tonyb

Pair of 'Ho's and a King, not bad for a weekend morning fish!

Looks like a great trip with many memories for the years ahead.

Been wondering what you two have been up to with your new ride. Glad to see you get some fish slime in it. What is your opinion of the Verado?

Raf has a good point...the more prices rise, the more money goes back into your pocket

Great informative post Craig. It serves as an excellent example to others to understand or learn about the matter before turning into a self proclaimed expert and spreading misinformation. I like to think of our Lake Ontario Lake Trout as the Rodney Dangerfield trout They really do get 'no respect'! I'm hoping to catch one tonight, see you on the water. Tony

Good post Rick, it is a fairly serious offense if someone is interfering with legal fishing activities. Further, never hesitate to call the Police at any point when someone is threatening you on the water or anywhere for that matter. Police have been known to taze or shoot aggresors with a knife...those anglers were in that scenario so it isn't something that should be shrugged off or taken lightly. The way the anglers responded is taking the path of least resistance, and I get that, but unfortunately apathetic responses to these types of situations will only gaurantee their continuance. Know your rights and stand up for them people...nobody else will do that for you. Tony

Yeah it would make more sense in the winter with the road salt.

Definately an efficient setup and something to be proud of...doesn't look like any corners were cut in the craftsmanship either.

Here is Yamaha's stance http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/boate...tersLog_1-1.pdf And Mercury's stance Mercury Marine remains very active in developing a thorough understanding of important issues and environments in which our products must operate. Mercury’s engineers work constantly to expand our understanding of fuel technologies and their interactions with all Mercury products to ensure they perform properly and reliably. Mercury personnel work in concert with industry groups, such as the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), to offer input into the overall processes by which many decisions are made regarding fuel regulations and energy policies so future problems are minimized and future developments are beneficial to those who utilize our products. Included below is a list of questions and answers that address typical concerns of consumers. Please feel free to contact any Mercury Marine field representative with questions, or contact us at [email protected]. Mercury will do its best to help find answers, whether you’re seeking general information or wishing to discuss legal proposals, or if you’re seeking information regarding ethanol-tolerant materials. 1. What are ethanol and ethanol-blended fuels? Ethanol for fuel is highly refined beverage (grain) alcohol, approximately 200 proof, that can be produced from natural products such as corn, sugar cane and wheat. New technology will allow ethanol to be made from “cellulosic” feedstocks including corn stalks, grain straw, paper, pulp, wood chips, municipal waste, switchgrass and other sources. Ethanol used for fuel has been “denatured,” or rendered unsafe to drink by the addition of a hydrocarbon (usually gasoline). The ethanol-blended fuel E-10 refers to fuel that contains 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. Similarly, E-85 refers to fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E-85 is intended only for engines specially designed to accept high-ethanol content fuel blends, such as the Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) made by some car companies. 2. How is ethanol made? In the U.S., ethanol is typically produced by removing the starch or sugar portion of corn and fermenting it. The fermented starch is then distilled into alcohol. Excess water is removed, resulting in very pure – 200 proof – ethyl alcohol (ethanol). In some parts of the world, ethanol is made from a variety of raw materials. For example, sugar cane is used to produce ethanol in Brazil, while sugar beets and wheat straw are commonly used in Europe. 3. What are the characteristics of ethanol? Ethanol is an oxygenated hydrocarbon compound that has a high octane rating and therefore is useful in increasing the octane level of unleaded gasoline. The EPA, the agency responsible for setting some of the requirements for all gasoline used in the U.S., has allowed the use of ethanol in gasoline at levels up to 10 percent as an octane enhancer and to provide beneficial clean-burning combustion characteristics that help improve some emissions. Ethanol is hygroscopic (it has an attraction for water) and will more readily mix with water than with gasoline. It has different solvency behaviors than does gasoline, which allows it to loosen rust and debris that might lay undisturbed in fuel systems. And it can more readily remove plasticizers and resins from certain plastic materials that might not be affected by gasoline alone. Loose debris will plug filters and can interfere with engine operation. Additionally, ethanol is corrosive to some metals, especially in combination with water. Although gasoline does not conduct electricity well, ethanol has an appreciable capability to conduct electricity and therefore can promote galvanic corrosion. 