Old Ironmaker

We are about 15K from what was The Nanticoke coal fired plant. Before they shut down the yellow streak that was in the sky generally went across the lake towards NY or Ohio with the prevailing winds we have and never effected us. So I don't see much of a problem being east of Detroit. Besides I grew up and worked my entire life in the shadows of the Steel plants in Hamilton and air pollution is something I lived with my entire life before retiring here. The numbers our Governments quote for unemployment don't really reflect the number of people unemployed. From those who's benefits have ran out, on social assistance or disability pensions that are no longer looking or pensioners that need employment to make ends meet for example.

.I mentioned earlier in the year we are relocating. We have an offer on a place in Chatham 2 blocks from the river, didn't get flooded last month. I have to tell you most all of that real estate in SW Ontario, Chatham-Kent, is the best buy in Ont. unless you go far north or north east of Ottawa. 1/2 hour from London and 1/2 hour from Windsor. Close to the 401 and 20 minutes from Erie. For a 3 bedroom, recent reno'd 2 1/2 bath, tastily finished rec room, recent reno'd kitchen, an in ground pool, central AC, 2 car garage, 70X120 foot lot in a quiet mature neighbourhood you are looking at 250K, maximum. Want a place with an indoor pool we recently saw? $280,000.00, maybe. Want a project? Less than $175.000.00. There are dozens on the market. For 300K you get a 3500 ft.sq. McMansion. The unemployment rate there is something like 30% with the closures of car plants and ancillary plants. The Thames River runs through town with great fishing.The Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Erie are 1/2 hour or so away. For anyone wanting to retire this is value beyond great value. I feel for the guys out of work but that creates great bang for a buck. This is just a heads up for those retiring or downsizing. Out of work or very little work? Sell your home in Hamilton, Niagara Penn. or TO and buy 2 or 3 there and get into property management. Many students and workers commute to London. Even better value is New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We just got back from house shopping there. Unbelievable what you can get for 250Kor less. The 2 1/2 month summers are an issue though, unless you go south from Nov to April. We can sell here and get a place in Chatham or out East and a very nice place south and put the change in the bank. Just some information we have learned that I want to pass on.

Some of the best free entertainment around these parts is to grab a coffee or cold one and watch the "Boat Follies" at the local ramps on the weekend. It's fun unless I am in line waiting. I can't remember the last time I put the boat in the water or actually ventured out when we had a slip on a weekend or a holiday. It isn't relaxing dodging week end warriors that got a boat for Xmas. gent. The best advise I ever got from a older gentleman was use your mirrors and if you can't see the boat you are going straight. I have a few scuff marks from launching, I admit it. No one started anything as an expert, maybe an infant looking for milk but that's about it.

Apparently he is a hoot outside the role he plays in front of the media cameras. Dry humour but humour nonetheless. We get his weekly show here from Boston on the Sat. dish. He throws zingers in all the time if you listen carefully. Watch his biography that was made by the NFL network. Actually your are right, he isn't funny in the least. He is an alien as is Elvis and Lennon. 2-1 Vegas by the time I edited this. 1-zip Vegas 15:04 in the 2nd.

So the OPP can enforce the Ont. Fishing Regs. or they can't? 2 schools of thought based on comments here. I think I'll just ask the next time I am in Hortons and interrupt their safety meeting. They sure have quite a few safety meetings there. I bet they don't have a consensus.

There was a time Walleye was open all year on the Grand up to the Caledonia Dam at least. Now it is closed on that river including Bass until the openner. Erie has open season all year for Walleye but Bass is not. It looks like the OPP do not have the power to enforce the On. fishing regs. as I interpret what has been said here. I guess the easiest way to confirm that is to ask one the next time I am in a Tim Hortons

I always wondered how NY State Smallmouth knew when they crossed the border and became Ontario Smallmouth. Getting nesting Bass to bite isn't as easy as it sounds. From watching the Smallies on their nests from the deck they will feed late in the day and then and only then do they leave the beds.

Actually Dave that is exactly the area I was thinking about, the explanation of the boundaries are absolutely ridiculous. At least the Bass sanctuary in Long Point Bay are marked with buoys.

Do you have information no one else has? Is this a case of guilty until proven innocent?

