icefisherman

Have a nice summer Wayne. I'll call you in August for face to face meeting on the shores of Temagami Cheers, Ice Fisherman

As preventive maintenance I'd like to change the impellers for both of my motors. The main one is Suzuki 115HP, Fuel injection, two strokes The kicker is Yamaha 9.9HP 4 stroke, high thrust I've got the impeller kits (impeller wheel, gaskets, etc.) for both motors. Looking for someone in West GTA/Brampton/Oakville/Milton who can do the work for me. I'd like to watch so I can do it myself next time. My neighbor mechanic promised to do it but he is so busy I am not sure when it can be done. I'd like it done sooner rather than later to prevent potential problems on the water during the season. If someone can do it and is nearby feel free to PM with price. Hoping to save some money by going to individual knowing how to do it vs. going to a marine/dealer and get charged an arm and two legs. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Very reasonable point Joe...ALL my accounts, mortgage, investments, loans, RRSP's, everything is with mybank...so I plan to use that leverage with them...should they not give me best mortgage rate though they may kiss good bye my mortgage ;-) Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Guys thanks for all your help.... After hard negotiation at BPS Vaughan Mills today I got full cash refund...then to my huge surprise they've had the Lowrance LVR 250 DSC under the counter. One unit only available to sell but that is all I needed anyways ;-) At a good price too - only $124 compared to Le Baron and Josh that were $10-$15 higher priced. After some more hard negotiations I got the manager to give me additional 5% discount on it and I bought it...will install it and test it but should be working fine as I've done my last testts with exact same radio (Brian's). So, the radio issue should be solved...if I only can sort my left trailer brake light now would be great ;-) Cheers, Ice Fisherman

OK John, so let's make this more specific then.....I will not be selling over the next 5 years, will not move over the next 5 years and will probably not pay any lump sums over the next 5 years...but would like to pay from time to time some extra money against the principal (when extra cash is available)...I'd like the new lender to cover ALL fees associated with moving my mortgage to them...and would like their written assurance than down the road...say 2-3 years from now should I decide to switch to fixed rate (it may never happen) then I'll be given their best available fixed rate for that moment. Now under those specific conditions can you: 1) Variable is the best way to go right now 2) Prime - 0.9% is the best rate I could find? 3) Refer me to a mortgage broker that can get me Prime - 1% ? Thanks again for all your good advice. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Well Le Baron sells it for $134.63 a bit on the high side compared to what retailers in the US sell it for. http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_files_sp08/fishi...owrance_xog.pdf Not sure if Le Baron will price match US price though?!? Any place else in Canada that sells that same radio for close to the US price of $110? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Bob, those prices on the web site are US prices and not all on the web site is available in the Vaughan store. Not sure if the Vaughan store sells products that are not on the US web site?!? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

I seem to like this Lowrance radio, price seems to be OK and I maybe buying Lowrance Fishfinder/GPS next year...and I've seen it working on Brian's boat and it did work on my boat with my antenna during the testing session with Brian on Sunday...not sure if Bass Pro in Vaughan will have it though....??? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Thanks guys. Let me add to my original post. John I am aware of those important "details" ... I've got few offers on Prime - 0.9% so far. The new lender covers all related expenses with moving the mortgage to them. Told my current bank about the offers I have - still waiting on response from them. I've been talking to different mortgage brokers.....some that work for certain bank, some that deal with more than one lender. All the offers I have allow payment of larger amount during the life of the mortgage with no penalty (within certain limits). The one tricky point when talking to those guys is I am trying to ensure that down the road...say 2-3 years from now should I decide to switch to fixed rate I'll be given by the lender is not just Posted - 1% or so, but their "best available fixed rate at the time"....How common is to be able to put this in the contract I am signing now as future protection for me should I need it down the road? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

