SlowPoke

I'm afraid it's probably time for a new floor. If it is a typical pedestal seat it is likely screwed to the floor and not bolted. A flush base will have a 2"-3" hole to accept the pedestal... you can try this; -Remove the base -Set the base on two aluminium flat stock bars 2.5"x16"x1/8" (WxLxT) -Mark the aluminium centering two of the base holes on one bar and two base holes on the other bar so it looks somewhat like this =0= -Mark holes at the ends of both bars -Drill and tap the holes in the bars -Lay the bars on the boat floor aligning the old base holes and mark the floor where new holes will be made at the ends of the bars -Ensure there is no obstructions under the floor for the new holes and drill -Slide the bar stock into the base hole. You may need to bend it a little but it should spring back -Locate the holes at the end of the bars and bolt them in place using stainless bolts, finish washers, red loktite and sealer -Locate the base in its original position and bolt to the bar stock in the same fashion -Reinstall the screws adding sealer The bar stock mounted by 4 bolts in the wet wood should provide as much or more stability than you ever had and the additional 4 bolts at the ends ease the installation and add to stability bolting through what should probably be dry wood. Just make sure you have the room under your floor to do so. If not, modify the plan a bit and it will buy you some time before replacing your floor. -Brian

Great report Mike and I hope the new boat is everything you expected and more! -Brian

I find these very helpful. They mount flush except for a little half-dome hood protruding. I have one mounted now and it provides about 4'x4' of usefull lighting aimed on the floor. The hood eliminates glare ad provides indirect lighting. I've purchased a few more to add to the boat. http://tinyurl.com/49tyx5 (Cabela's is the cheapest I've found) -Brian

Nice haul! Good luck tomorrow guys! -Brian

I don't think FnA has any more ability than you or I to do anything that doesn't fall within the criminal code, highway traffic act or bylaw enforcement. The anglers would have been required to provide identification to him but not surrender a fishing license. However, it doesn't mean he can't ask for it. Kudo's to FnA for saying something about it but I'd be more impressed if he wasn't using the uniform for influance. -Brian

Hey Pauly, if we try hard enough maybe we can get John out of the house some weekend for fishing! John, got the boat out of storage today. I was thinking of going to LPB today since I was half way there but it looks a little grim and really windy. Fishing from the couch today! -Brian

Driving is a privlidge, not a right... A privilege—etymologically "private law" or law relating to a specific individual—is a special entitlement or immunity granted by a government or other authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. A privilege can be revoked in some cases. In modern democracies, a privilege is conditional and granted only after birth. By contrast, a right is an inherent, irrevocable entitlement held by all citizens or all human beings from birth. Miscellaneous privileges, e.g. the old common law privilege to title deeds, may still exist, though of little relevance today.

Wow, very impressive boat and congratulations! Let me know if you're looking for friends! -Brian

You can make any argument you want in court but you're dreaming if you think the "unfair" defense will get you anywhere.

AFAIK double yellow solid suggests that it is unsafe to pass in that area but is prohibited (50 Meters?) before a turn, tunnel, railway crossing or approching the crest of a hill. Another little known law... Unsafe left turn. If you approach your left turn and are slowing down, check your mirrors prior to turning. You can be charged if some moron hits you while trying to pass on the left even if you have your signal on. I encounter this almost daily at work... it's so tempting to make my turn and let them stuff thier car under my trailer but it's not worth getting charged. -Brian

Great post G, gave me a good chuckle! I'm thinking the only safe place on Talladega Race Weekend is the public library. -Brian

And 9 minutes with little J in tow! I think I'm going to borrow the neighbours canoe and explore sometime with ya. -Brian

Wow, my dreamboat. Could you run over and put a deposit on it? Tell the guy I'll be there as soon as hell freezes over with the balance! I'm here waiting for you're next report!