Good luck shopping. Check out the "sticky" at the top of the page on the boat forum discussion on iboats.com. It is a great list for what to look for on any used boat. Hours on a boat doesn't mean much to me. It could be hours run at wide out throttle towing tubes and skiers or hours just putting around or trolling. If the boat sits idle and the key is on for accessories like a radio or sonar it will log hours. Hours doesn't tell you much really.

It is all speculation as to the root cause of this tragedy until all the investigations are done and I would think there will be a Coroners Inquest . I know the trucking companies here in southern Ont. can not get experienced drivers behind the wheels of both small and big rigs. The pay is almost minimum wage if that. Not sure about out west. The owner had only 1 driver at the time of the accident and his fleet was 2 trucks only it has been reported. I don't know if this means anything and I might get blasted for being politically incorrect but the majority of drivers of these old hoopdy dump trucks and smaller rigs I see on the roads out here can hardly speak English and haven't been here in Canada for long. There may be unique challenges these guys face. I will bet dollars to donuts these guys are on the roads longer than they are supposed to be without down time and proper training and I bet many aren't even qualified.

Yes it does. That may have gone over some Gen Xers and Millennials heads you old time Rock n' Rolla'. He was a friend of mine too, da dada do dada do.

The spawn is late this year. I saw some shiner's trying to escape pre spawn Smallies today. The Bass will chase the minnows right to the beach. It is a few weeks late. Should be late with other gamefish too. Not a terrible winter but bad enough with a late ice out here on Erie. There was still piles of snow under the shadows of the Pine trees just 2 weeks ago. I look for buds to start on the Maple trees, that tells me it is pre sawn for Smallmouth and the big Cats are on the feed in the river.

We love our Mariners eh Sinker. I scored 3 years ago as I found a 15 horse kicker with electric start and controls.to match the 115, same year, same graphics. I mounted the controls on the Port side. I was told impossible by a few Marine Guru's. Not impossible and not difficult. When my wife saw it she said" Look the Mommy motor had a baby. I don't even need to choke them unless they have sat for a week.

Also Flex check out NADA. It is the Blue Book for boats in the USA. You fill out the questionnaire that will list all the options on a boat and it will calculate the going price. Of course prices will vary based on location. A boat used in Ontario will be worth more than a boat in Florida. They can boat 365 days a year can't. It does list some Canadian brand boats, hopefully Doral. From what I have learned on iboats a 3.0 is underpowered for a heavy 19' glasser. And yes I totally agree Mr. Ritchie knows his stuff. Flex I just did a quick check and NADA does list Doral for 2003, at least a dozen different models. I just did a very quick survey on Nada for the 19' BR with the 3.0 L (because I don't want to paint baseboards and caseing today) not knowing what options that boat has and it came back between $7300.00 and $8300.00 USD. So depending on options and condition 11 grand to me is about the fair price. Boat was about 25K US new. I bet if you found a comparable new boat today it's around 50K CDN.

I have asked your question on iboats taking some literary licence, I said you were a buddy, you are really. I also said it runs well otherwise I would get a few pages of the basics of what to look for on any outboard, I'm sure you have that covered as this isn't your 1st rodeo. If anyone knows about that era Evinrude they will. I'll need to copy the link and you can keep an eye on it. I said it was a 2000 but edited it. A 14 year old outboard isn't old at all for a Marine engine, not at all. My 95' Mariners, a 15 and a 115 HP 2 strokes have only seen preventive maintenance, never had an issue, now watch, I just jinxed myself. The previous owner did have to change out the stator on the 115 years ago. I really don't see why you would need to sink any money into it if she has been maintained well and it runs well now with good compression across the board. Running it under load is better than just on the garden hose. If you can take it out on the water is best. Also check the lower end gear lube for milky oil, that's a sign there is a water leak, not good, also I would have the owner change the gear lube and check for metal shavings in it. The best is to have a qualified Marine Mechanic to check it out. How much is the owner asking for it? Here's the post I made for you on iboats.com. The best boating forum on the entire planet. I highly recommend anyone with a boat join. You don't have to be a member to view the threads. https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engine-repair-and-maintenance/johnson-evinrude-outboards/10570992-buddy-is-looking-at-a-2000-200-hp-2-stroke-evinrude-has-a-question

