Old Ironmaker

The boys picked up a big boat last week that I want to go in on, 27 footer, 10 foot beam twin screws at 160HP each. At a price you can't refuse. The discussion is to go hydraulic steering so a Auto Pilot system can be installed. I'm voting hydraulic and Auto Pilot myself. No more being blown off the water often. Thanks for the info guys, it will help greatly when we go hydraulics. edit: I had the opportunity to run a 115HP tiller a few weeks back. I couldn't believe how effortless it was to turn that 300lbs or so of steel.

Good choice not to go today. Every year my "no go" wind speeds are getting lower and lower. It is calling for very high winds here on Erie all week. 60KPH some afternoons. This week it looks like a bust here for fishing, this lake can kill you faster than a bullet as can many waters like Nipissing and Quinte when the wind is up. Pick your days.

Yes, Mercury Mariner, exactly the same for that year but the badging Sinker.

Brian your name and a Meegs are synonymies. I have caught exactly 1 whitefish in my entire life many Moons ago on Bear Creek on Nippising. It tipped the scales at 9 freakin' pounds and the Ontario record was 10 something then. It was the largest fish to date in my novice fishing career around 1980. We didn't even know what it was until we asked a neighbour to ID it and weigh her. I have to admit it wasn't entirely legal as I was having a nap in the cottage when I caught it.

I could go on for hours talking about my childhood hero Muhammad Ali. I have read every book and watched every movie about him. There were many times in his life he was basically a mean person the way he treated his ex wives. Very contrary to his Muslim teachings. I still loved the man because of his treatment of others less fortunate than him. I could write a book about the man. Thinking back I first heard about this Clay character from my Uncle that was born in Louisville Ky. before the 1960 Olympics in Rome where he won the Gold in the Light Heavyweight division. He was a skinny 18 year old teen then. When a young teen his Father took his brother Rachman (sic) Ali and himself to a wrestling match featuring the bleached blond Gorgeous George. He based his pre fight bravado on him as he saw the crowd go nuts. My favorite quote from many of his famous quotes, " I'm so fast that when I get out of bed to turn the light out I'm back in bed before it gets dark". "Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, rumble young man rumble" Buddini Brown. I an very sad today. I tried my best but never met him in person, I came close in the 70's when he visited Hamilton boxing legend Joey Callura (former World Champion in the 30's) at his Hamilton Gym in the 70's, something I have wanted to do since I was 6 years old. Came close but never did meet him. This is a very sad day for me. You either loved the man or despised him, nothing in between.

I have to add Proctor's in Simcoe is where I bought and do any major service to my Star Craft. They are top notch.

M2, have you ever seen a guy able to drink that much Ale in 1 sitting? What a pair you two hooligans make! Looks like a great time.

Humanity has lost one of it's greatest citizens. I have been following his career and life since I was 8 years old and listened to his championship match against The Bear Sonny Liston sitting on the living room floor with the family. On a lark a buddy and I drove to Cherry Hill N.J. to see his home back in 77' on our way to NYC. He wasn't home but we met his then wife and she gave us autographed photos of him.

It's funny as soon as you get a boat everyone wants to go fishing, when they find out the cost they get busy. If I invite someone out it is on me. If they want to kick in a few Toonies great. When doing a 20 mile return trip and trolling all day is 100 bucks plus. not including slip, insurance, gas to tow, maintenance heck the cost of the boat. I figure 15 beans an houris my operating costs only. If I invite you I don't expect to be paid for expenses. If I invite you for dinner I don't tell you on the way out your steak was 8 bucks, the potato was 2, and the salad was $1.50, free booze. A nice gesture Gallie.

The only catch and release Walleye I have ever seen here on Erie are on Fishing shows. It is a catch and eat fishery. Bass is a different story. For me it would be like eating a pet. I admit we did keep a few smaller 12" Greenies for the skillet before and liked them to my chagrin. If anyone has ever seen what is in a Perch net from the commercial boats one might cry. A load of OOS trophy Bass and a few Musky. We Humans are pigs at times.

Then you have the best of both worlds as in both Merc and Yamaha service. If I had a choice today I would go with a Yammy. Please don't tell the guys on the Merc Forum. Only for the fact I might have a problem with my Merc and wouldn't get service where I might be. Then again if it was a major problem I would just tow it home. Having said that my engine block and cylinders are produced by Yamaha exclusively for Mercury for my year engines. I wouldn't buy the boat just because it is a Mercury. You can't go wrong with either in my opinion. For that much more money I would get the Mercury. I love spending other guys money, boat shopping is exciting.