4. What is MTBE and why is it being replaced? MTBE is the chemical shorthand description for methyl tertiary-butyl ether. MTBE is another oxygenated hydrocarbon compound that has a high octane rating. It was initially a preferred compound widely used for octane enhancement as a replacement for leaded compounds in gasoline. When the EPA developed regulations requiring oxygenated gasoline to help reduce smog in several areas of the country, MTBE was the most commonly used compound to supply the additional oxygen, while ethanol was chosen for this purpose in the Midwest region of the country. Recently, most states have banned the use of MTBE because of its tendency to work its way into ground water systems, usually from leaks and spills, as an undesirable contaminant. Ethanol is being used as a replacement. 5. Does ethanol affect horsepower or fuel-efficiency? Ethanol has a heating value of 76,000 BTU per gallon, which is approximately 30 percent less than gasoline’s heating value (which is approximately 109,000 to 119,000 BTU/gal). The result is E-10 gasoline which should yield slightly lower mileage – a decrease of approximately 3 percent. Fuels containing higher levels of ethanol will have a corresponding reduction in mileage. For example, E85 fuels produce mileage approximately 30 percent less than gasoline. The octane rating of pure ethanol (200 proof) is about 100 and is therefore useful in elevating the octane value of gasoline. In E-10 blends the presence of ethanol provides about 2.5 to 3 percent of the overall octane rating. The effect on engine horsepower is determined by the octane result of the blended fuel. Care should be taken to select fuels having the octane rating recommended for the engine as indicated in the owner’s manual for proper operation. Compatibility with Mercury Engines 6. Are Mercury engines compatible with ethanol fuels? The fuel-system components of Mercury engines will withstand up to 10 percent alcohol content in gasoline – the maximum level currently allowed by the EPA in the U.S. There are some efforts to establish E-20 (20 percent ethanol mixed with 80 gasoline) for use in some areas, but that will require agreement from EPA to grant a waiver. Part of the EPA waiver process will require verification from studies that demonstrate that higher levels of ethanol do not create problems with fuel-system materials or operation of hardware. E-20 has not been extensively studied by Mercury and is not acceptable for use in Mercury products. E-85 fuels must not be used in any Mercury engines and could seriously damage current Mercury products. It is not legal in the U.S. to market any ethanol fuel as gasoline if it contains more than 10 percent ethanol. 7. Will the use of fuels containing ethanol void my engine warranty? Fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol are considered acceptable for use in Mercury engines. Fuels containing higher levels of ethanol are not considered acceptable for use, and the use of fuels containing ethanol higher than 10 percent can void the warranty. 8. What about the fuel-system components on the boat? It is important to follow boat manufacturers’ recommendations when selecting appropriate fuels. Use of an inappropriate fuel can result in damage to the engine and boat components that may require repair or replacement. Fuels with ethanol can attack some fuel-system components, such as tanks and lines, if they are not made from acceptable ethanol-compatible materials. This can lead to operational problems or safety issues such as clogged filters, leaks or engine damage. 9. Can ethanol-blended fuels affect the performance of two-stroke engines? Two-stroke outboards should experience little or no decrease in performance due to gasoline fuels containing up to 10-percent ethanol when operated according to Mercury’s standard recommendations. When gasoline with ethanol is used for the first time after a fuel changeover from MTBE, the tank must be completely dry prior to introduction of gasoline with ethanol. Otherwise, phase separation could occur that could cause filter plugging or damage to the engine. If an engine is a 1990 or older model frequent inspections of all fuel-system components are advised to identify any signs of leakage, softening, hardening, swelling or corrosion. If any sign of leakage or deterioration is observed, replacement of the affected components is required before further operation. 10. How does ethanol affect my fiberglass fuel tank? Fiberglass tanks manufactured prior to 1991 may not be compatible with gasoline containing ethanol. It has been reported that, in the presence of ethanol, some resins may be drawn out of fiberglass and carried into the engine where severe damage could occur. If an older fiberglass tank is used, check with the manufacturer to determine if gasoline with ethanol can be safely used. 11. Are older fuel lines prone to failure? What about gaskets? During the 1980s, many rubber components for use in fuel systems were developed to withstand exposure to fuels containing ethanol. If rubber components in a fuel system are suspected to be of this vintage or older it may be advisable to replace them with newer ethanol-safe components before using fuels containing ethanol. Check with the manufacturer for advice or frequently inspect these fuel-system components for signs of swelling or deterioration and replace if problems are noted. Recommended Practices 12. Ethanol is replacing MTBE in my region? What should I do? Before gasoline with ethanol is introduced to your fuel tank, ask your boat manufacturer if any special precautions should be considered with the use of fuel containing ethanol. Check for the presence of water in the fuel tank. If any is found, remove all water and dry the tank completely. As a precaution, it is advisable to carry a few extra filters in case filter plugging becomes a problem during boating. 