Big Cliff

Sturgeon Lake (Goose Bay area) as of yesterday 7" of ice out to the green marker bouy (521' off my dock). DO NOT take this as an indication that the ice is safe, I am sure there are plenty of areas that aren't and I take no responsibility for anyone going out even in front of my place. This was tested under the strictist safety conditions, flootation suit rope, and two guys standing by with a boat just in case. I still don't trust it!

I would imagine that things have come a long way since then, at least I hope so, I have a 2008 PrinceCraft (which I haven't tried to sink yet and don't intend to) and I would like to think that if I ever did miscue and fill it with water I would have a fighting chance. That 60 hp 4 stroke on the back sure does weigh a lot though and I would think it would take a lot of foam to keep it afloat.

Yes, they were by far the most knowledgeable and helpful. They even put my name on a waiting list for the new Xbox but they don't expect any in before the new year. really nice people in there.

Bring that sucker out here Geoff, (or I can come and get it if necessary), I just picked up a nice little hotplate at CTC (with the idea of building a smoker, just need a cabnet) so we would have a heat source, I have all the tools we would need to make any holes in it for vents. We can set it up in a corner of my garage and smoke fish/meat/anything we want. And I already have a beer fridge in the garage.

Wow, thanks for all the replies and Geoff, I just might take you up on that offer, it would be a big help. I went to Staples, The Source, EB Games and Target today asking questions and trying to learn. (Target was a total waste of time) According to The Source, the 360 will only be supported for about two more years. PlayStation either is or will soon be charging you for an account if you want to play on line, which doesn't really surprise me. No one has any of the Xbox ones in stock, according to EB Games, there were only 10 units alloted to Lindsay and they were all sold out within minutes. The fact that the Xbox one will allow me to replace my WD TV unit is a big plus and the $60.00 or so a year to give me total on line access is kind of interesting. I was also told that there is an IP blocker available for the Xbox one which will allow me access to even the US Netfliks was kind of interesting too. I guess the other big deciding factor for me will be if my son is going to upgrade to the Xbox one or stick with his 360. So much for an old man to learn LOL. Keep the opinions coming please, information is power!

Learn something new every day! Thanks!

Thanks! Have torque wrench and I will use it!

Texting for me. I can sit in my stand chat with my son in French River, (I just put it on vibrate and stick it in my shirt pocket) be out in the boat talk to any of my other buddies even if they aren't out fishing. I tried the radio thing for a few years and several different ones. Never found one that worked well and the biggest problem was that you were limited to communicating with someone that had their radio on what ever chanel you were on.

I remember the old days, lift the hood, undo two bolts, replace thermostat and you were on the road again in 10 minutes. And yes it is probably the original still in there, I am going to head into town shortly to pick up a new thermostat and gasket, hopfully it will all be done by mid afternoon.

Not being much of a tech type of guy when it comes to this sort of stuff I figured this would be a good place to start. I have just spent the last two days reading reviews and trying to decide if the new Xbox one is a worth while investment Vs just buying an Xbox 360. (I'm probably more confused now than I was when I started). Seems like the Xbox one is pretty advanced and if I understand what I am reading, it would replace the WD TV box that I use to stream movies from my computer through my router. Act as a DVD/Blueray player (not that I really need a DVD player) Allow me to play games on line with my son (although there is some mention of needing some sort of an Xbox account to do that) It seams that it can also be used as a PVR to record TV shows or movies and can actually be used in place of the Bell Expressview box that we currently use. (perhaps one of you smart young fellows can confirm this for me) I guess my biggest concern is that I am not tech savey enough to be able to use all the bells and whistles this thing has but would I just be buying an outdated piece of equipment if I go with the 360?

How old?

No strange noise from under the dash. Would that cause his engine temperature to run cold then warm up when the heater fan is turned off? Thanks Dan, while the cardboard thing seems like a good idea for a quick fix, I think I'll just help him change the thermostat and have it done properly.

Thanks! We did check it and it seemed fine.

That was what we did when I was growing up LOL, It sure would be a lot easier than crawling around on the ground under the car.

Thanks Bill, you are right, it does look like a bit of a PITA job LOL. Well, guess what I am going to be doing today! Would be nice if I had a heated shop I could pull it into but it won't fit in my little shop.

