufacturers are building big wake producing trailered boats now.

Nope....I did a previous fix for sticky boards that was way way to much. Siliconed them down, they're slicker than wet ice. It will wear off in time. There's only one Ramp shallow enough that it stays on. This one wasn't it. Busy yesterday, 3 people had to be pulled out just in the 2 hours I was waiting to load(they shredded there tires). I had to beach a 1/8 mile downstream and wait wait wait. If you go to that ramp on a Sunday be out by 10 am. If you have old sticky boards I recommend vegetable oil and not that silicone spray you see on amazon,bps,Amazon,, dealers etc. Trailer dealers....$^^,# auto correct ?

It actually worked today. Felt it hit shift the boat about an inch or so and came in perfect.

That stupid concoction actually worked today. Power loaded and it started sliding back as fast as it went on. Had the strap on my lower arm slipped it over the right guide post, pulled tight and the boat stayed there. Got out hooked up, winched in, and pulled out. I''ll get another for the left side when I see one.

Sorry after reading that I realized I'll still have to modify the bunks so the bottom pivot doesn't slide down to the center at the very least. 4 Long galvanized bolts will work. The roller will be good as if I come in to far off it will put me into the side guide boards, if right it will center. Either way I'll know while I'm still in the water. I have the roller, 50 yrs old but a roller none the less and a few big C clamps from Harbor Freight I can loose. Just clamp it on with some locktight and it's worth a try. Oh my 13' 1969 Wards rivited and heavily modified. I'd take it out but I need to change both spindle/hub/tires. It was or is indestructible. I have a 69 evinrude 20hp free also. Oh, this ramp is on a C&O canal dam where they used the river instead. It has terrible fishing, all flat rock bottom and mean floods every year.

Another dumb what if question. I have a 17' crestliner typical aluminum flat bottom with a semi V bow. I have a universal trailer that allows way to much play on the two bunk board ( It can go from hauling a 14' john boat to a 18' glass with a hammer and 5 minutes, with the boat off of course). I messed up awhile back and tore off a bunk board as it flipped ( this forum fixed it thanks). Well it's lopsided now. I know how to fix it but I also know it will come back. I am toying with a few Ideas all involve limiting the bunk boards movement to some degree, at least so they don't jiggle down parking the truck after launch and going back ( oh yeah they do). I can put a few bolts in, have some small welds done, etc. Well I looked at my 13' row boat trailer and it has a center self centering roller on the back ( large one). I have no idea if this will help as the incoming profile is different from what I remember. I was thinking putting in a large self centering roller on the back center "ridge" mounted flush so it doesn't take weight when going down the road. Below is link to a picture of the trailer, note you can see it but each bunk is completely independent and floating it can and will go from the center to the edge. The cross arms are sloped downward from each side to the center. I'm not that good with mechanical redneck engineering( electrical yes). Any and all comments welcome. It's going to my"worst" Potomac ramp Sunday with my neighbor and his pontoon. I'll be out all day so I can mess with it as needed ( I can beach it up stream). https://www.loadrite.com/trailers/load-rite-galvanized-single-axle-bunk-17/ Thanks

Thank you There is a deep lake in PA that had that type of boat everywhere up near the dam. All rigged with downriggers and going after striped bass. Never knew what they were called other than a center console. You see them all over the Chesapeake everywhere. Been told they can cross it in bad wind to the eastern shore rivers. I've been told to stay away from trying that in mine. They say go over the bridge and launch. They are 200 dealers at least in Annapolis MD.

There is a jelly you can get for terminals. My friend owns a tractor/trailer business and he gave me these assorted crimp on connectors with a clear jelly inside. Once on they and the wires don't corrode at all ever I did a farm trailer 20 yrs ago with them. it stays outside. All lights still work. Have no clue as to what it's called and I "should" know. Retired EE.

Yep I know, but man does it tow nice... and it backs the trailer in like my short bed did. Rides better than any car I've owned. No to mention I can take the boat out at anytime. 4 minutes I'm hooked up and gone by myself with a blown out back and leg. Worth it ? Just have to cross my fingers ? ??

Yes, yes it does. Maintenance on my rowboat about 100.00 a year for wheel bearings. Had a electric transom motor and a 7.5 hp air cooled game fisher towed with a shortbed truck. Still have the boat in a garage. Now a 17' crestliner bass/crappie mostly flat bottom, 50 hp. This year Maintenance/add ons 500.00 (includes used TM, guide rails, misc). Used to be towed with a long F150(i couldn't even see the boat or trailer in any mirror) now a shorter tundra which tows like a dream.

