Long Mike

32251, I'm very happy that I was able to provide useful information in your decision making process. I'm doubly happy that your son enjoyed his first outing in the boat. Moments like that are priceless. You mentioned that you inflated your boat at home. I keep my boat fully inflated. It's suspended from the ceiling in my garage on a set of pullys. When I'm ready to go fishing, I pull my Suburban up under the boat and simply drop the boat on the roof, tie it down, and I'm on the road. Since I fish alone and am getting on in years, I discovered the hard way that getting the boat out of the lake and back on top of the Sub was almost more than I could handle. The solution was another pully attached to the front cross-member of the luggage rack. Now it's a piece of cake.

Hey Kent, you obviously are desperate for some rain. I sincerely hope you get really hosed by Humberto. Unfortunately, that's about the only thing I can do about controlling the weather. Good Luck!

I grew up in South Louisiana and I've ridden out several hurricanes. But I was young like you Burley, and very ignorant, so I thought they were fun. I worked as a Red Cross volunteer, so I was able to witness the misery of those rideing out the storm in shelters and the wholesale destruction of community after community. During hurricane Camille, I was headed for the police station to pick up an evacuee when the wind blew over the City's water tower onto the station, killing all nine people inside. That was bad enough, but what many people fail to realize is that when you ride out a hurricane (assuming you don't get killed in the process) there is nothing left. There is no electricity, water, or phone. All of the streets are blocked with trees and other debris. The fun ends right there, because you are going to spend the next few days, or weeks, in the dark and in the heat. After my third hurricane I finally smartened up and got my Azz out of Dodge.

Personally, I enjoy betting people up. But I rarely bet more than a dollar on any game. BTW, it's "their," not "there." ;D

Tell your wife that the fish feels almost nothing with the hook-set. Getting its azz jerked out of the water is another thing altogether. ;D ;D ;D

I use 5 lb. plastic coated mushroom anchors.

So what's the problem? Anyone dumb enough to walk into a bar in Oklahoma wearing a Longhorns shirt is begging to get his butt whipped, although castration is a little drastic. On the flip side, the same applies if you walk in to Longhorn territory wearing an OU shirt.

So Andy, what is your question?

My favorite T-shirt reads "Alpha Male." I wear it often. 8-)

I ued a tip I picked up in BASSIN magazine and started using zip-ties that have a loop in the end that are designed to be screwed or nailed to a ridged surface. It works like a charm at keeping your hooks away from your rods. Since they tend to swival around the rod, they never seem to be in the way.

Brokejew, glad I could help.

After 17 years of neglect by the previous owner, my Tracker was badly stained. I used an electric buffer and Turtle Wax White Polishing Compound. The hull now has an almost mirror finish and the work went quickly.

Because I have a tremor problem, I use snaps on everything. If I didn't, re-tying a knot could take me as long as fifteen minutes. :'(

To quote Forest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does." Fortunately, I've never done anything stupid in the kitchen; unless you count time when I put a skillet on the burner to melt some butter and then forgot about it for about an hour or so. My first clue was when I smelled the handle melting off the skillet.

Avid, glad to hear you are OK, at least as OK as an old fart who just had surgery and a wreck can be. I talked to Dom last night and he told me about your incident so I was planning on calling you today. I didn't get home until after 9:00 your time and I know how you old folks need your sleep, so I'll call you tomorrow.

I don't think this is a real poll, a reel poll or a pole poll. It's a very poor poll, so I refuse to pour over the results of this poll.

5 to 10 days for me.

customsonoma, I agree with Fluke. Take it to a mechanic. There are simply too many things that could go wrong for anyone to diagnose your problem on-line.

Atta Girl, Deb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It depends upon the size of your bank. Copper is expensive these days. Both Home Depot and Lowe's sell it.

The 90 AH will be plenty enough to push your Zodiac around all day.

6 Gauge. You might get away with 8 gauge, but if it were my boat I would go with 6.

Do i believe in that crap? NOPE!

I'm watching it as we speak.

This subject made the NBC news this evening. Apparently it was a major screw-up. The commander in charge of this debacle was relieved of duty.