Fishtails

According to the Duragrid website they do, but I have no experience with them so I'm only going off what they say...... DuraGrid® interlocking floor tiles simply ‘snap’ together to create virtually any size free-draining, slip resistant surface. No Tools!

I've pretty much convinced myself to give this flooring system a try in my boat. We have the slippery when wet syndrome and it gets hazardous in times of total mayhem. Add some fish blood and slime and it's an accident waiting to happen. It would be just terrible if someone would slip and break something......like a fishing rod !! :evil: I recall having one fishing buddy go belly up when we were in travel mode. We hit a big wave and his feet came out from under him. Of all my options, I'm liking these a lot. Anyone have any experience with this type of flooring? http://www.duragrid.com/marine.html Now for the big question....what pattern would you purchase?? There are a few patterns to choose from and I can't decide? Any thoughts?

Thanks Bill....that was very helpful!! I learned a lot about ducers today.

Does anyone know if furuno transducers are somewhat universal, or when shopping for new furuno equipment, should one factor in a new ducer as well? I see many of the new furuno ducers come with a 6 pin, 8 pin or no plug. What's the "no plug" deal ? Thanks !!

That's a good explanation, and I appreciate the clarification.

Nice catch. Some nice size perch in the mix. Not sure I get why ya kill so many ? IMHO, Pike and Pickerel much under 25' are bony critters barely worth the effort of filleting, and that's with knowing how to de-bone them. They are tasty though. I feel guilty keeping 10 a year, let alone 10 a trip. Not to sound like a whiner, but does C&R just get forgotten about in the winter?

That is what I've been told also, but never fished off the reef in the keys. It's always to rough during the winter with a smaller boat, but April may be better for you? I have never been there past January. I'll give you a report when I get back early March.

Will do Rick. I hope to get in lots of fishing time! Are you getting the boat for the entire stay? If so, running it to the KOA won't be a real big deal. It's 20-25 miles but the gulf is almost always smooth as glass, especially in close to shore. I'm sure I'll be venturing down that far at least once, just to do check it out.

Hey Rick, You ever find out any more about the boat rental? We have decided to go to the Keys this winter after all. We are going the last week of Feb and the first week of March. We decided to take the RV and we are pulling the small boat down this time. I figured it would be cheaper to rent a car than a boat, and I can sneak out every morning fishing before the family gets up I looked into Knights, but decided to make reservations at the Fiesta Key KOA on long key (between Islamorada and Marathon). They have dockage, and a pool (which my wife kinda insisted on). If you need me to look into anything for you while I'm down there just let me know.

I watched it....it was good. Wally seemed like a good guy. I was surprised he didn't take his "burlesque wife for a week" out salmon fishing :shock:

Thank You Bill, I will follow your advise. I did go check and the spring washers are there, they were inside the washer hole....making it appear as though it was part of the washer. I'm going to replace everything though If I can find some new ones.

You know, come to think of it there were no springs when I removed the motor.....only the fiber washers and maybe a regular or lock washer :shock: . I have the parts in a container so I'll have to look in the am. Hope I can purchase them somewhere? I'm not doing the alignment.....Don Cook has the outdrives and he is going to do the alignment for me when he puts the drives back on. I'm just doing the motor swap and coupler.

Hank and Bill.....I just thought I'd follow up and tell ya guys I got the new motor in today and go it running. Everything went pretty smooth and she fired right up for me. I found the water shutter to be missing, so I have to order that. Also, before I take it off the hoist, I was curious If those leather washers were still available? If so, should I replace them with new ones?? The old washers are intact, but they look a little crappy. Then, as long as this weather holds out...it's on to motor number two . Either way....thanks for the help guys!

I actually have a Moor sub troll, but it also uses the coated cable. I can't remember where we got it....maybe Screwy Louie's ? Best we could figure, it was the metal guide on the end of the downrigger. We filed it and have had no more issues. I think it was a combination of things....learning curve stuff. It got pretty bad....I remember myself and Clark (waterlogged) unspooling it on the docks at Wrights and painting the bare spots with liquid electric tape before the Oswego ProAm.....that was really funny!! Hey....it worked for a couple trips. Definitely not a long term fix though

Are you only fishing the lake in early spring and the fall? You will definitly fish much deeper than 35ft in the summer. Our deepest fish last summer was 165 ft down over 600 fow. Our coated cable actually got screwed up last summer, and after a few failed attempts at fixing it, I re-spooled the rigger with new coated cable. It was giving whacked/no readings beyond 100 ft. IMHO, I think you'll want the freedom to use it in all depths....not only in shallow.