One of the young students staying with us for the winter and going to college here in Lindsay has a 1998 Jetta GL, 2L. He is not getting hot air from the heater, I think it might be the thermostat but apperently it isn't too easy to change on these (I've never tried on a jetta so I don't know). The Temperature gauge only comes up to about 30% When the heater fan is turned off the Temperature gauge does move up to about the normal position (about 50%). As with most students today, he is tight for cash so I'd like to try and help him fix it here if we can. Thoughts/suggestions/ideas please.

Sturgeon Lake is frozen right across in front of my place this morning. -12 right now and no wind so it may give it a chance to actually thicken up over night. You won't catch me going out and cutting holes for a while yet though, I'm way too old to take a cold bath (heck at my age a cold shower isn't even necessary any more LOL)

That is a really good point! I wonder if the foam rating is desigined to keep the boat afloat or a boat, motor, gear. There must be some specs available and it might be good to know for the future.

Just get one of those nice wood chippers, I used one this summer and created a whole trailer full of wood chips in less than an hour.

Ok, a phone call from a friend has put my mind at ease. My heart still goes out to those involved and I am glad that no members of this family were lost!

I haven't heard from a good friend of mine that was down there and I have been worried sick about him all day, no answer on his cell or at home. I know those involved survived but I'm still worried!

I am surprised at all the different replies! When I lived up North all we ever used was an axe to split our wood, (and we split a lot of wood every winter) a good sharp axe with with a broad back so it acted like a wedge. Sharp ment it would drive deep into the block, the broad back forced the wood to split. We did split most of our wood when it was frozen especially the bigger tougher blocks which really does help, I can't remember us ever having to use a wedge. A lot of it had to do with many of the things mentioned here; watch the grain of the wood, split between knots, make sure the block is turned the right way but the swing was probably the most important. You had to follow through, if all you tried to do was drive the axe into the top of the block, that is about all you did but if you tried to drive it through the block the result was much more positive. The other thing was using the momentum of the axe to do the work, hard to describe in writing but easy to show someone, a good swing started with the axe at your feet and was much like a golf swing (but in reverse) smooth and with that follow through. Next time you are up this way Steve, stop by and I'll show you what I mean, you'll be amazed at how much easier it is.

I was driving a cab on Highway 17 and Cote St Charles in Hudson Quebec when they announced it on the radio. I had to pull over I was so upset! I truly beleave he was one of the greatest losses not only to the US but to Canada too.

I have seen it right here on Sturgeon lake, busted one day for way over the limit, back fishing the next day and laughing about the whole thing! Loss of license? Roy most of these people that would go out there and take OOS fish and over limits don't respect the law in the first place. Loss of license to them doesn't mean a thing, most of them don't bother getting one in the first place. I have a 150 quart cooler, I haven't tried it yet but I bet I could fit 30, 2-3 lb rainbow in it and still have room for a beer or two.

It isn't always easy: Customer comes in because his electric start isn't working, he indicates he doesn't want to spend a lot of money so you fix the electric start problem. A week later the auger stops working, customer comes back complaining that you just fixed his snow blower last week and charged him $150.00 and now it isn't working again. Doesn't seem to matter that he didn't want to spend the money to have you check everything over in the first place. You fixed the snow blower now it doesn't work! Customer comes in and askes you to do a tune up on his snow blower then complains like hell when you give him a bill for two hours labour + parts because you took the time to check and replace worn bushings, belts, replace bolts with proper shear pins, inspect and change the friction disk, lubricate the the shifter assy. drain and clean the fuel system, change the oil, put fresh fuel and stabilizer in it, check the tire pressures. They don't seem to think they should have to pay you for the time you spend having to look up the parts for their machine and doing up the estimates....... Then there are the ones that lie to you: "It was working fine when I put it away in the spring so it must be something simple"! That was the one I had to pull the whole blower assy. apart on to find out that the brass gear in the differental had been compleatly destroyed because someone had engaged the auger while it was jammed and just kept it engaged until it ground itself to nothing. $60.00 for the gear + tax and freight. Sometimes you are just plain dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.