AJ Hauser

All good. I'm just a dummy that makes websites that likes to fish Thanks again!

Got it - thank you very, very much @Way2slow. I see Keith in your signature, so if that is in fact you, thank you Keith. You are a gentleman and a scholar!

Dude! @Way2slow thank you so much for that info and for taking the time to write that! Ok, so the washers & crap are all starting to make sense. These were put in place like this: 2 Big Washers > Smaller Washer > Smallest Wide Ring You are correct. The smallest wide ring actually sits slightly inside the seal on the new (and old) hubs. I think that the highlighted red section - Section B in my image - on the spindles you linked would do the same thing, right? That's what sits inside the seal? Does the left edge of the widest section - Section C - sit against the edge of the hub, or is there always some space there? I think this is what the washer / ring combo is trying to mimic - which makes me wonder if this old trailer was just repurposed or built and not originally meant for a boat? I added a few more pics of the trailer for reference. I popped the new hubs on just because I had them and wanted to go through the process and hopefully learn and retain a thing or two... but if the spindles are the issue, it sounds like I'm stuck for now. I am very curious to see if the new rear seals blow and I start flinging grease again right away, because the new hubs do not have the bearing buddies, just a dust cap.

Got it - thanks fellas - I had just incorrectly assumed this was a "lithium" for some reason... just complete inexperience on my part. Really appreciate all of the feedback and help here - y'all are very generous with your time and knowledge and I appreciate it! Have a great weekend.

Hey fellas. So I am still learning about different batteries, and I purchased a smaller 15 AH batter for my graph: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PNDBSPC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have a Noco Genius10 for charging & maintaining my larger Lithium battery between trips: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W3QT226/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I'm wondering what the proper setting - if any - are correct on the Noco for charging the smaller battery? Is Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) a version of AGM? Will using a lithium setting / charger on an SLA battery cause damage? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

Got it - thank you - do the "spindo sleeves" cover the entire spindle, and are they low profile enough that they fit within the existing hubs & bearings? Like a tight fit right over the spindle? I'm actually wondering if I have some notches in those now... Thanks!

Welp - they showed up today - we'll see how it goes. Happy Halloween!

Supposedly they're showing up tomorrow - so we'll see if they fit... o_0

Hey boys, So not too long ago I posted in this forum asking for some help with my hubs. Today, I removed them. I would like to swap them out with new ones, and I believe these are a fit: https://www.northerntool.com/products/ultra-tow-xtp-ultra-pack-trailer-hub-4-on-4in-1250-lb-capacity-572041 My bearings are L44643, which measure 1" and show that inner diameter online as well. The spindle is straight. However, I'm not sure if these 2 large washers need to stay on the spindle with the new hubs? The one closest to the rear of the spindle seemed to be caulked into place - it was hard to remove... the small pieces shown in image 7 fell out when I took the hub off as well. I'm hoping that swapping for the new hubs will keep the rear grease seal from blowing out. Again. There is a slight gap between the washers and the back of the hub on the other side that you can see - I did not remove that one yet. Wonder if that's a problem? Any help would be appreciated - I'm way out of my element. AND... I do have jack stands now. Last time I posted that was strongly suggested so I just wanted to mention that Thanks!

@TnRiver46 LOL a true legacy of broken boats and broken hearts. Thanks man, have a great weekend!

Ok I'm reminding you now Oh also - what body of water is that in your pic? Looks awesome - if it's a secret, is it in Tennessee? Just curious. (I'm super anxious to start exploring water in the South... but we are going to have 1 more full year here in IL...)

Got it - coontail it is. Thanks boys! Really appreciate the help. Now... I must go back and fish it more...

Hey fellas. Not that long ago I asked for some help and y'all graciously obliged, helping me identify chara algae, and this has been good because now when I see it, I know what I'm working with. Bass seem to like it at times. I recently hit a small pond that drops to 25 foot in spots. The water clarity is pea soup / tannic. There are walnut trees overhanging the bank and I think as these decompose in the water they are just making quite the green-brown broth. So visibility is LOW. The shoreline drop is STEEP. However, I have found some quality bass here, and these weeds. These things look like pine trees almost. They are growing up right near the surface in areas of about 6 - 12 foot depth. You can only see about the last foot or so of them. The very tippy tops are dark and thick, while they have sparse growth further down the stalk (as you can see in the pics). Any idea what this is? (These fish came off a black & blue chatterbait with a rage swimmer trailer, and a no-name or discontinued Viscous hawg style bait on a TX rig.) Thanks!

