Quarry Man

^ Im putting a 112lb thrust Terrova on a 14' boat btw

Welcome to Bassresource! I am a big fan of aluminum boats. I recommend that you look into some of those as well. I know that Champion boats are no longer being made, but the boats they did make are really high quality. If you can't the price down to under 9k, that might be a great deal.

Due to my recent killing spree (broke 5 rods in the last month), I needed a new frog rod, and was staying less than 15 minutes from the Cabela's in Berlin, MA. I ended up purchasing the Cabela's Tournament ZX 7'3" Heavy Frog Rod. Rod has been great so far, even though it has a fast action, not extra fast. I also purchased a Whopper Plopper 110 with a missing eye in the Bargain Cave for $4.99. I purchased 12 1/4 ozEco Pro Tungsten drop shot weights (super expensive, but required up north) and a few packs of drop shot hooks, drop shot baits, and Keitechs. Also purchased a few frogs, and an MKA-21 Quick Release Bracket for my new trolling motor. I also got to look at some of the Garmin units that I am looking at, along with a comparison of the Ulterra and Terrova 112. The other thing that Im really liking is the Cable Cuff that Bought at Ocean State Job Lot for $1. They allow me to use my electric steer up front without a mess of cables and undo the cuff when I am fishing with the foot pedal from the back of the boat. I also Boat Buckle transom mount boat buckles or something name liked that from the same store for $25. Saw something that looked almost the same for $85 so I went back and bought them. That store also had cheaper Reddington waders for $20 that I dod not buy.

I will be in MA for most of next week. Planning on doing some drop shot fishing, deep cranking, umbrellas rigging, and maybe even some offshore striper fishing off Cape Cod. Should be fun.

You are right, that would be a lot of weight. I didn't explain my situation clearly. I mostly fish smaller and electric only lakes, so i have little need for an outboard. This is also because I didn't have an outboard, and couldn't fish bigger lakes. I have a 55 lb Minn Kota Powerdrive V2 that is on my current boat. using the bracket, I could switch out the 112 lb Minn Kota Terrova for the Powerdrive when i am using the outboard and save some weight. When fishing electric only lakes, I could just use the Terrova. I also weigh 150lbs. Sorry that I forgot to explain this. I fish electric only lakes most of the time.

I purchased a 1985 Smoker Craft Big Fisherman 14' with a 1978 Sea Lion trailer and 25 hp Johnson outboard all for only $300. Boat doesn't have any wood in it and I am planning to fix it up. This time around I will be investing more money and time into the process. This means that I will be using better materials and doing thing correctly. I started by registering the trailer and boat in PA (where I live). Then i began to take the boat apart and clean it up. i emplaning to use 3/4" plywood that is sealed, not pressure treated, as my casting deck. It will extend from the front of the boat to the end of the last bench seat. I will add several hatches for storage. I have already run in to several issues. I need a sheet of 5' x 12' x 3/4" plywood to complete the casting deck, which i realize will be very hard to find a sheet that big. Also, the trailer is in pretty rough shape and will likely need replacement. I don't know how to make a support system in the front of the boat because there is no bench to support my weight.I also want to put a 112 lb thrust Minn Kota Terrova on the front of the boat with an MKA-21 Quick Release Bracket. I don't know how i am going to store 3 batteries in the back of my boat. I Want to make a platform that looks like this one: This is what I would like the boat to end up like, with only a few changes, such as a hidden mount for seats, longer casting deck, and more hatches for more storage: If you have questions or advice, please comment hear or send me a PM and I will email you with better pictures (can't figure out image posting here). I will keep editing this thread along the way.

buy a marine deep cycle battery in the largest group size that you can't. i got a 29 size from walmart for like 100 bucks and it works great

I just called a local registration office and they told me I need a notarized bill of sale, original registration card, and title on order to register the boat.

i am looking to buy a 14' Smoker Craft and trailer for $300. The boat and trailer may not have a title. If I get a bill of sale, can I get a title for the boat and trailer? Also, if I want to resell the boat after I fix it up, should I even bother to register it? What I want to know is if I purchase this boat (live in PA), will I be able to use it legally?

On larger bass boats, I believe all of the batteries are stored in the back compartment. This includes the ones for the bow mount trolling motor. I currently have a 55lb Minn Kota Powerdrive V2. The cable is only about 4' long. The part that connects to the actual battery is a small circle (this is what it looks like: I can't figure out how it is supposed to attach to the actual battery. I am trying to figure that out, as well as extend the cord so that i can keep the batteries at the back of the boat and balance the weight out better. any info/help would be great. Thanks again!

