slowworm

Yeah, but does the spinning reel go above or below the rod when I'm holding it?

Really nice job! Shame the weather here right now is all over the place..

I have a bunch of those I use when Kayak Camping. Never thought to use them in the bass boat. Duh!

And I've had people ask my why I wear my PFD as soon as I start backing the boat into the water ….

Thanks all for the help. J.

I need a bit of help. I broke a ring on a rod and I need to replace it. This isn't my first guide replacement. The issue I have is that the last time this happened (about 20 years ago!) I took the ring down to then local tackle dealer and found a match. Now I need to order one instead, because tackle shops like that are all gone. I've found a likely match on mudhole, but I'm wondering how to measure the ring size. Do I measure the ID, the OD of some other thing to size the ring. Thanks J.

I tow a 2400lb boat with a Ford Escape with no issues. A very similar vehicle. You do need to check the owners manual for the fine print. The Ford Escape with the 2.0 L Turbo and the factory tow package is rated at 1500lbs for an un-braked trailer, 3500lb for a trailer with brakes. Yet you only ever see 3500lbs in the brochures. I suspect the same is true of the Kia. This matters if you ever have an accident. Your insurance might be voided for overloading the tow vehicle. It may also be illegal to exceed the book specs for towing depending on your state.

OCdockskipper, it’s called the Gell-Mann amnesia effect. It’s also called “Wet streets cause rain” because cause and effect are so often confused.

So after lurking for ages I have something concrete I can contribute. Yay for me! In a word - don't do it. You need something bigger, or a smaller boat. I tow a Pro Team 175txw 60 HP with a 2014 Ford Escape with the factory tow package. That package adds a tranny oil cooler and enables the electronic sway control. The published package weight of my boat is about 2200lbs. With gear and gas lets call it 2400 lbs. This is nicely below the 3500lb tow limit, and to be honest the Escape tows that package quite nicely. But you can certainly feel the weight behind you. I liken the ride to driving my wife's little Toyota matrix with 4 adults in it. It will accelerate uphill, but you have to anticipate a bit. Stopping is also fine. But here's the catch. In the Escape users manual you will find this: Separate functioning brake systems are required for safe control of towed vehicles and trailers weighing more than 1500 pounds (680 kilograms) when loaded. Everybody misses that caveat. I have surge brakes on my trailer. And again I can feel the weight behind me, and again it's like driving the Matrix with 4 big adults in it. Not an issue if you leave some thinking space and anticipate the stops. If I really had to stand on the brakes I have confidence that it would stop readily enough, but that is kinda harsh on things. Your boat is about 1000 lbs heavier than mine, give or take. There is no way, even with surge brakes, that I would want to hitch that up to my Escape and go anywhere. Without surge brakes it would not even be legal in my state. And with that I say hello to Bass Resource …. Slowworm.