lew

Thanks Sheldon, you've convinced me to stay with the Lowrance transducer and a system that has worked well for me for many years.

skeeter 99 you've got a PM and Mike, thanks for your input bud.

For my new boat I'm gonna use a 24 volt, 80 pound thrust Minn Kota Maxxum bow mount but am undecided on whether to go with the built-in Universal sonar for the bow mounted Lowrance unit, or go the way I always have with past boats and just clamp the transducer to the motor and run the cable up the shaft and then route it down and into the sonar unit. I've been kinda leaning towards the Universal set-up, but talked to a guy recently that uses the identical motor and says the image quality is poor with the Universal and I'd be better off doing it the old method. Any thoughts from those of you familiar with the Universal sonar ??

Best we ever did was $2600 on the 649 a few years back. Not a whole lot compared to some winnings, but it was $2600 more than I woke up with Howz bout you ??

I'm with you on that one Jeff, it's an excellent show and I think I've seen every episode, and my favorite was where they hand made the birchbark canoe.

Those fishing shows are an excellent way to spend a cold winters day and it sounds like you and your son really enjoyed yourselves there. Also good to hear you met up with Mr. Eh, he's one of the finest dudes you'll ever have the pleasure of knowing or sharing a fishing boat with. Great recap of the show.

Sounds like an excellent weekend Will and thanks for taking us along for the ride. Gorgeous country up that way too !!

Congratulations on the new addition to your family and things will never be the same for you again, and that's a good thing There's nothing in this world as precious as your children. It's been nearly 42 years since I became a father for the 1st time, yet the memories of that night are as fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday. You've just taken the 1st step in a wonderful experience !!

Never used either of the models your looking at there Will, but if it means anything, I use Lowrance for both my GPS and sonar units and am very happy with the way everything works. Their repair facility is also just out in Mississagua too if you ever need any work done to them.

Thanks guys, seems there's a few differences of opinions....which is always a good thing.... but as suggested, it certainly won't hurt anything and will do nothing but good things so I'll go ahead and start using it. Perhaps not every fill-up as I go thru so much gas, but at least every couple of tanks. If there's a lawsuit being launched over this as posted by Spiel, there must certainly be some validity to the whole thing. Here's a link to the web-site suggested by tinbanger.....thanks Dave http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/faq/f.../1/answers.aspx

It's been mentioned around here a few times lately about using fuel stabilizer in outboard motors on a regular basis throughout the entire season now because of the ethanol in todays gas. I've always winterized all my gas engines with stabilizer but never used it during the softwater season. Is there any confirmed truth about this or is it just opinions from different folks, as I can't really find anything "official" about it ?? As mentioned a few days back I just purchased a new boat & motor this week and the motor is a 150 HP Yamaha, fuel injected 4 stroke and uses regular 87 octane fuel Do I need to add stabilizer to every tank of gas, or is this just for 2 stroke engines, .......or is this just a myth brought on by the guys that manufacture stabilizer ?? I'll probably be on the water and fishing nearly EVERY day from early spring till the late fall so the gas won't be sitting around very long and I'll be going thru alot of it. I'll certainly use it as directed if it's required but it's a bit pricey and no sense using it if it's not needed. Anybody know the answer for sure ??

Sorry to hear that Jacque and condolances from my home to yours. It's been a sad month around OFC.

A week ago I'd have said to buy the Merc, but today I'll say buy the Yamaha

Yer right Wayne, the 1st guy that dings it will be having a long swim back to the dock

Thanks again for all the positive feedback folks, it means alot to hear that cause there's nothing worse than writing a large cheque & then having everybody tell you that you just bought yourself a piece of crappola I've used either Merc's or Johnsons my entire life and have owned alot of them over the years and never had a problem with any of them, but this is my 1st venture into a Japanese motor but I've got several friends who run them and they all say how great they are, so that's a good thing too. It's hard to narrow down as to exactly why I bought this particular outfit over the other ones Cudz, but it just seemed to "fit & feel" right and I knew it was the one for me. I looked at, and compared alot of similar boats in the last couple months, both physically and on-line and this one had it all together just the way I wanted it. Not saying it's better or worse than any of others on the market, but for my wants & needs this just seemed to be the one, plus Skeeter & Yamaha both have excellent reputations. It'll probably also be the last boat I buy so I wanted something that's gonna last a few years and hopefully this'll do the trick. And no Gerry, I didn't get a kicker as I don't troll slow anyways, but can always buy one later if I decide I need one. As for the DownEasters on the grab rails, I just assumed they'd lock on tight enough with the proper mount but I've never tried that particular set-up before, so I spose I'll just have to try it and see how it works. I don't like the idea of drilling any holes in the glass.