Spincast 100 spinning 60 Casting 40

I am planning on taking a more in depth look down the road...

I realize that they make life easier, but do people use them on 16' boats? Even if i fish electric only lakes and use it as my main method of getting around the lake?

looking at a new boat. if i end up purchasing the boat, I will want a very nice trolling motor. likely a 36v but maybe a 24v. In a 16' boat with this tm, is an onboard charger worth it? Which minnkota charger should i get?

pink slug-o is one of my favorite striper baits.

I may have the opportunity to purchase a 16' Smoker Craft Big Fisherman on the cheap. I was dropping my sister off at a friends house when I saw the boat sitting in a foreclosed house. The person was moving and trying to get rid of the boat. Boat stickers were from 2015, so the boat hasn't been used in a while. it was sitting outside with no cover on it. boat was filled with water, which means there are no leaks. Also, the carpet and decking was already gone, making for an easy conversion. Lastly, the trailer was in rough shape and will likely need replacement. My only concern with the boat is that it may actually be 14', not 16' as i only had about 30 seconds to look at the boat. It will serve as an upgrade to my current 14' Semi V. The current boat is great for one person, but when my grandfather comes along too, it is unstable. The trailer is in rough shape, so I will likely use my 14' trailer just to get the boat to my house. I will leave it in my yard until i find a brand new trailer that works for the new boat. The last boat I converted into a casting deck, and i did a few things wrong. I didn't add a hinge on one compartment and i used the wrong carpet (has loops), and i did not treat the woods to prevent mold. This time around, I am going to be doing things correctly. I am planning on getting a 9" Garmin with side and down imaging. i have never used electronics before so this will be a first. Most of my fishing is done for bass in smaller lakes, but I do mess around with other species and fish for lake trout a bit. I fish electric only lakes most of the time and also can't afford a brand new outboard (don't want to go the used route here). I would love a 112lb w/ i-pilot and variable speed, but i am worried about having three batteries in a 16' boat. I would use lithium ion ones but they cost too much for me. I have been reading online that two 55lb tams (what i use now) is actually slower than one 80 lb tm. I am also going to switch from a 55lb 54" Powerdrive V2 to a 45" Terrova w/ iPilot. i am debating between 112lb and 80lb. Also, i will be using either aluminum or starboard in order to avoid rot and mold. i did finally get a lucrative job (im 17) and my grandfather and I will be splitting costs of the project. Here is what i am expecting (and hoping) the costs to look like. obviously, this is just a general idea and i will run into other costs down the road. Boat: x < 500 Trailer x < 750 Terrova x = 1750? Titling/Registration x = 250 Batteries x = 600 With all those costs, I will likely need to sell my other boat. i will try to get 1,750 for it, but that may not happen. i have invested over 3k into it.

I like aluminum because it is less expensive, less work to maintain, and i don't have to worry about beating it up al little bit. If i fished big lakes with big waves or needed to go fast i choose glass. even if i had all the mo ey in the world but could only choose one, id gp aluminum.

salmouth is a new fish species, lol. anyways, the lake is privately run and owned. Members of the fishing club were interested in stocking new fish. In the past, lm bass were brought in from nearby lakes to be stocked there I believe. I said that i would ask to find out if they would live.

use o rings and hook the rin=ng not the worm and use bio spawn eco sticks they are great neko baits

smallmouth bass

I have a 1968 Sea King Semi-V that with two trolling motors. The one on the transom is a Minn Kota Endura Max 55lb 42". The bow mount is a Minn Kota Powerdrive V2 55lb 54". The transom motor will drive the boat straight, but the bow mount will not. When i mounted the motor, i dod not mount it perfectly in the center of the bow. I originally figured that the prop was pushing more water to one side than the other, but even when the motor is all they way down, it still does this. Why is my boat not driving straight?

In a shallow 75 acre lake with a max depth of 12', would the fish be able to survive? This lake is shallow and it is typically 55* at night and 80* during the day max. There are a few stocker trout left, largemouth bass, and pickerel. baitfish include rock bass, crappie, perch and bluegill. Do you think they will live?

i was talking about the similar rig but a finesse version that I've had great luck with

one fish is a clue, two means i should be on the right track, three is a pattern, but this time of year i will change baits and locations because fish are more spread out than the are at other times of the year.