After testing my antenna with Brian's VHF radio we've determined 101% my brand new radio is defective and this has been the reason for the strange "helicopter" noise others hear when I transmit. So, after hard negotiation Bass Pro store in Vaughan Mills have agreed to take my radio back and give me store credit for the same value. They refused giving me cash back as I bought it from Bass Pro in the US on the phone last November and have just installed and tested it week ago. So, I'll be going there tomorrow to return the radio and see what other one they can offer.... Here is what they have available on their web site: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...DIOSACCESSORIES Anyone can recommend any of the available radios there that are in the low $100 range? The one I am returning(Cobra MR F55) cost me just under $100 and this is the amount of credit I'll get now to play with. I don't mind paying little extra to get considerably better radio....but don't want to be paying more than $150. Or should Bass Pro not have any decent radios in that price range, should I go and buy a new radio elsewhere and use my Bass Pro credit for something else later on? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Well, it is getting close to the time I need to renew my mortgage. The way market is/going right now seems variable rate is the way to go. Anyone have some inside info on grate rates/lenders/mortgage brokers that can refer me to? I've started doing my home work and have couple more months but thought maybe others are in the same boat (ha ha ha;-)) so we better share info. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Thanks Terry. Point well taken. I guess I should have specified mine is fixed mount (Cobra MR F55) VHF radio (not portable), so I am hoping one of those will connect to my antenna easily for a 2 min test. Brian has told me his antenna connector is the same but maybe the power one is not....but we should always be able somehow to power it directly from my battery just for the test. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Guys, noone with VHF in west GTA? I guess Brian in London will be the closest one.... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Took the antenna connector apart AGAIN....sauldered it again, played with the ground any and all ways possible, change the battery source, even disconnected the AM/FM from it's battery source, then pull the VHF antenna all the way out of it pathway (it'll take me hours to fish it back in again....same story....noise in Low no noise in Hi... I guess I am to naive to believe things should come out of the box and WORK.... The way I look at it the best way to PROVE I got bad radio is to connect another radio to the same antenna set up....should the other radio work fine then it's time to send this one back to Bass Pro in the US...then I'll decide to replace with the same one and risk same problem...or spend more on a better one.... But I want to make sure it IS the radio before spend money to send it back... the whole exsersise will not be cheap. So, I have to ask for a favour....anyone in the Brampton/Mississauga/Oakville/Milton/Georgetown area that has proven working VHF and can loan it to me for 5 min test please PM me. Have few neighbours fishermen but none of them has VHF... Thank you. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

What I just noticed is when I switch to "HI" I don't hear the "puk puk puk" noise any longer....but if I go back to "Low" bam same story again.... Any comments on this? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

I've had cell phone with me in my pocket while sitting at the helm. I'll try it later today when pull the boat on the driveway and see what will happen with the ground wire. I am starting to hate this "ground" issue all together big time! Spoke to Cobra, spoke to their service center in Montreal. The service center said the same - ground issue possibly but to connect wire from somewhere on the boat to ground it on the radio (not directly from the negative on the battery). Cobra said to check SWR - apparently something to do with the antenna....I guess everyone tries to send the ball in the other half... The service center said if the ground wire doesn't help I may have to send the radio back to Bass Pro (where I bought it from)....pain in the butt....I am sure....as it came as package deal together with the antenna...and I don't want to separate it now and having to uninstall/reinstall new antenna later....and new radio....brrrrrrrrrr....why me always with those ground problemssssssssssssssss.............had enough already! Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Ha ha ha yes Bud it was me and my buddy. Appreciated trying to help me on the water. Sorry, I couldn't take part in the soccer/hockey discussion Radio Shack said they don't sell this filter any longer....track stop might be selling it they suggested... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Yes I did turn off the fishfinder - same problem with the VHF though. My GPS is a hand held/AA battery powered one and it was on the dash at the time...not sure if it could have contributed to the problem?!? The VHF is mounted kind of under the dash....say 2 feet from the GPS and fishfinder. My VHF antenna cable passes by the AM/FM antenna like 1"-2" away, but the AM/FM was also off at the time....maybe this has something to do with it....but I have really no way to change this. The only other thing I can think of is to try powering the VHF from the other battery, but not sure if this will make any difference... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

The other day while testing the boat and equipment I've noticed that when transmitting others are hearing what they have described as "helicopter background noise", something like puk-puk-puk while transmitting. Tried to stop the motor theat is connected to the same battery, to move wires arround...no result...anyone knows how I can try to solve the problem. Others can hear me, but with this constant helicopter sound in the background....would like to eliminate it if possible. By the way - my left brake light is acting again - the fight to try to fix it continues... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Congratulation Mike! Enjoy it! About the Lund hat....I am still waiting for mine that Wayne has sent me 5 months ago...must be the slow mail .... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Ha ha ha guys you are amazing ;-) LOL Relax time tomorrow, but going after the big boys on Sunday on the South side. Maybe I'll see some of you on the water? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Just to report - problem with my brake lights is solved and everything is working fine. It sure was the ground. For whatever reason the ground wire that comes from the plug to the back of the trailer is connected to one of the bolts that holds the tail light assembly....but the other bold holding the light assembly is the actually connected with white wire to the back of the bulb...soooo....the only way the ground goes from one bolt to the other is when they are tight to the frame of the trailer. But if paint/rust is in the way - there start the problems....anyhow...it is working now...hope for a long time./ Thanks again for the help guys. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Sinker, from where to where exactly should I run that ground wire? What are the best locations on each side? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

One word - US. Go South and save big! I've PM-ed you all my home work over few months last fall. I am sure you'll find plenty of great boats and good deals there. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

I'll try it tomorrow guys, too exausted tonight. I'll try anything...hope something works.... Or I need someone who knows those things to see it in person. Thanks for all your advice tonight. Cheers, Ice Fisherman