Thank you my Buckeye friend. I have trapped a few what I know now are Spot Tails. Not knowing exactly what they were I have released them. I sure don't need a nice big fine from a C.O. using a gamefish as bait, I thought they might be Rainbows. There aren't many bait sellers this way anymore, actually only 1 and he's a close pal, no discount though . In fact if someone is coming from Hamilton I ask them to pick up minnows before coming to the lake unless I call my buddy and I know he has some, that way we are guaranteed to have them. It's ironic that a bait dealer from Hamilton, about an hour away, nets his Emerald Shinner's just down the road from us, then drives them back to the city and I buy them from him. They don't charge much for them and I guarantee you the day I want to net or trap some they are nowhere to be found here. The shinner's are actually splashing on the shoreline this AM, I bet the Bass are in getting ready to spawn. When it stops pouring I should throw my trap in, I wouldn't want to get wet you know.

I too was paying for winterization myself about a 100 bucks. Then I watched a buddy do his then mine, watched a few You Tube videos and saw how silly simple it is I have done it myself for the last 7 years. I have a check list I refer to because it's only done once a year. It is so simple. If you know what end of a spray can and screw driver to hold, are able to open a bottle of gear lube and remove 2 screws you too can winterize your outboard, doesn't matter if it's 9.9 or 300 HP, a 2 stroke is a 2 stroke, 4 strokes are even easier. If I can do it an 8 year old can. I am mechanically challenged to say the very least. I didn't spend 50 bucks for the stuff I didn't have like the set of ear muffs, a grease gun and the screw on pump for the gear lube. I would guess between the lower end O ring gaskets, fogging spray, gear lube, a splash of fuel stabilizer and a few squeezes of Marine grease it doesn't cost 30 bucks, maybe. And I know it is done right including replacing the O ring gaskets for the lower end which I don't think the small Marina was doing because I supplied what he asked for and he never asked me to pick them up. You can do it. I don't know where you are but unless it's a days drive I will more than happy to show you this Fall. Google "Winterizing outboards" and your specific engine make on You Tube and you will never spend a penny to have it done again. You don't know what you don't know until you do.

You sure are luckier than us gil. If we can't get Emerald Shiners we don't even bother to go out for them. Some days salted shiners is all we have and have worked on occasion. I know guys that get them on rubber minnow imitations but not I. We have trolled for the Jumbo's when I know they are in and boats aren't piled in 1 spot. I try to avoid Perch parking lots like the plague, we haven't fished on a weekend for years, an advantage of unemployment. Black Fury or Black and Silver floating Rappala with some split shot to get down to them, usually 10' or shallower. I'm not familiar with spot tails, live bait or are they a lure gil? Believe it or not I bet we did't get a dozen Perch here on Erie all year, not many others did either, no idea why not. Filled the coolers with some nice sized Yellows on Simcoe this time last year.

Kyle Dubas,,,.................Kyle Dubas? Just watched an interview of the kid on TSN. He looks like he just got home from his High School grad. Nothing can replace experience, at 32 and a NHL GM, heck any GM except maybe a fast food joint he is either a Hockey Savant or over his head too early. I really wish success and good luck to him and the Leafs, I would really like to see them hoist the Holy Grail while I am still here on Earth. I can say that I was old enough to watch a Cup win by The Leafs and still can remember it, it was in Black and White though.

I have always wondered if seat belts on buses may save lives? I have seen video of children flying through the air smashing themselves against the ceiling and the metal components inside a school bus during a collision. There was a debate as to whether seat belts on School Buses was going to be mandatory in some jurisdictions including the US but transportation companies were concerned with the added costs. Nothing came of it. Seat belts have to be better than nothing I would think. Safety of buses has never evolved like autos, why?.

We fished for Gator Gar in south Florida using knitting yarn wrapped and tied around the shank of a large sized bait holder hook with the sharp end of the hook cut off. I don't know how that would be interpreted as it is a hook so to speak.

Join the iboats.com forum. Over 50,000 members world wide. Ask there, you will get many informed opinions, I guarantee it. There is a sticky on the top of the Boat Topics and Questions page for what to look for in a used boat, invaluable information. A 2002 boat is not considered old. Older but not old.

Don't you love it when she fires right up. It means you did something right in the Fall and your engine is well tuned. I have to fire the 115 and the 15 baby this week. I hope I have the same results as you did.