... that just mean all the ladies get more time to look at ya.

@king fisher that was an extremely detailed post - thank you for taking the time to share all of that! @Darnold335 I appreciate your input here as well. This whole jet boat concept is completely new to me - this whole time I was thinking about a boat with a big FAN on the back of it... not what y'all are speaking about! Who knew?! Thanks guys, more research to do but this has been very, very helpful.

Yeah mine is 48" at the widest point, 36" up front... the misses has seen my work in the kayak so she doesn't care for trips in the wobbly 'ol jon boat... I did take my son out with me the other day (while we were looking for more leaks) and he had that thing sitting at about 45 degrees more than once. He's not even over 100 lbs yet @GRiver that is hilarious - put some ice in there and pack a killer lunch!! Thanks fellas - talk soon!

Thanks again fellas! So @Scott F I will reach out to them for sure and strike up a conversation. I had no idea so many of you guys were fishing out of all kinds of different boats. I guess I just assumed that everyone except me had a nice, fancy "bass boat"... this has been enlightening @Darnold335 thank you - I'd love to see it and I will shoot you a message. I was just looking at the G3 site, they have a boatload of options (see what I did there?). @Catt thank you - this whole tunnel concept is new to me so I will definitely be checking into this more. Right now I can only fish 1 person comfortably in my 14' jon. It's shaky. How stable if yours at 16' x 52"? The tunnel doesn't add any stability - does it? (And I'm looking to get something without a console, so these look like a good option.) @GRiver that is sweet - thank you for sharing. I am definitely looking for rod lockers. A livewell is optional... I'm more of a catch & release bass angler but once I'm down in Arkansas I see they have some mighty fine walleye in the reservoir... bonus sandwiches... Thanks boys! Talk soon.

Holy moly this turned into a robust conversation - thank you guys so much for all of the feedback and input! I took the jon boat out again yesterday and as soon as I put 'er in the water, water started sputtering up underneath the deck... caught a couple nice ones skipping bushes overhanging the shoreline, but after a few hours I had to GO! I might try to patch it and get another 12 months out of it - but in the meantime, I am looking to research and make a purchase. I need a size, storage and stability upgrade, but hopefully I can still get into these dirt-shallow areas... @Darnold335 The White River is a completely new body of water for me. It sits right below the dam, so I'm sure at times the current is substantial - possibly even unsafe? Here is a link to the info from right by the dam, I think - but I have no idea what I'm looking at... I will definitely hit rocks... because I am a clod. @GRiver I added welded Polar Kraft(s) to my list of sites to research - this was what you meant, right? I'm with you - I prefer simplicity but I do need some storage at this point. @Catt thank you as well! The Invader series looks sweet - and I think it had rod storage and more, plus it does not have the steering console, which I prefer. What model do you run? Does the tunnel (+tabs) allow you to keep the motor mounted higher, permanently instead of messing with a jack plate? @Captain Phil I have Lowe bookmarked for sure - the 1860 might be in my price range. I appreciate your vote of confidence. @volzfan59 SeaArk is one I had never heard of - just bookmarked 'em. With us moving down to Arkansas next year I need to just get a job at one of these places... The hydraulic jack plate is a great idea. @Scott F I appreciate the lead on Blazer Boats but I'm not finding any website for them. Are they a company I'd need to visit in person? @TnRiver46 yup that's exactly what I've seen them running out of Gaston's right there below the dam. They have quite the little operation! Thanks boys!

Hey boys, I was hoping to get a few leads / suggestions. I fish a lot of small lakes using my modified jon boat (14 foot x 4 foot) but it's leaking in several areas. I will continue to patch it through this year and next, but we are going to move to Arkansas next year - and I will be fishing the White River as well as Bull Shoals. I'm not confident enough in my current dingy to take it into a river with current like that - plus, if I get a wider, more stable boat, my wife will fish with me. She's an awesome fishing partner. I would like to get a 16 or 17 foot welded aluminum boat without a steering console, that has some storage capacity for rods, possibly a livewell, and without a camo paint job. Something rock solid. I have a 15 hp outboard that would live on the back (I don't travel with it on my current jon boat because I don't want to put that stress on the transom while driving. It's a pain moving motors, graph, batteries and all of that from the truck bed to the boat with every launch and again before the trip home - plus I lose about 30 minutes of fishing time.) What brands / makes / models do you all like for shallow boats like this? Here is what I have been looking at so far, in order of interest: 1. https://havocboats.com/ 2. https://www.wareagleboats.com/ 3. https://www.loweboats.com/ 4. https://www.trackerboats.com/ Right now I'm not worried about budget or new vs used - I'll worry about that later. (No, I'm not independently wealthy but I would invest in quality in this area, no question.) Any suggestions or feedback are welcome on brands and getting the most out of boats like this in general. Thanks fellas!! Talk soon.