Hi Mike, The fishing goodies were around $500 and I forgot to add a couple things from Gander Mtn. 1 - Special Mate spoon box 39.95 1 - Special Mate muskie box 39.95 These were lucky finds because it's hard to find the spoon box with flat dividers now. Most shops just carry the crankbait dividers and guys use them for spoons. Some of the bigger spoons don't fit well in them and I think the spoon dividers hold more (225). The muskie box was a good find because it's identical to my other one in colour... like matching luggage! No bribes for the family, they had a great time and were on edge all week because we didn't tell them where we were going. I love playing that game! Last year when they were going to Grandma's for a week we told them they were going March Break School. This time I told them we were going to a compete in a Wii bowl-a-thon. My youngest asked one of her friends at school if she "entered the bowling tournament". Then we told them we were going to "Bologna Depot" where they sold different kinds of bologna from all over the world. We set them up for disappointment and then they think fishing stores are fun in comparison. Hey Clive, The grand total with gas, the girls purchases and taxes at the border was probably around $1200. I could have saved a few bucks by staying another night to avoid the taxes at the border. Money well spent for a weekend getaway but as my wife reminded me, a few years ago we flew to Vancouver for a three-day weekend, rented a Cadilac and ATV's for the same money. My reply of coarse was "yes but I didn't come home with a bunch of cool sh!t" -Brian

Nice ride Mike, congrat's! -Brian

What a weekend! My wife and daughters took me to Michigan for some tackle shopping to celebrate my b-day. We mapped it out and added a few recommended stops crossing at Port Huron and returning through Windsor. After the girls ohhhing and ahhhing going over the Blue Water Bridge, it was a short drive to Anderson's Pro Bait in Port Huron. It's a nice 'local' shop with a good selection and reasonable prices. The staff was very friendly and I picked up a few items... Anderson's Pro Bait 2 - Spin Doctors - Mountain Dew/Pearl Glow, Green/Pearl Glow @9.49 ea. 2 - G-Fly - Green Glow, Green Cheese @4.49 ea. 2 - Challenger Lynx - Black/Silver, Halographic @11.95 ea. From there it was only a few minutes up the road to our first Gander Mtn. stop. I was quite impressed with GM and they have an impressive selection. The best deals are in the bins but good prices overall. I picked up a few items at this location while my wife and daughters went to TJ Maxx. We then left for the GM Novi store. Novi was even more impressive! My wife and oldest daughter went shoe shopping at DSN while my youngest and I went to GM. They also had a much larger marine section and more bins to route through in the fishing section. My findings at both stores are below... Gander Mountain 2 - Northern King NK28 - Watermelon @$2.97 ea. 3 - Silver Streak Magnums - Rainbow Hickleberry, Wolverine White George, Wolverine Glo Grindstone @2.97 ea. 2 - Michingan Stinger Magnums - Metallic Frog, Yellow Jacket @2.97 ea. 2 - G-Fly - Monkey Puke, White @3.99 ea. 2 - Blue Fox - No.3 Black/Yellow, No.4 Black/Yellow @1.97 ea. From Novi we were off to Bass Pro at Auburn Hills located at great Lakes Crossing Mall. This mall is enormous with hotels nearby. It would make a great destination for family shopping. Much like Vaughn Mills. I've heard many comparisons to Bass Pro in Vaughn as well but I have to say the service and prices at Auburn Hills put Vaughn to shame! The girls visited the mall and met me in Bass Proafterwards with a few goodies in my tote... Bass Pro 2 - Bionic Bucktail 1oz Spinnerbaits - Cisco, Blackbird @11.99 ea. 2 - Zarra Spook - Frog, Perch @4.99 ea. 4 - Booyah 3/8 oz Buzzbaits - Wounded Chart, Wounded Blue Glimmer, Chart, Black @3.99 ea. 1 - Bass Pro Line Counter @10.99 The girls were worn out and hungry! We made our way to the County Inn and Suites in Dundee located beside Cabela's. We unloaded the car and walked down the street to the Lone Star Steakhouse. It's been a while since I heard "smoking or non-smoking?". We had a terrific meal and outstanding service. I'd recommend Lone Star to anyone making the Cabela's trip. After walking back to the hotel, the girls put on thier bathing suits and I sat in nice wingback chair in the hotel room digesting my wonderful steak dinner and catching the Wings/Pred's game on TV. Nashville tied up the game with :43 to go and it went into overtime. I took a few minutes to go down to the pool to see the girls. When I returned to watch the overtime it didn't take long for the Wings to win. Then it was time to eyeball my newly acquired goodies. After a good nights rest we awoke around 9 and had some breakfast. The room comes with a continental b-fast but this was unique. You could microwave omelettes, burrito's and make your own waffles! We were going to go the Bob Evens for b-fast across the street thinking there was going to be nothing but dry muffins and croissants at the hotel but there was no need. At around 9:30 I made my way over to Cabela's while the girls enjoyed the pool. They would join me around 11 and we very much enjoyed the mountain and aquarium. I was glad to have made it to Cabela's but I must say I was a little underwhelmed. Service was good and it's a nice place but there were several items I had in mind from the catalogue that couldn't be found in the store. My treasures include... Cabela's 1 - St. Croix 7' MF Spiing Rod @70.00 1 - Hotmaps Premium 2007 @99.99 2 - Storm 10" Kickin' Minnow - Walleye, Shad @5.49 1 - Storm Giant Jointed Thunder Stick - White/Halographic @11.99 2 - Storm Giant Suspending Thunderstick - Natural Perch, Chart Perch @11.99 ea. 1 - Fishin' Stix Rod Holder @4.99 3 - Cabela's Bucktail Inline Spinners - Bl/Or, Chart/Or, Black @6.19 ea. From Dundee it was a 45 minute ride to Sportsman's Warehouse in Allen Park. You may not have heard of it before because they just arrived in Michigan in November and have plans for second Mi. location. Bob Devine tipped me off about Sportsman's and this place is a MUST on the Michigan tackle tour. Think of it as a Gander Mountain on steroids. Incredible selection! Prices were great and staff was very knowledgable. Sportsman's does not have the ambiance of Bass Pro or Cabela's but the selection is as good or better. Sportsman's Warehouse 2 - Bionic Bucktail 1oz Inline Spinners - Blackbird, Red/White 2 - Mojo Drop Shot 1/4oz Packs @3.99 ea. 1 - Plano 1084 Line Spool Box @5.99 1 - Plano 3504 Spinnerbait Box @5.99 1 - Plano 3771 Stowaway Divider Box @6.59 Thanks again to those offering information for my trip! -Brian

