whiskywizard

Don't forget that many "lurkers" are proper members who didn't log in for a given session. .

Was it already in somebody's white bucket?

Well, he could: - spend 20 minutes on a computer and a few bucks and get a Canadian PCOC that's good for life, or - take a US-based safety course that would be recognized here, or - he could come here and take his chances, or - he could stay home. everybody has choices.

I assume you mean - "and operate a boat". An American in an American-licensed vessel doesn't need a PCOC of any kind until he's been here more than 45 days consecutively. An American in a Canadian-licenced boat - that isn't a rental - must have evidence of boater safety training. It can be from a US State agency, from USCGA or USPS, or an accredited private company. An American in a rented boat must carry and produce the renter's safety checklist, signed by the owner and the renter.

Sort of. Unlike here in Canada, in the US it's handled state by state. Some states require operator licencing and some don't. I've seen an OPP officer here in Ontario check on a visiting American boater and he accepted US Power Squadron card as evidence of training. In reality, the American wasn't required to have an operator's certificate at all because he was in a US-licenced boat. We all know that having a PCOC doesn't make anybody a better boater. It's a cash grab. If I were the visiting American, I'd just take the OP's loaned boat and not worry about it. Take a chance! Live a bit! If you get caught, be really friendly and really dumb. You've got a good chance of getting a break, especially since most cops don't fully understand the 45 day rule for non-residents. .

Just last week I stopped to pick up a very big flatscreen TV that had been dumped in the ditch by my house. Pigs.

When you rent a boat, the owner must give the renter a briefing and mark off a checklist that covers certain safety aspects. The renter then carries this checklist and produces it when inspected. If you friend's friends can produce a safe boaters card from the US, they're fine. Otherwise they'd need both a rental agreement and the checklist.

You'd be fine with 55lb. As mentioned by others, this keeps at 12V. As a comparison, my Alumacraft 175 Trophy with 140HP 4-stroke is over 2300lb wet, not including people or gear. The 70lb PowerDrive V2 is more than adequate. It will troll over 3 mph and if you set it on higher speeds and clik it on, it will accelerate the boat from a standstill fast enough to knock someone off their feet if they're not ready for it.

I have a PowerDrive V2 with i-Pilot. A couple of things... Mine is 70lb thrust - the highest you can get in that model line now. There is no 80lb unit in the PowerDrive V2. It deploys and stows effortlessly. But it didn't at first. I had to spend a few minutes adjusting it, and the prop must face starboard side, or it doesn't slide easily into the stowed/locked position. If it's not locking in the deployed position, check that you've mounted it with enough clearance underneath at the bow. Maybe the latch needs a shot of dry lube or silicone. I love the handheld remote. It is quite intuitive to operate and quickly becomes second nature. The neck tether for the remote is not strong; it is designed to break away if snagged. Don't rely on it alone to save your remote from taking a dip. Jumping from 55 to 70lb takes you from 12V to 24V - be sure you're OK with adding a second deep cycle battery. You might need a new charger too, if you jump up to 24V. The motor's onboard GPS and control logic mean it can automatically hold you in place, or follow a track, or follow a compass course. It is the coolest thing! .

Kawarthas for my wife and I. Retirement is less than a year away now, and a year ago we found the place we wanted on Sturgeon Lake. Close to Lindsay. Lindsay is a good sized small town and offers good medical care, decent shopping and services. Far enough from the GTA that people are pleasant and the pace is slower, but close enough that you can zip back to civilization when you need to. Far enough north that we get a real winter but not such a crazy winter that you have to flee from it. And more Tim Horton's than you can count! What's up with all the Timmy's here? .

I planned to get out there to find you but couldn't drag my tired old a$$ out of bed. The alarm went off at 0500. That should have given me time to head north and catch you as you headed SW. But at 0510, D was poking me, telling me to turn off that damn alarm. I hadn't even heard it. Next thing I knew, it was 0800. Drat!

You would have no trouble mounting the slightly narrower 225s on the new SUV's rims. But as jer said, the different rolling diameter will result in speedometer error; it will be just over 3% off. Even more important than the speedo error is the affect on brakes. 3% is the rough limit on this change or you really affect your ABS. You'd be just over that 3% limit. Have you considered selling the old snows and using the cash to help pay for new ones? Winter tires perform far better in snow if you go to a Minus 1 or Minus 2 configuration. In other words, a narrower, taller tire on a smaller rim. If done properly you will have the exact same rolling diameter but a tire that cuts through snow better. .

Offshore sailers keep eggs for more than a month. Must start uncooked. Here's how.

Here's Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat commission. You can get the licence online. PA licence Here's the link for NY state Here is Ohio .

I agree with you; Optima batteries don't make sense in terms of $/A-h. Or lifespan. I've had some terrible experiences with them on bigger boats and in cars. Personally, I wouldn't buy one again, but to each his own. Having said that, I still think that gel cells, and AGMs, can be very good in the right place. Quality AGMs, like Lifecycle Batteries from Concorde, make for one of the best house batteries for a cruising boat that often charges with a generator. And gels are good for high discharge rates and can be mounted on their sides, which is really good for adding a bow thruster on a small cruiser or ragbagger. But for inland lake fishing boats like we have here - not very often do they make sense.

Battery cases have ventilation incorporated into the lid design. On larger boats, the case lids are seldom removed. See the hood vents, 2 on each end?

I use SailKote dry lubricant. It doesn't attract any dirt. Needs to be applied once at spring launch and again about once more during the season.

Yup. Sturgeon is back above normal navigation levels. Very nice to see!

I've had Blue Sea Systems ACRs on numerous boats and road vehicles. They are very good quality and easy to install. The manual is only moderately well written but take your time and follow it closely and you'll have no problem. Be sure you use adequate guage wire on the primary leads. I have no experience with a bep VSR. Never heard of it. Another place to look is Yandina Marine Electronics. They're quality is good and customer support is great.

text me before you honk, so I know it's you behind me.

This is a kinder, gentler forum. Other forums I use would have blasted the OP with a barrage of replies that just said, "RTM".

I hope all the snapping turtles know about this rule!

I keep a few sheets of gasket material in the garage and cut the ones that are hard to source. Trace it out, and take your time cutting it accurately with good scissors and a new blade in your Exacto knife. Use punches for holes, if you have them.

I agree. That speed is disappointingly low. But what did you expect in a lump that red-lines at 4500 RPM?

I have it on an iPhone and an iPad. I have friends with it on Android devices. It runs perfectly, and is soooo worth buying! It is a super bargain. The latest version was just released and is back up on the various e-stores.