Dang. I had no idea. Thanks!

Roughly what time of year or water temp did you see when you experienced turnover? Thanks so much for the tip as well! Farmers by me just started to harvest the last few days, so the water is going to be cloudy in some of the pits which will make the bite tough I think. We will see. @WRB thank you for the reply - I will look up the Cosmic Clock you mentioned - and then the prey leaving the weeds turning brown... they must just go... deeper? Or maybe towards shoreline(s) with more rock and less mud?

I appreciate the tip - now let's talk about this sandals with socks situation... Yeah that could have been... bad... yikes! Great question - no - I had just connected the clips but then moved the wires and they may have touched / sparked. That has happened many times accidentally before, but on this day, it was more... eventful...

@WRB that is exactly what my father said to me. @guitarplaya39 yes, this is the janky connection I had... asking for trouble, apparently. Yikes. @scaleface way to get 'er done!! Thank you guys for all of the feedback. I need to find those insulated female spade terminals, but this morning I did snip off the clips on one side of the wires and connected the exposed wires from the graph power cord - electrical taped 'em, shrink tubed 'em, electrical taped 'em again. So they are completely covered at this point. Thank you guys for all of the feedback. Really, really appreciate it!

OH CRAP I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING - 4 days ago when I got home, I noticed rust on the terminals and the clips, so I sprayed some WD-40 on both and then wiped it clean. Is it possible that stuff seeped into the copper wire (that is what is in the alligator clips) and then when current was introduced or when the clips touched and sparked, that is what fired up?? I can't believe I didn't remember this, I was just cleaning up and saw some rust on another area and went to get the WD-40 and it hit me. Thoughts? These are the batteries I use, and the graph is a Garmin Striker 9sv. The trolling motor is hooked straight to the larger battery posts: Small Mighty Max - Graph Big Mighty Max - Trolling Motor Alligator Clips for Graph Only @WRB @Catt @flyfisher @Fishing_Rod @MickD @Fishingmickey @ElGuapo928 @TnRiver46 thank you guys so much for the help so far! I have learned a lot the hard way this year...

Good afternoon gentlemen. So... today was a thing... It rained on my way to the ramp. I fish out of a little jon boat and the batteries for my trolling motor & Garmin depth finder are separate but exposed to the elements. Never had an issue, and they get hooked up before launch. Today, when I hooked the alligator clips up between the small lithium battery and said depth finder, the freaking things started on fire. Full stop. I am not joking. I couldn't believe my eyes - I think there was a spark (it's not uncommon for the alligator clips to touch when I move them around and they might spark briefly) and it was definitely wet in the boat, but the battery was not soaked, the clips and the wires were in the truck on the ride over, but... man, have any of you guys ever had anything even remotely close to this happen to you!??? All of the sudden, freaking flames at two of the clips. So then I did the most logical thing and just reacted, grabbing both with my bare hands to unclip them. That flippin' hurt. This all happened in the bottom of my boat, hidden from view as I was having a normal discussion with another angler at the launch at the same time. "Sure is beautiful out here," I said calmly, while simultaneously grabbing flaming alligator clips with my bare hands and trying not to wince as I slapped the fire out. ... I have had one heck of a year. Ticks on my unmentionables. Giant nose infections. And now I have learned another area where I need to get educated and be safer. Please help. My wife & children are starting to worry (more than usual). You guys ever experience anything like this?? Any suggestions for improving my janky little setup? (I still caught 8 bass before I got rained out, blisters and all... but it was getting nasty... decided to be safe the first sign of thunder and booked it.) Please and thank you, good sirs. BE SAFE OUT THERE! Pic 1 = my dingy Pic 2 = blisters Pic 3 = connection(s) Pic 4 = melted plastic Pic 5 = consolation prize Pic 4 & 5