Me too......

If you guys hear anything, let me know. I might want to head up on Sunday. Clark....you know my boss.....he's got a real drill Sargent mentality and never lets me have any fun.... That guy's all work and no play!!!!!

Crap....I didn't know about it and I already agreed to work Saturday. I would have gone for sure!

Sounds real cool.....Thanks. It will be different than what I'm used to, and that's really exciting for me. My kids are still only 4 and 8, so I wanna travel while they will still hang out with me....before it's not cool anymore.

Thanks guys....a couple of those sound like winners and I'll definitely check them out!! Rick.....we bought a 2006 31ft Gulf Stream Conquest with 2000 miles on it. It was bought by someone who never appeared to have used it and never made a payment.....maybe health problems, who knows?? So...the bank took it back and we got 25g off the original price, so we took the plunge!! Unfortunitly...using it will have to wait until this economy wakes up a little, but we knew that when we bought it. I'd love to do what your doing Rick....and go to the Keys!! We have a family business, so we have a very flexible schedule. We are hoping to head to Alaska after the Sodus Pro Am, if we get lucky enuff to sell our summer camp by then?? Who knows....sounds like we're all getting a tax rebate from the gov., sounds like gas money to me Do you use yours alot Rick? Here is a pic

What do you guys think about solar chargers like these.... www.stores.ebay.com/LA-Liquidators2-INC_Solar Products_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZ3QQftidZ2QQsclZ1QQtZkm Anyone have experience with them? Short of having a solar panel mounted on the boat, they sound interesting to me. What would the downside of these chargers be? They go up to 85 watts...What wattage would be good for a 3 battery system? Would you use a battery charger type(higher wattage)...or the trickle charge type just to maintain (lower wattage)??

Hey guys, I have a question for you. I'm getting into a new way of life, selling the summer camp in the Thousand Islands (lousy timing with this housing market, eh?) and bought a new RV a couple weeks ago. I'd like to stay at various ports around the lake during the spring and summer. Do you have any recommendations on good places to stay at the various ports? For certain, we will be fishing all 4 Pro-Ams, so Niagara, Orleans, Sodus and Oswego are all on the docket for this year. Thanks for any suggestions!!

I've gotten so much from LOU, I wouldn't know where to start. If I had to pick one thing that has "changed my life", I'd say it's meeting the great fisherman that I've met so far, including some who have become very good friends. My new fishing buddies, and our Tourney team are all a direct result of LOU.

Hi Rick... The wife doesn't know where the number is, but It's easy enough to get. Call crystal Bay Resort @ 1-888-289-8089 or email them through their website @ www.crystalbayresort.com and simply ask them who they recommend for rental boats. Where are you keeping the RV Rick? We will be taking the RV down next time we go, but I've yet to stay at any RV park down there so I'd be interested in where your going.

Rick.....I can't recall what the boat cost, but I'll ask the wife when she gets home if we have the guy's number handy? He came highly recommended by the resort we stayed at our first year, and he's been great. He's in the Marathon area, and will drop the boat off to you wherever your staying and tie it up to the dock! At the end of the day, he will be there to pick it up. Boat rental down there isn't cheap, but it's sure fun!! 19 ft may be OK for you, but I'd go to the next size up if you can swing it. 19 ft. may be OK for the gulf side, but you can't shoot out to the Atlantic reef with it and feel safe. ALL the snorkeling is on the ocean side about 2 miles offshore, so if that is the plan, go to a 21ft or so. We rented a 21ft Mako center console with a 200 Yamaha and it was perfect. We go fishing for a few hours....then go out to the reef snorkeling. It's a great day!! Pips is at the Marina just before you cross 7 mile. There is an outside barbecue joint there called Porky's, and we visit it every time we are down there. Besides awesome barbecue, they serve a fried key lime pie that is sinful!!! You can feed the tarpon while your eating dinner. Hey Hank.....there's no Tarpon down there.....hehehe A few pictures of my son Justin's fish in the Key's "Hanging Out" In The Keys