13. Should I add an additional fine-micron filter to the system to prevent debris from entering the engine? The addition of another filter to the system will create another possible flow restriction that can starve the engine of fuel. Mercury already provides the appropriate level of filtration to protect the engine from debris [edit: the verado red "castle" filter under the cowl is 2 MICRON - more than enuf to filter water...check and change if it looks clogged]. 14. How can a marina prepare for the change from MTBE to ethanol as the fuel oxygenate? Check with the manufacturer to make certain the tank and lines won’t experience problems with ethanol. Inspect the tank for water and, if present, pump out all water and thoroughly clean the tank. Install ethanol-compatible filters. The tank should be less than 20 percent full before adding the first load of fuel with ethanol. 15. What is phase separation, and how do I deal with it? If significant amounts of water are present in a fuel tank with gasoline that contains ethanol, the water will be drawn into the fuel until the saturation point is reached for the three-component mixture of water + gasoline + ethanol. Beyond this level of water, phase separation could cause most of the ethanol and water to separate from the bulk fuel and drop to the bottom of the tank, leaving gasoline with a significantly reduced level of ethanol in the upper phase (see Figure 1 below). If the lower phase of water and ethanol is large enough to reach the fuel inlet, it could be pumped directly to the engine and cause significant problems. Even if the ethanol water phase at the bottom of the tank is not drawn into the fuel inlet, the reduced ethanol level of the fuel reduces the octane rating by as much as 3 octane numbers, which could result in engine problems. The level at which phase separation can occur is determined by a number of variables, including the amount of ethanol, the composition of the fuel, the temperature of the environment and the presence of contaminants. It is very important (A) that the system is inspected for significant quantities of water in the tank before using gasoline with ethanol and ( to limit exposure of the fuel tank to excess water. If phase separation has occurred, it is necessary to completely remove all free water from the system and replace the fuel before continuing operation. Otherwise, engine problems could occur. Figure 1: Sample of fuel from fuel tank in which phase separation has occurred. The upper phase is gasoline with a reduced level of ethanol. The lower level is a mixture of ethanol and water. 16. Is an additive available that can prevent phase separation? There is no practical additive that can prevent phase separation from occurring. The only practical solution is to keep water from accumulating in the tank in the first place. 17. Are there any additives that can allow the phase-separated mixture to remix when added to the fuel tank? No, the only way to avoid further problems is to remove the water, dispose of the depleted fuel, clean the tank and start with a fresh, dry load of fuel. 18. Is there a simple solution to water condensation in the tank as a result of ethanol? It is best to maintain a full tank of fuel when the engine is not in use. This will reduce the void space above the fuel and will reduce the flow of air in and out of the tank with changes in temperature. This will reduce condensation on the internal walls of the tank and will limit exposure of the ethanol in the fuel to humidity and condensation. 19. What should be done when storing boats with ethanol-blended fuels for extended periods? When preparing to store a boat for extended periods of two months or more, it is best to completely remove all fuel from the tank. If it is difficult or not possible to remove the fuel, maintaining a full tank of fuel with a fuel stabilizer added to provide fuel stability and corrosion protection is recommended. A partially full tank is not recommended because the void space above the fuel allows air movement that can bring in water through condensation as the temperature cycles up and down. This condensation potentially becomes a problem. Mercury Marine Fuel System Treatment & Stabilizer can help maintain fuel systems in storage. It contains oxidation inhibitors to reduce oxidation and gum formation, metal chelating agents to protect metal components from corrosion, water absorbing agents to reduce the presence of free water, and dispersants to help suspend and disperse debris. It is best used by adding to the tank at the recommended dosage, running the engine for 10 minutes to allow the system to be cleaned, shutting off the fuel valve to interrupt the fuel supply and allow the engine to run until it stops, topping off the tank until it’s full, and capping any openings to reduce the amount of exchange with the air that might bring in condensation.

