As mentioned above Hank at L and M in Port Bay would be very high on the list as well so you have some very capable options without needing to go way out of your way.
By the way folks if any of you need prop work done the folks at the Prop Works here in Canandaigua are the best around and are great people to do business with....
http://thepropellerworks.com/
Too bad this thread can't be sent to a responsible legislator. Obviously there is a real problem there that needs to be corrected. It is unfortunate that it seems to take threatened or activated lawsuits after injuries to get attention and correction to things like this now days.
I remember getting aboard one just like that back in 87-88 (yr corrected due to typo) at Nausett Marine on Cape Cod as I looked at the all the Whaler models every year there. I think they probably had to clean up the drool after I left
Barrett Marine is the one just outside Geneva New York on the old Waterloo Road. Fran Barrett owns it and he knows Mercs inside and out , has a large parts inventory, and is honest as the day is long and they do excellent work there.
Barrett Marine
485 West River Road
Waterloo, New York 13165
315-789-6605 or 1-800-924-8940
Fax: 315-781-2401
E-mail: bmarine@capital.net
I'm with you on that 91 ice storm. We were without power for 5 days in that damp March cold and frozen everything....sure don't look forward to doing it again anytime soon
Those were some really fun times....I used to get so excited the night before I couldn't get to sleep at all so I just rigged equipment and sharpened all my hooks all night and about half way through the day I was burned out. Spent a few days sitting on the tailgate of my F150 on Grieg Street in Sodus Point drinking a beer and BSing with other fishermen because the wind was so bad we couldn't get out in my 13 ft boat. I still laugh when I remember a comment made by one of the guys at the Point when he observed my buddy who was about 6 ft 5 standing up in my little boat.... he said" Geez you should just hook a sail to him and you wouldn't even need a trolling motor"
Some really good info in the above posts to pay clase attention to....
You mentioned the safety issue and it is not only important but could be critical. You also mentioned being able to "get away" with the 6 hp.
Having the trolling motor is dual purpose: a) safety considerations, and b) being able to troll over a range of speeds economically in lieu of using your main motor.
Although you may be able to "get away" with the 6 hp single cylinder motor under relatively calm conditions whether on Lake O or one of the larger Finger Lakes to push your boat it should be considered "marginal" in terms of safely when responding to perhaps unexpected untoward conditions which involve wind and waves; both of which can relatively easily overpower a "marginal" horse powered motor regardless of the size of the craft. Many of us who have been out there in adverse conditions have a very healthy respect for these bodies of water. One of the main things is that you can never fully or accurately predict Mother Nature (or her wrath).
This is one issue where you want to be very sure of your choice and not jump the gun.Even new motors can fail out there and depending on a single cylinder marginally powered motor can be risky. The other thing is that usually things follow Murphy's law out there and the failures of motors and batteries and the onset of problems and the things you have to depend on seem to occur right at the wrong times and frequently when there isn't help available and with fast approaching adverse weather. When this happens and your main motor goes out and you are facing 12 ft waves you'd be wishing you had the biggest motor possible. Marginal motors may be good trolling with the waves or wind but struggle to keep their path going agaainst it.
Suggestion: Bite the bullet for an 8 or 9.9 hp motor OR wait to get a motor and save up for it rather than being disappointed in your choice after reality strikes
Two common main options:
Roller tip for the rod. Come in different diameter shaft sizes depending on what rod you have. Can be expensive. High quality ones (usually on custom rods) can be a couple hundred dollars or much more. Complete rods can have rollers for eyelets as well. Primarily used in salt water
Twilli tip - a spring looking thing that replaces the current tip on most common rod shafts. They have a few different rod tip adapters that come with them to fit a variety of rods. Cost 7-10 dollars