SylvanOwner

Great question!! I've had an FL8 with a 19 for a number of years and have found it to be terrific for water less than 30'. A few years ago I started fishing lakers from 60'-120' and have had mixed results with being able to mark fish and/or baits. This doesn't seem to be entirely related to being on steep drop-offs where you would expect some shadowing as I've had the same problem on relatively flat areas. Last year I bought the tri-ducer and really didn't experience much difference, needless to say I was pretty disappointed. I tried toggling back and forth through all three cone settings, multiple times in multiple spots and just couldn't really see that much difference. The cost wasn't that much more but I was really hoping to improve the performance of the unit and it just didn't happen. Anyway, I now have an extra 'ducer, just can't decide which one is the "extra". Let me know when you decide what you are going to replace with and I may be convinced to sell one although I kind of like having a back-up in case ones goes bad (which would inevitably happen the day after I sell the "extra".....lol). I'm really looking forward to hearing what other peoples experiences are....great thread. Dan

Yeah, sorry to hear you've had to make what must've been a tough decision. Where is the store located for people who may not know?

While we're at it.... WEST VIRGINIA BOYS A good ole West Virginia boy won a bass boat in a raffle drawing. He brought it home and his wife looks at him and says, "What you gonna do with that. There ain't no water deep enough to float a boat within 100 miles of here." He says, "I won it and I'm a-gonna keep it." His brother came over to visit several days later. He sees the wife and asks where his brother is. She says, "He's out there in his bass boat", pointing to the field behind the house. The brother heads out behind the house and sees his brother sitting in a bass boat with a fishing rod in his hand down in the middle of a big field. He yells out to him, "What are you doin'?" His brother replies, "I'm fishin'. What does it look like I'm a doin'?" His brother yells, "It's people like you that give people from West Virginia a bad name, makin' everybody think we're stupid. If I could swim, I'd come out there and whip your ars!"

.....that the best you got?

Thanks guys. City Marine is minutes from my house and the price is definitely right.

I'm looking for a 1" bearing and hub assembly for today. Canadian Tire says they have 'em for $149 which seems ok but does anyone have any other suggestions on where to try?....much appreciated ok, just called City Marine on Queensway.....$43 dollars!!...for the whole assembly, greased and ready to slide on....emergency over

I like this method as well, allows the seat to slide which you can use to adjust balance or find that perfect driving position and easy removal for theft proofing. Just don't leave the seats in while traveling because they will slide out when driving and may even roll out of the boat, say while on the highway or something

I like the solutions that Drifter and Irish have proposed. I went one step further and cut out an access hatch on the side of my bench then removed enough flotation to allow installation of a backing plate/strip of aluminum, used a seat base as a guide for drilling holes in said backing plate and bolted in seat base with nylock nuts. Fill in the space with expandable foam and rivet a cover plate over the access hole. Comes out pretty tidy, not a great deal of work and solid!! This allows me to use a pedestal seat with a removable post. Post in for fishing, post out for traveling. Had this setup for 6 or 7 years now, used it in rough water many times with post in and adult casting from seat with no troubles. Last year I even bought a "bicycle" seat style seat on an extendable post and have no trouble leaning against the seat with my feat on the gunwales and casting.

Here's some more links that you may find helpful. http://www.themarinedoctor.com/ http://www.noahsmarine.com/Canada/canada.html http://www.outboardrepairs.com/ http://www.themarinedoctor.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl http://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=3156 http://www.faucher.ca/ Good luck with the project, definitely about the pride factor and not about saving money....

The other reason they wait so long is to absolutely make sure the charge sticks. There's some pretty crafty lawyers out there and our legal system isn't exactly known for being strict so they do this for assurance.

Sounds like battery to me. What are you using? rechargeable? How old is it? or disposables? Do you have an actual voltage reading or just fraction/percent/bars type of indicator? When you say it happens for a few outings, what (if anything) changes in your setup to make it work properly?