Want to learn Murphy's Law??? Buy a boat. It's garrented to go wrong, that's life live with it. Most of the problems will be self induced. It does take some learning and learning and more. I still learn things to do and not to do when I'm out. Ex: starting outboard Trolling motor shaking apart ( sold it) Truck to long to tow the shorter trailer To heavy to slide of bunk boards, fixed now to slick to stay on. Drained gas tank(bad advice from dealer) Larger turn radius 1000 lbs heavier, you'll notice with your boat hook docking. Can't keep rear of boat on trailer in current. Etc. All these are dealt with now but most of them were my inexperience.

Just a video on a brand of trailer steps. They look the same as the ones I've seen. I can't post the video I think but it a somewhat famous Oklahoma fisherman with lots of pet deer as of Aug 4, 2021 For me the steps are to far apart but are wider than most. YouTube video that is. Just a video on a brand of trailer steps. They look the same as the ones I've seen. I can't post the video I think but it a somewhat famous Oklahoma fisherman with lots of pet deer as of Aug 4, 2021 For me the steps are to far apart but are wider than most. Sorry steps already shown

I concur on 4 stroke. Not nearly as finicky as a 2 stroke Also there should be a motor weight limit on the boat somewhere. I don't know personally but I've seen many 20hp Hondas and heard 0 complaints. WELCOME TO THE DMV ? You'll have to dig around.

My personal biggest cost hasn't been money but time and a very steep learning curve on EVERYTHING. Finding how to deal with all the nuances from launching, loading, backing the trailer up, learning the outboard, trolling motor, how it handles, speeds that are best, how to approach waves and wakes, docks and not get the crap beat out of you or hit another boat. Learning what NO BRAKES REALLY MEANS, What to stow, where to stow it. Simple stuff, but on the water complicated as you can't get off.My first lesson was learning how to consistently start the outboard without flooding (2 stoke 50 hp). After 2 years I have 90% fixed or figured out. I had a small row boat before, this bass crappie is a entirely new monster.

Nice write up. Even with my troubles using my "new 2005 17'" crestliner (it sat in the garage for 15 years with the cover on) I'm pleased with it and really happy I only have 15K into it new and fixes. I couldn't do that amount of money now.

Around 4.5 lbs in the 90's I was early 30 something. Only fish I've ever caught on a 3 inch broken back repalla. I saw him coming out of the grass straight and fast. I had a cheap K mart scale.

Cool I'll look into it on my way to Scottsbourough. Oh saw two young guys at the marinas bait/tackle shop. I been to every state east of the Mississippi and this was the only time I couldn't understand there accent at all.

Yep it is NC, I didn't have one. I'm in the mid Atlantic appalachins Fontanna was the most remote spot I've been to on the east and south coasts. Not enough people out there to worry about I would think. I think I was farther south or toward the d**n than TnRiver. Don't really know as the weather was bad GPS didn't work, no cell service, etc and working off a very poor map. If you take out the car club I only saw 3 fisherman and one person in the fontanna gas station. I kinda got the feeling if you get in trouble it will be a day or two before you can find help. I had a days supply of food and water but I never gave a trip plan to anyone. Last time I did that. Been there 3 times now. Twice in Pigeon Forge and once in Cherokee. Still haven't found the ski resort yet ?

The weather wasn't that good. I left the hotel real early and went up to clingmans dome. I have a bad back and leg. 10 people were up there then. I put on the brace, 3 coats, gloves,hat and walked the 1/2 mile up and back. Didn't get any pictures as as soon as you got over the tree line the wind would take you to Knoxville. But I made it and got the hat If I could get a guide with a boat, a place to stay, and a place to eat I'd leave now. It's worth every penny and effort to go there. Oh the main road was the one with the landslide area across it, the one to the dam or resort or both???

I went off the main road to a ramp. I went down, down,down,down brakes were stinking up Got to the ramp. Ramps according to the guys there run all the way down. Rip rap as big as a honda all around. Going back up i ran into a bear he let me pass The drained Slopes so steep i couldnt fish off them I fished off the ramp for an hour and cuaght a few 6-8 inchers but still dont know what kind they were. Bryson was packed with campers. Oh once the fog lifted i was thinking: what the blank have i got myself into". Man with those roads if your hauling something your truck better be in good shape. Oh saw a $500,000 Porsh...a few of them. The lake is great very little access. I would have loved it 20 years ago, my body cant take that right now. Unless bryson has hotels now. I stayed in cherokee. To the OP, listen its an experience to say the least. I would go back in a heart beat, with a guide.