Thanks folks, I hope it turns out as good as I figure it will. And Roy, there won't be any holes going in that glass and the DownEasters will be mounted on the siderails. Just the thought of drilling those holes gave me the shivers

I've been looking around for a new boat for a couple months now and finally decided on a new fiberglass Skeeter and went out today and bought it. It's 18' 9" long with a full windshield and comes with a new 150 HP Yamaha 4 stroke with a stainless steel prop and on the front I went with a 24 volt MinnKota Maxumm with 80 pound thrust. The boat in the picture is identical to mine, 'cept mine is gonna be mostly burgundy on top and white on the bottom with beige carpet and grey seats and the trailer is also burgundy with chrome wheels & surge brakes and is a great looking combo. I went with a bugundy snap-on trailering cover and am also getting the full standup cover with clear side curtains for fishing on those cold, snowy November & December days. It's all fiberglass with no wood anywhere in the construction, and also has the hydraulic steering system so there's no steering wheel torque to worry about anymore and it also has tilt steering, stereo system and adjustable seat. It has a built in flasher in the dash, and I'm also gonna keep my sonar & GPS units from my current boat and install them too. I've wanted a big glass boat for quite awhile and with the 150 Yammy I think it's gonna make a nice set-up for me and my fishing partners and also a smooth ride when things start getting rough on some of the bigger waters I fish Just thought I'd share it with everyone. This picture seems a bit blurry but if you click the top and make it full size, it comes out clearer. Life is good

I don't watch too many fishing shows and I'd never seen this one before, but after everything you guys were saying about it I decided to have a look when I saw it advertised yesterday afternoon, and your right, that guy is just plain terrible and his show is even worse. I struggled thru it for 15 minutes and just couldn't take anymore. Makes you wonder how something like that would even got a sponsor.

I herniated my disc while trying to lift a large generator off a truck by myself, but it was really strange, because I never really had any pain in my back at all and it actually started in my hip but over the course of a couple weeks I could feel it gradually working it's way down my leg and it finally settled in the shin on my right leg, and if nobody has experienced the feeling, it's hard to describe how incredibly painfull it can be. Before my surgery I had to start walking with a cane to try and relieve some of the pain, but I vividly remember one day at the trailer and I was out very early in the morning trying to go for a bit of a walk for the excercise and the pain became so absolutely incredibly bad I couldn't move anymore and actually had tears in my eyes and had to lean on the cane to stop from falling down. I stood there in agony for 5 minutes before somebody saw me and was able to help me back to my place. Thankfully my operation was a total success and I owe it all to a fantastic surgeon and I've never had a re-occurance or any more associated pain since then, but I have so much sympathy for anyone going thru a similar injury.

Thanks for that Eric, I always enjoy reading your fishing tales when your out in the boat in the middle of winter.........good stuff !!

I caught something on the news this morning where in a CCG ice breaker is gonna bust out the ice jams and get the water flowing outta there. Always a shame to see peoples homes getting damaged like that.

Congrats on the new truck Ted and hopefully you'll be very happy with it. I spent alot of time driving different Ridgelines last year and I was always very impressed with everything about them. There's just something special about driving down the road in a brand new vehicle

The only bad deal I saw was the prices at the snack bar. They must be insane if they think anyone is gonna pay $3.50 for a lousy bottle of water and I decided I'd go thirsty before I payed that. It's too bad when they put on a good show, but then try to gouge people in other ways

I was there yesterday from 11-4 and it was about the quietest I think I've ever seen the show, but it made it nice for wandering around . We took a break at 1:30 and sat in on the Pete Maina seminar & that was excellent The only thing I picked up was another 13" Double Cowgirl with the twin #13 blades for $36 but other than that, there wasn't too much I needed. Good show.

We've got a trailer up in the Kawarthas and the Mrs. and I will be headiing up there the beginning of May and won't be coming home again until the end of October. It's gonna be nearly 6 months of fishing, or sightseeing, or maybe just sitting under the shade trees and just doing whatever the heck we want, when we want I'll be heading off to the West Arm of Nippissing for 7 days of musky fish'n in June , then Diane and I have a nice waterfront cottage booked in another location on the West Bay area of Nippising for another 7 days chasing muskies in August. I'll also be getting slimed on the Ottawa River for a few days .....probably July, and then another musky trip is in the works for the mighty St. Lawrence River. Lots of other fish'n trips will also take place, but they'll be spur of the moments decisions. Life is good !!