You'll get it right just stick with it. You think fish fries tasted good before......wait a week I was born just outside of Bristol in a small town called Knutsford (my kid gets a kick out of that...."see, you're nuts and you drive a Ford hahahaha) but immigrated to Canada in 1974 when I was 4 years old so truth of the matter is I'm pretty Canadian. Still have some relatives there, near Bristol and in Manchester, and have been back a few times for family vacations but I just don't get the same feeling as I do here, this is home. Went to Scotland 6 years ago for the first time and really liked that - more wild places. Dan

I'm with you Limey, just came back from a fly-in north of Cochrane which was my scheduled quit. Been 2 days and doing fine, the first 2 weeks are a piece of cake for me, it's after that I stumble....yes, this comes from experience, I'm a practiced quitter.....lol. Never been through the other stuff but "death sticks" are really really difficult to quit but I'm determined this time. When you have the urge, wait ten or 15 minutes and chances are it'll be gone. From one limey to another.......good luck man! Dan

This IS the best idea yet. Keep at it.

Thanks Mike and yeah...that would've been great but family duties didn't allow enough adult "play time" for that destination. Hope you guys have a great trip, thanks for the advice you've provided over pm now get off the 'puter and go lay a beating on them gators. Safe drive, safe flight!!

What a great bunch of people here, thanks.....everyone for the links, tips and advice. We're settled on bringing some worms, definitely not minnows and a keg of bug spray (anyone know where to buy the stuff in bulk ). The primary target is big pike, looking for a fish over 40" that has been very elusive for my buds and I. We've been within 1/2" (I couldn't give my buddy the satisfaction of being the first 40 ) and I had one at 38" that was a legit 20lber but would be nice for one of us to do both... Thinking about bringing the fly rod for a whitefish or 2 just to say I did but big pike and some time spent on a walleye bonanza or three is the focus. 12 sleeps 'til take-off.

Thanks Fellas, some great advice there....looking forward to take-off.

So my buddies and I are doing our first ever fly-in trip and was hoping to pick the brains of the members here (shouldn't take long) to help make it the best ever...haha. We're going in to Lake Nettogami with Air Cochrane on May 31st, staying until June 4th and was hoping that someone may be able to offer advice on spots or baits from previous experiences here. We're staying at the peninsula cabin. Post will follow on return. Thanks in advance. Dan

I also have an 02 XTerra 4x4, only had it a year now but I would still say it's the best built vehicle I've ever owned. Previously had a couple Explorers and Bronco II. It's a 5 speed with about 170k on it. I struggle to get 500km to a tank in the summer and less than 450km in the winter and I baby it. Tank is 65 liters. It's not the supercharged version (didn't want that) and it's pretty gutless. I tow a 14' tinny with full floor and a 25h.p. motor, 1200ish lbs. fully loaded with fuel, batteries etc. Pulls it no problem and doesn't use much extra fuel while towing. It's great in 4x4 in the winter but absolutely terrible in 2wd - worst of all the suv's I've owned. The rear seats are a bit of pain to fold down, the actual seat (part you sit on only) has to be removed and either left behind or packed in somewhere. I've heard rumours of the head gasket issue but I know I don't lose any coolant or burn any oil....period. Great truck until you have to put gas in it.....

now that's funny...

Very nice work there Mike. I'll be sure to let the boss know I approve next time I see him....you can thank me later!!....lol

Try Noah's, http://www.noahsmarine.com/html/location.html, for epoxy (and marine plywood). I haven't tried Home Hardware for stainless hardware but Brafasco is the best pricing I found as long as you are buying at least 50 pieces, CT was next best in pricing....Home Depot and RONA very expensive.

Looks like a fun time with the kids....try this for mammal skull id, http://issuu.com/wildlife/docs/mammal_skull_identification. I'd have to agree with the previous poster on racoon. Dan

I know not Guelph but LeBaron's are about $30

I think I've seen those feeesh somewhere before Nicely done, was a great day.