Zamboni

Don't use the house insulation foam-you need at least closed cell to not hold water. And even that is best case, meaning its easy for water to escape. Build the compartments with good drainage if your using foam, plan so that the foam stays dry. Go to iboats and read on boat restoration forum-do a search on foam.....I'm against it in restorations-seen too many boats with 300-600 lbs of water in the 'flotation' foam. Neutral buoyancy? Tore the foam out of Whaler I'm restoring- may go the 2 litre pop bottle route with little foam to stop rattling when time comes-tuff call.

"How bad can it be?" sounds like the Canadian version of "Hey ya'll watch this"

Sounds like Phil has fished Elephant more than me....took a few notes. Do stop at the lodge for lunch or dinner-very friendly and knowledgable of the lake.....my kids say its best pizza in Ontario.

No secret the south end of Sturgeon is good muskie fishing-your son and you should have a good trip. Sent you a pm.

Pike behind the island directly across from the lodge....good spot to try for muskie is where channel comes in from Benoir lake. That lodge has great pizza-lots of pics and mounted fish to inspect while their cooking. Great area.....horse/deer flies were incredible my last visit tho, chased us off golf course.

I haven't seen muskie caught from the common Scugog shore fishing spots....7A causeway etc. Guess you have a chance....next time out I'll watch for spots near road access on island.

Yep, new weed growth edges, leetches if you can get them great for eyes. I catch very little during the day-as suns setting its like a switch is thrown on pigeon and bites on.

Thanks for report Johnny Bass, probably taking kids to Katchewanooka this Sunday coming for fishing/swimming day trip. Did you launch at Lakefield....if so, busy-lots of parking? Been awhile since I was on that lake-nice because wife can have few hours exploring the town (shopping) without the kids and I complaining.

I understand its often the rainwater 'wash' off Port Perry streets/lawns that closes beaches in that area but wonder about water quality of rest of bog when say Kinsman beach is 'posted'? Is it specific to Port Perry that water is not safe at those times-do marinas/trailer parks and cottagers test other areas of Scugog? I'm probably overly cautious but will wait to hear cause of this carp die-off and that its not harmful to humans before letting my kids off boat there again.

There is lots of room to boat on Simcoe without buzzing people fishing. We enjoy fishing, I also like to rip around on the water doing donuts etc, pull kids tubing and wakeboarding....with a little courtesy and common sense we manage do that without disturbing fishermen. People do choose to fish in the oddest locations, right outside designated swimming beaches at Balsam or Sibbald PP's....of course there will be PWC's there, families bring them to enjoy a day at beach and on water. See guys anchored fishing off Goerski's on Scugog, right in main channel. Other boats tubing and just racing around, so many spots to anchor why pick a high traffic area.

Launched from Goerski's Saturday, no dead carp at marina launch or boat slip area....trailer park beach was clean also, lots of kids in water. I did see 4 floaters during 6 hours we were on water.....not many carp left in bog? Fishing slow-too hot/sunny with lots of boat traffic. I'm keeping away fron Scugog till cause is determined, hard to keep kids out of water on 30* days.....kids swimming in the bog worried me before this started.

Someone emailed asking-my link is actual chart, think mods don't want posted for copyright reasons.....that is reason I pm'd it.

Leave the carb on, fill your tank with new gas/oil and Seafoam(NAPA stores carry)....spray little carb cleaner in. Probably have varnish that remains when gas evaporates in jets or needle valve....it should dislodge with seafoam/carb cleaner.

I pm'd you a link to Buckhorn lake charts-should be helpful.

Looks clean-its value depends on engine and lower end condition. Test drive, if that goes well then pay a mechanic to look it over, at very least do a compression test yourself. Lots of fun in a boat like that if its mechanically sound-fish,ski, tube-swimming platform for kids....great for family. That bimini is nice to have-I need one. There are lots of boats like that around, make sure you choose one without major problems. What is asking price?

You can get out on big lakes with 16' er but really have to pick days and watch the weather..... thunderstorms come up quick with high humidity and it turns nasty. I got caught on lake O fighting a salmon last Sept in our 16.5'....has already stayed out too long and was getting tossed around. Never been as scared as that run back to ramp, had to hit waves at 45* at 3/4 speed to keep from getting swamped. Almost fell out of boat at one point, hung onto steering wheel with one hand. Some 16' boats with deep v may be an ok choice but to me its risky-weather comes up too quick.

As Deano mentioned the 4 strokes are heavier....more than 1 guy has been concerned with extra weight on transom while trailering so removed outboard. Be careful if you do that-oil in sump can make a real mess, careful how you transport a 4 stroke.....plus no oil=no fishing when you get there. Think 7.9 merc is 2 stroke so doesn't affect original poster.

Not sure which shoals you mean as everything through Hell's gate is shoals ....should be able to find area you want next time off chart in that link-refrence against the buoy. I get lost every time out on Stony, even with charts....something about that lake and all islands....I see where sun is, looking at compass and even refrencing the main channel buoys it always feels like I'm going the wrong way.

Week ago Saturday we saw a dead carp carcass up on the beach of Goerski's trailer park, 2 others washed up in the next 2 hours. We were visiting friends, he said there was another or same fish laying on beach 2 days earlier....sounds like a real problem.

That Optimax is a great engine-a terrific upgrade.....10% more power and 13% more fuel efficient than its closest 2 stroke comp the etec's. DL this chart for your Cook's bay trip, hopefully keep that boat from getting its first ding. Opens in standard MS photo editor that comes with XP at 25%, blow pages up to 75% and they are good detailed size for printing. http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/22/180...and%20River.rar

Just south of you in Whitby-was about to head to Scugog but chickening out also. Hard to be sensible tho-changed my mind 5 times in 10 minutes.

With the HIN they can check if its reported stolen so registering with that should be painless Wes. I saw the boat on CL....looks like there are numbers on the boat with motor so it should be registered. Seems cheap, not new but if that engine runs/is repairable your on the water having fun.

For a long time HIN (hull Identification numbers) have been stamped into stern of boats-you can run search off that. The registered owner can easily get new paperwork for his boat when papers are lost, simply request with the vessel lic numbers. If HIN numbers are defaced, ground off etc....or vessel numbers are gone run away. I insisted guy I purchased from get new paperwork as his had been destroyed....its reasonable and he got it easily (Canada Customs at that time)

I loved fishing as a kid, spent a lot of time in early 20's fishing alone because my friends didn't fish. Eventually with marriage/house other sports I stopped fishing altogether. Its my kids who rekindled my interest, at the cottage at first and even more when we bought a boat. Fishing is a great family past time, my 10 year old looks forward to fishing more than rep hockey. You single guys don't have to worry, right after kids are past toddler years the wife will be thrilled your willing to take kids fishing, even if she has no interest.

Rumour is the new owners of Bonnie Boats pushed this thru, and were all thinking it would hurt their business. They suposedly get $10 of the parking fee and $25 of every illegal parking ticket?????.....that can't be true-sounds ridiculous that a private company would get money from parking fines. I can't see it but my buddies insist its true-can anyone verify that?