Easy man! Import a bunch of boats and sell 'em on OFC!! I wouldn't restrict reply privlidges but I wouldn't mind seeing a minimum of 20 posts before posting in the classifieds. I also like the all-in-one feel of this board. I tend to stumble across threads I wouldn't normally seek out had they been in other categories. -Brian

Well done Emil!! Nice weather, nice boat, nice fish. The only thing missing is ME!! -Brian

Looks great Emil, I sure hope it floats! -Brian

Kinbud, check out the new Shimano Symetre 4000. It is last years Stradic and in my opinion, smoother than this years Stradic which received an "upgrade" in the gear system. The Symetre will run around $100. I looked at both last weekend (2500 Series) and I would have bought a Symetre had they had a 4000 in stock. -Brian

Happy Birthday Doug! <insert something profound> -Brian

Good report, have you seen any consistancies or do you think these are random hitters? -Brian

Chuck Norris wears "Lew" pyjamas.

I think GCD just saved Roy a post... Sig's begin getting out of control, Roy makes a post about it and they taper back for a while. -Brian

Thanks for the tip on Splash Universe... it would have been perfect! I called and the promotion is sold out for April. It was $75 off thier suite price. I guess the leopard skin speedo can stay in storage until Lakair. Thanks for the other info as well. I don't see myself getting south of Dundee this trip but will keep it in mind for next time. -Brian