If I had told you I wold be living out my almost Golden years in the tranquility of the country I would have told you were nuts when I was in my 20's and 30's. I tried living in a rural town in 79', Caledonia, and put the house up 5 months after moving in. You will have to drag me away from our lakeside country shack. Who'd a thunk?

Not bad if you like to eat beaks and arses, tongues, eyes, brains and hoofs. It is basically the same recipe as pet foods. Way back I had a pal that went to Maple Leaf Foods for a job. He lasted just long enough to pay off his work boots. He has never eaten a Death Dog since that morning.

Crestliner makes a very solid boat. Yamaha doesn't make their hulls, they are contracted out. I love my 22 year old Mercs, 115HP and 15HP kicker. Never had any real serious issue. Yamahas are very great engines too. Today it is the GM vs. Ford debate as far as power plants go. Make a choice in engines based on the marine dealer close to you that will service it. Mercury isn't serviced by all dealers or marine guys today because they have too many Merc specific tools needed and are expensive tools to buy. I would think based on your location you won't want to tow the boat a few hundred K's to get dealer warranty service.

Sonar Tubes is the way to go. 46" minimum depth in On. some areas it's 48" even though they don't make 48" augers, maybe they do now, but there are times you just can't get that deep. 4" post= 8" Sonar tube. The wooden post must not touch any concrete, it will rot the wood, it is set on a post anchor set and leveled into the top of the concrete. Concrete touches metal not wood, it is best to put some Ice and Snow wrap on the bottom of the post so the wood doesn't touch the steel. Dig the post hole. Set the tube and level it horizontal and vertical. Find the level of all tubes, mark and cut them off with a kill Saw Reset them and shovel crushed stone into the bottom. 4"'s and tamp down hard. Check level and plumb Pour concrete to top of tube Crown top slightly to let water drain away Set in anchors and plumb and level Install posts and secure with proper deck screws for the type of wood I've done many hundreds if not more, now I watch it being done and only use my finger to supervise.

I am so sad to hear that news. Condolences to his family and many friends. I did enjoy his banter many times. I'm so sorry Beans for you and really all of our loss.

I've seen smaller Gators in the Everglades. She is one hefty beasty. How old would a fish like that be to get that large way up in God's country?

Man I am getting old. I remember having to go into town a half hour drive from the camp and use the payphone to reach someone. Now it seems nobody want to be out of touch at anytime. Leave the I phone at home and enjoy the outdoors and the wilderness. It was so exiting getting a flasher for the boat, man that was hi-tech and let's not forget the Color-C-Lector, it was a must have according to Al Linder. But I do understand as it now is the norm to be connected at all times. You should have heard the old timers make fun of us when we showed up with all these new gadgets way back then. So I really get it.

I personally think they should build a wall around Toronto and sell to the Donald. And to be clear I lived there many years ago when you couldn't find much anything to do after dark during the week save for a few clubs.

That was a great game.

We have the once largest coal fired generator plant down the road from us being dismantled and the turbines being sold to the highest bidder, the Chinese. There was talk some years back t retrofit it to Natural Gas fired but the cost to extend the NG line was prohibitive. I don't buy that, then it was said it would be too loud for residents to live in the shadows of the plant, at least 100 people, maybe. I bet the Chinese don't purchase the electrostatic precipitators and scrubbers as well. As long as the carbon emissions stay in Asia we will be OK.

What were we talking about, oh yea the switch to electricity driven energy. As I said before all that has to happen to make that happen overnight to switch from fossil fuels is to make hydro a penny per BTU less expensive and it is done. I learned a long time ago not to fret over things I can't control, that would include politicians in different country. I would rather have a politico that doesn't speak in public as well as those pros that spew verbal diarrhea without taking a breath and say diddly squat (Harper for one). The entire country is listening every time Trudeau opens his mouth, sometimes the world. Someone here voted for him.

You a funny guy. Just because my name ends in a vowel I'm all mobbed up? That's the other side of the Family. I had a great uncle in Buffalo that was very generous every Christmas, one Christmas he wasn't at my Nani and Nono's for dinner. I asked my Nani "where's Uncle Sammy Nani?", "oh filiglio mio he went to college" she told me, for how long I asked? "for 7 to 10."

I spooled Suffix 832 on a reel this spring. It sure casts as well as anything I have used. I always, always tie a leader of 10 pound fluorocarbon on all my lines. Erie is crystal clear and it's a must. A chain swivel is a great way to tie any line to a leader.

Our Walleye trip didn't pan out anywhere as successful as yours. Not a single Pic was landed. You guys did fantastic, congrats. But I did get a personal best Northern that was released. That recipe sounds delicious, now all I need is a nice Walter.