Prof T

Great outing!

Huh. That wasn't my experience at all.

I have gone the trolling motor steering route for about 6 years with an additional trolling skeg added to my motor. It greatly improves directional stability. Instead of relying 100% on the thrust of the motor, these large fins act as a rudder. In conjunction to the i pilot's ability to set a course (direction), when I point my motor in a direction, I the forget about it and boat stays true to that setting. https://leelock.com/product/lms-01-magnum-skeg/ Everything does have a downside, of course. I need to be careful when approaching a dock straight on, and also when walking around the bow when on a trailer. I feel it's worth it. PM me if you have any questions.

x2 on the 72

Dave, If your factory mounting tracks are vertical, like my Crestliner, I found these on Walmart.com. Best price anywhere. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Extreme-Max-3005-4113-4-Aluminum-Slider-Base-for-Crestliner-SureMount-Gunnel-System-2161445-Pack-of-4/610986290

Nice alteration! Love the bucket!

I just replaced (1 year ago) my 28 year old Sea Nymph. One other consideration besides the obvious "no need for wood in a boat anymore" is how do you fish? I troll 80% of the time, and panfish the rest. Usually two people, if not one. A 17 ft walk through windshild style is going to really limit the cockpit area, especially if it's set up with the flip up seats to a small deck in the stern. If you look at J.D.'s 96 Starcraft pictures above, his stern setup allow you to lean right back against the front of the splashwell, giving you a secure fishing area as Rolmops suggested. That's also how those old Sea Nymph's were laid out too. I think manufacturers went away from that style to make their boats more family friendly. I'm fortunate an have another boat for those needs. So I was hell bent on a west coast style boat. First, I wanted to go to an 8ft beam for stability and planability. Second, I wanted a walk through design so I could add canvas. I fish along the Canadian border from early April to late December when I can. Third, I wanted a layout where the windshield and consoles are positioned closer to the front. That minimizes the front deck size, but maximizes the cockpit floor area where I usually am. Problem was I couldn't find a used one here in NY. I did look at a 20' Thunderjet with an extended transom, all decked out for Lake O, but was just a lot more boat than I needed. Finally found a 2016 Crestliner Commander 1850, had to go a long way to get it, but it fits the criteria I wanted. Bottom line its a very personal decision based on your needs and desires. Good luck, you've found a great forum with lots of helpful fishermen.

I had an 85 Fish n Ski, refloored with double coated west system plywood so it had to be heavier than original. Dual group 31 trolling motor hatteries on the floor just in front of the consoles and a Terrova on the bow. A pair of Mag 10's. 9.9 kicker. Original motor was a 90 Evinrude which ran for 31 years with just routine maintenance. With me alone about 32mph. Repowered with a 90 Mercury Command Thrust in 2016. (Heavier lower unit, larger diameter prop, lower gear ratio) Loved that setup, Smartcraft (additional $900 bucks I think) allowed me to run the engine as slow as 550 RPM, troll on the main engine and ditch to 9.9. Top speed just 31. At the time about an $8500 swap. Never regretted it.

pm sent

I'm in if others fall through

Dave, I've still got it. It's in a garage, snowed in but accessible.

I added one of these to my one man and replaced a conventional smitty. Used 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 steel box tube as it slips together easily. I'll keep it sprayed down with wd 40. Really happy with it.

Lake of the Isles

Don’t feel too bad for me…tonight’s supper last week’s northern in chowder and yesterday’s perch

A couple of years ago I ran into a DEC crew at a state launch on the St Lawrence. They were cleaning and catagorizing fish that had been retrieved from early summer netting. They had bass, Northern’s, walleye, panfish, bullheads. The study being conducted was a toxicity study, and the techs were quite knowledgeable and willing to talk. There were really no surprises in previous samples. When I told him about my concerns as I consume more freshwater fish than most people, he looked at me, asked my age (65 at the time) and replied “you can eat anything you want”! Wise ass!

Had the same boat and same issue. Removed all of the deck hardware and installed 3/4 plywood on top, sealed and painted with top side paint, both sides, bolted and glued with 5200. No flex at all.

Sorry, forgot to mark this as SOLD

South Bay 14ft - $1,600 https://watertown.craigslist.org/boa/d/thousand-island-park-south-bay-duck/7531281551.html