Radnine

16 years or so for me, but who's counting. You know you've quit when you quit thinking about when being you used to smoke. You, Locnar, will be able to quit when you enjoy being a non-smoker more than you enjoy being a smoker. When you associate more pain with starting again than you do to quitting. If you drive by a group of people smoking outside in the middle of winter and wish you were one of them, you are screwed. If you drive by and think "what a bunch of tossers" you've got it licked. Good luck to you and congrats to all the quitters. Jim

Holy gunwales Batman! It could just be the picture but there does not appear to be much room in the front casting deck. It looks like the guy in front is standing in a 45 gallon drum! I think a trip to the boat show is in order for you. There is no better place to hop in and out of each boat to compare features etc. Have fun!! Jim

I have a Motor Guide wireless with the foot controller that controls on/off, faster/slower, right/left. I like the fact that I can move the controller to anywhere on the boat, including to my passengers when I get tired of them saying "left a bit, right a bit". Yes, there are times when I seem to have the knack of control better than others, and when the controller seems to be more responsive on certain days than others, but I am sure it is fine and I am the one changing. It is hard to imagine having to be physically in contact with the motor as being better in any way. Not to dis the guys that have made that choice, but since you're asking.... Jim

Having a job in retail is a bit like having a job in the manufacturing sector: Out of date and continually on the verge of being temporary. I recently had a pair of Clarke's Desert Boots shipped to my house for $100, ALL IN!(from Eddie Bauer). The cheapest I found them at the mall was $120 (before taxes, before driving 15 minutes to and from the mall etc.). Ask yourself how many times you have got great deals internet shopping and you begin to see the fate of bricks-and-mortar stores. There will always be some, but I don't think that there is room for redundancy like there used to be. I feel bad for you Stotty because I know that you are a good man, and you no doubt put an effort into your work for them. But I think that you are a victim of our times and the lesson here is that one needs to look at any job and be aware of how fleeting they can be. Even in teaching I am starting to believe that I may not see full time employment until my retirement (about 15 years to go). Best of luck to you. Jim

"A LOT OF IT IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE GTA. THEY USUALLY HAVE A LAWYER FROM THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND THEY SERVE YOU ON THE LAST DAY BEFORE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING" By chance do you mean the obvious racial overtones? Jim

Hey guys, Does anyone else find that their GPS lags when drifting (or going very slowly)? Mine is to the point where the GPS is more or less useless for drifting. It gives me a MPH reading, so it is still seeing the satellite, but the cursor and the trail do not keep up. Any thoughts? Thanks, Jim

If you listen very carefully you can actually hear this site jumping the shark. Jim

"Why, yes Reverend Jones, I am a little parched. Could you pass the Kool-Aid please..." Did you go to the boat show? That is the place to jump in and out of boats and see what the room vs. comfort debate is all about. I have a side console and love the control and the room that I have to run about. My passengers do not like the fact that I blast around everywhere because I am shielded while they are frozen and wind blasted (I remain unsympathetic). The truth of the matter is that the console does not offer really great cover, I mean it is better than nothing, but hardly complete. I think for me it was really more about the comfort of a steering wheel and the freedom to multi-task form one spot, including quick un-impeded access to the front and the back of the boat. I am also a fair weather type, so rigging for winter, or extreme weather is not as important to me as it would be to the hardcore types. See the picture below. It is my boat during a trip to Rice last spring. You can see how quickly a 16' side console fills up (that is the stuff for two guys!) There is not much room for walk-throughs or dual consoles. Good luck!! Jim

Thanks boys! Much appreciated. Jim

Hi Guys, I am replacing my Lowrance X50DS with a Lowrance elite 5, in my 1600 Fishhawk SC. The transducer bracket won't need to change but I will be replacing the old transducer with the new one. It should be pretty straight forward, no? Thanks, Jim

Last week our store in Caledonia had CD-9 Countdown Rapala (in fire-minnow pattern) on for $5.00!! I grabbed the last two they had and checked out the CT on Upper James where their CD-9's had the the red clearance tag on the hook, but were priced at $8 and change!! I also picked up a wood handle/leather sheath Rapala knife for $19.00. It always pays to check the fishing isle at CT, regardless of your politics. Jim

