garrymny

Whichever one you use, when you launch or recover, pull up to the downriver dock. Otherwise the current pushes your boat out away from the dock. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I should have never done it. Wife was against me buying a boat. I saw this one for $150, and thought she couldn't complain about that. Little did I know it would be so much work, and money. Especially for an old Caravelle. I won't mind putting the money and effort into the Grady when the time comes though. I got it for 6500, and everything works perfectly. It was garage kept too. Live and learn. I hope these pics will help someone if they come across this situation.

Here are pictures of a complete restoration I did on my old Boat a 1972 Caravelle. It is alot of work, but as you can see, it can be done. I used epoxy resin on the transom and stringers, and some polyester resin elsewhere.I have Before- in progress- and after Pictures. I sold the boat boat last year, to a man and his son from Ohio. The old boat restoration was about 1000 for the transom, stringers, floor. Took about 7 gallons of resin. Then add more for all the seats, instruments, total re-wiring, bilges, floor hatches, new (used Motor), vinyl flooring, raymarine autopilot, riggers, etc. Had quite a bit in it. I sold it for 2500, which is less than I put into it. I bought the boat/trailer/chrylser 115 for $150. AS you can see it very bad shape, but the hull was good. The Chrylser actually started and ran, but it had a scored cylinder, so I replaced it with a 70 Johnson. I bought an old Grady White Bimini 220 to replace it. I suspect I will some day have to do the transom on it too. Its fairly solid, but where the kicker mounts it was rotted, so you can bet the rest is not the best.I installed a new piece of plywood on the inside for now. The Hardest part will be removing the 175 engine, and all the lines, etc. I believe. I will be able to do it for about $1200 I estimate. Sea Cast would be twice that.

I wonder if the algae blooms in Lake Erie will cause problems for both lakes ?

Thanks for all the reports and tips guys. I'm glad I wasn't the only one having a slow day.

Hey Jimski, so in spring look for warmer water. But what do we look for in summer, after the surface temps are warm? Do we then look for cooler surface temps? Thanks

Thanks for the detailed report. I was at Olcott. Muddy water 37 degrees, and nothing. Your report helps. Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Yes, muddy out to 105 fow which is far as I went. I went straight out and East. I wonder if I went west towards Wilson the water would have been clear? Here is a picture of my screen: Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Took the Grady out for the first time this year. Had to check the water pump replacement first. That was ok, not much of a stream out the telltale hole, but as I recall it never did. Ran around full throttle for a awhile, and had no overtemp warnings, so all is well. Both Motors ran perfect. Trolled for two hours from 10 feet out to 100. Very muddy water, 37 degrees. Not a bite. Saw quite a few fish on my screens though, at all depths. Found out my new HDS 7 GEN 3 does not show depth reliably in shallow water. Disappointed with that. Kept losing the depth reading. Also need to learn how to program/calibrate my itroll. Probably 10 rigs in the lot.

My hoop system (see first posts) worked perfectly all year. Could not be happier.

Just goes to show me that I should not put the boat away in the fall if the weather is nice. A crappy spring can shorten your season. Our winters are too long, summers too short as it is.

I don't have a trax system. So i made my own rod holders out of steel chain link fence rail. welded them up. I stick them in the boats existing holes/rodholder on the gunwhales. Later I had to modify them to make it easier to get the rod out.