Solo - 225HP can get you to a spot at 51-54MPH depending on who is in the boat GCD - I had a fish fry last night, with 5 more meals remaining (each fillet is the perfect amount for me and Amanda) Clof - People do jig for Lake Trout on Lake O...it is very popular at the Niagara Bar, even in smaller boats on calm days, and I don't see why it wouldn't work elsewhere...just more efficient to troll for 'em.

Mercury Verado...quiet, clean and refined. At idle the stream of water peeing out of the engine is pretty much the only sound to indicate the engine is running. At WOT you can have a regular outdoor conversation

Another great report solo! It's pretty much a gaurantee that it will be an adventure, and have some great fish in it.

Some great looking Channels and is that last one a decent Brown Bullhead? Nice work

For sure sly! if not up there on Simcoe then I would be glad to put you onto some Salmon and Trout out on Lady O... I forgot to mention, fish were taken on Bad Boy jigs, half n half hammered williams ice jig, and the Blue Fox jig

Spent the day on the water with my wife, she doesn't like holding fish to that's why I am the only one in pictures The key yesterday was to keep moving...not necessarily to find fish, but to avoid people!...by the time I got my 2 anchors deployed at each spot I would get swarmed with about 10-15 boats!! So I let them settle in before pulling anchors and moving again... Finally found some space out away from the crowds and had a consistent screen full of fish on the sonar. Working them on screen in real time was like playing a video game, and we had about a 10:1 ratio of fish that would commit and strike versus the others that would just follow the jig up and down the water column, sometimes up to 20 feet at a time! A great day to be out on the water! Tony

Blue Gold: Water Wars is another interesting look at how water will play an important role in our future.

Congrats! You already know, but you are going to love the comfort and fishability of that boat. You will be amazed at the smoothness of the DTS shifting and how quiet the Verado is A very well-informed decision and like most things in life it is better to wait and do it right than rush into something you won't be satisfied with. If you PM me your email I can send you a great document about care, maintenance and general info for your Verado, some great information in it. Cheers, Tony

Might see you guys down there, although Simcoe is calling as well so we'll see

Without the kill switch his boat would have kept going out of control possibly running him over...but he got what he deserved for pulling an idiotic trick. Darwin Award candidate?

With auto-inflateable vests at reasonable prices these days, there is no excuse for not wearing one. Stay safe, and remember those kill switches are there for a reason, use 'em!

I think you will find that the majority of graduates from that program are not working today in that field, myself included (Fleming F&W graduate) You can always do a job search right now in the field and see what is available near you to give you an idea of pay range and job opportunities. In Ontario, this is a career field that won't see an increase in job opportunities. They want to eventually remove all conservation officers and close down mnr field offices and just have a 1-800 # for people to call to report offences...oh wait a second we're already well on our way to that system! I think you will do better financially if you don't throw away the 2 years experience you have already invested in your tradesman career. My $.02

I think you will find that the majority of graduates from that program are not working today in that field, myself included (Fleming F&W graduate) You can always do a job search right now in the field and see what is available near you to give you an idea of pay range and job opportunities. In Ontario, this is a career field that won't see an increase in job opportunities. They want to eventually remove all conservation officers and close down mnr field offices and just have a 1-800 # for people to call to report offences...oh wait a second we're already well on our way to that system! I think you will do better financially if you don't throw away the 2 years experience you have already invested in your tradesman career.

Thanks Polli, I looked up the website http://www.cps-ecp.ca Much better to be compliant, and have boat inspections go smoothly so we can get back to fishing that much sooner Plus, who couldn't use a refresher in the phonetic alphabet? my cats names are Whiskey and Tango

Can you post some details of the course? assuming you are involved with it through canadian power squadron or something alike?

Entirely depends on the type of fishing you want to do with it...and bodies of water. Answer those questions and it will really help narrow down the choice, comparable glass boats will be faster than aluminum as there is less drag on the hulls.