Given all that has been said Kevin, I would be remiss if I didn't ask if you have considered selling the Lund and buying a Crestliner? Jim

Kevin, First of all let me say that your research looks complete and I love the way that you laid this post out. I am not a down rigger guy, but I am wondering if there isn't some way to use a seat post to your advantage? If you buy a seat post from Swivel-Eze(available at Bass Pro) and affixed a mounting plate to it (using a seat mounting plate), or a board to a couple of them, would it not be stable and portable? Kind of like the guy did here, but utilizing the two aft seat positions. Also in the photo below, the clamps on the gunwale look like they are removable as well, are they? The more I look at this photo, the better I like his solution. Or perhaps by beefing a seat post up you could use only one in the rear deck position. Like I said I am not a down rigger guy, so am unsure of what kind of force these things see, but the sport track thingy that Lund sells looks a bit light weight to me. And if it will do the job I can't believe that a seat post wouldn't. You might also want to PM Lexxington for a photo of his set up across the back of his Legend. Good luck! Jim

The Crestliner side would have been fine, the force of the blast would have been deflected off of the welded hull. The other side though....rivets everywhere. It wouldn't have been pretty. It could force some people out of the dark ages though and into a proper boat. Jim

I have not read the whole thread guys so forgive me if someone has brought this up, but why is there a stanchion to be hit into? Nets were put on pegs because of injuries to players running into (or checked into) them, why not a break-away stanchion (or something that eliminates the opportunity)? Jim

Congratulations on a great sales year as well as being mentioned so prominently in an excellent article. Jim

I think we might have a misunderstanding here, it comes with a Navionics gold card (or chip, disc, whatever). You just start it up, load the chip, select your map, and Bob's your uncle. I don't think there is any need to spend anymore (unless the gold chip does not have the map you require). Jim

My brother-in -law and I both bought those things at the show so I too hope they are good (I have yet to fire mine up). One interesting thing though, the gold card is the latest and greatest which means it is upgradeable, but it only works in the Elite 5. You can't take it out of there and use it anywhere else (like in your H2Oc hand held). I mean it's not a deal breaker or anything, but just a heads-up. Jim

In my opinion you are correct, it is a cash grab. How old are they, because that is another factor. If they are established thirty-somethings they should be letting everyone (mom & dad included) off the hook. I mean if you want to throw something when you get back, knowing full well that some people will send well wishes in the form of cash, that might be another thing all together (and by throw something I mean have people over for a drink or a welcome home party where booze and snacks are provided)but anything that you charge a fee to attend is a no-no for anyone over 25. Just my opinion. Jim

Congratulations John!! He is a lucky boy, having a cool granddad. Best wishes to the entire family. Jim

Thanks for taking the heat off of me John. Jim

I think that you have hit the nail on the head. The reason that this upset me so much is that I feel like a poser for thinking that I needed a $50 ice rod for my first kick at the can. Only to have it fall to bits. I feel stupid I guess for having anything better to do with $50. Then to add insult to injury, St Croix essentially says "why are you calling us, just glue it back on" I mean all they had to do is say "Sorry, here is a new rod and a St Croix hat!" and I'd be posting about how great their customer service is. Jim

"Sailors fighting in the dance hall Oh man! Look at those cavemen go It's the freakiest show Take a look at the Lawman Beating up the wrong guy Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know He's in the best selling show Is there life on Mars?" This is the same "fishing of my dock" chest thumping rubbish that caused my last break from the board. I enjoyed my two days back. Jim

Between not being able to take my eyes of of J'Lo. and hanging on every word Steven Tyler says, for the first time in ten years I'm joining the wife on the couch and watching American Idol. It is St. Croix's fault as I would be ice fishing if not for THE ROD FALLING APART!! Jim

Exactly Ben. I am a St Croix guy (I own four of their full size rods) which is why I paid for the "quality" in an ice rod. 100% of yours have been good and 100% of mine have been rubbish. At least you had a chance to break yours. Mine fell apart.