Big Cliff

Sorry to hear that but you already know that you'd be welcome in my boat anytime, nice high sides, soft seats. I still owe you one for the fantastic smelt trip from last year. Just say the word!

I am so very sorry for your loss, 49 is just way too young! From the pictures she looks like quite a gal, I would imagine she would want you to celibrate her life and not mourn her passing! Our deepest condolences to you and your family Wayne.

Cliff, I have a chain saw and you are welcome to borrow it, I would come down and cut it up for you but our family reunion is this weekend and I have about 30 people to feed brunch to this morning, (brunch will be at about 10:30 and there is always room for one or two or three more ) Anyway, let me know if you want the chainsaw (I'll come down tomorrow after work and cut that tree up for you if you can wait until then) Call me 705-328-0577 Cliff

Peter, thank you so much! Very nice of you to offer! I am really looking forward to getting a chance to fish with you one day soon!

Thanks Art! I really like Lowrance units too, my boat is only small and I doubt I'll be traveling much further than my home lake with it so I probably won't ever bother getting radar. It's amazing how many options and configurations there are out there.

Well, I am still looking, just saw a really nice hand held GPS, the Garmin Colorado 300 (LOVE this thing) but after talking with Garmin's marine devision they told me that they had some issues with their newer Blue Chart packages and that they had been recalled. I really have to give Garmin technical support a lot of credit, they have been VERY helpful any time I have called them. Their Great Lakes map package doesn't contain enough detailed information for what I want and my off shore navigator software won't communicate with the 300 so that ruled out a lot of units and options, I am just going to keep looking and hopfully get it right some day soon!

Thanks for the replies! My budget is about $750.00 (but if Sue doesn't find out I could go a little higher, up to $1000.00). I have also been told by a very trusted source to stay away from the HDS units as there were some issues with them. I'm still looking

I am interested in getting a GPS/fish finder for the boat, I looked at the Lawrence M68C S/Map, does anyone have any experience with them, any recomendations? I do want colour, I do want a combination unit, I am sort of limited to space so I am thinking a compact rather than full size. Help please!

Ok, I want to know what Cliff said to Bly (or Bly said to Cliff) to get them both shaking? Glad to hear that all had a good time!

I tried that link but got an error message?

A belated happy birthday big guy. All the very best to you!

The pleasure was all mine my friend, sorry I couldn't get us into some bigger fishes, the catching was slow but the company was wonderful. I'll post a picture once I get the rod holders mounted and stuff like that.

Wish I was there with you but I got Beans so there! I win! Hope you all have a wonderful time and be safe!

Glad to hear you finally got one Gerritt, I think you made a wise choice by going new! There are some good points brought up by this thread though. brand names don't always mean QUALITY anymore. Husqvarna is an excellent example, (not to pick on Husqvarna, I'm certified on all their products and really like them, it is just one that I thought most people would recognize) top of the line products IF YOU BUY THE TOP OF THE LINE UNITS but like everyone else, they have had to compeat with the big box stores and to do so, they have had to cut production costs. There are many products out there today that carry a brand name but are just someone elses product in their cases. You do have to be careful!

Oh, and I thought you didn't go to Lakair so you could stay here and help me slime the new boat, now I find out that you didn't go to Lakair for other reasons? Now I am deeply offended! Just checked the weather forecast for tomorrow, 60% chance it won't rain on us, a little cool, (I need a brake from the heat after this past week)winds light and out of the South @ 10k sounds like a perfect morning for fishing, I know you like to sleep in but does 8:00 am sound ok to you? We'll fish until about noon if the weather holds for us, I know your back bothers you if you are at it too long and we can come in earlier if you need to. Oh, btw, liked that post of yours

Well about two months ago we switched to a Voice over IP phone. Biggest mistake of my life. I won't bother going into all the gory details but as of noon this Saturday we will be back to a land line but unfortunatly we will also have a new phone number so for those of you with the old one, please update your records. Our new number will be 705-328-0577

First suggestion: get the right one for the job; how big an area do you have to cut? wide open or lots of trees, hills, what else do you intend to use it for? The next thing is look at the engine, you will find that the majority of them have Briggs engines on them, some Kohlers, or Kawasakis. They are all good engines if you take proper care of them but I am a little partial toward Briggs just because I am most familiar with them. While there are many brands and colours out there, a majority of them are made by/for MTD, same machine, different colour different name on it, different prices. What I would do: Go to a dealer near you that has a good reputation. Tell him exactly what your needs are, ask him to point out the features and benifets of what he is suggesting, if he knows his stuff and is willing to help you make an informed decision, good start. try to get a look at his service area, clean and tidy, well organized, all good signs. Find out how far he is behind in his service work right now. At the moment we are running about a week behind which is a good thing, many shops are two or three weeks behind. Also, buying from a dealer rather than a big box store, you will get your unit checked over and started and tested before you ever take it home and if/when you need service you will get it much faster. Lastly, try to stay away from anything with a lot of fancy trim, they look nice but they are mostly just snapped together and it won't be long before the pieces start to come loose and fall off. PM me if you have any specific modles in mind and give me the make and modle, I'll try to see if you are getting a fair price on it or not. Depending on your needs, you should be able to get into a new tractor for between $1600.00 +

LOL, now I remember, that was my friend Eric's motor. That was a few years ago!

Well, I'm not changing my nick name for anyone and if CCMT wants to start using his real name he'll just have to settle for "Little Cliff, Small Cliff Young Cliff, OK, Ok even Smart Cliff but he CAN'T have Big Cliff! Personally, I like real names included but what if you could click on a persons profile and see their real name, that would solve it wouldn't it. Use a nick name if you like but register with your real name. Some of the nick names are quite creative.

LOL, Cute and I like it but I'd have to change my name to Kirk or Marty You'll have to refresh my memory, I'm not sure what you are talking about.

Mission accomplished! , Actually it worked out well because Albert had a back pack blower he wanted me to look at for him, he was going to send it up to Lakair and then have someone bring it back down to me but as it turns out it is an older John deer blower and I wouldn't have been able to get parts for it except from John deer (if I could have gotten them at all). Anyway it was nice seeing you again even if it was only briefly, hope you enjoy the trimmer! Sorry I couldn't help you with the blower.

Well, I have to tell you that so far, "Miss Stress" and "The Second best Catch" are tied for first.

Hey, how about an "help us name our new boat" contest the prize would only be bragging rights but it might be fun. Our last boat was called "The Other Lady", (she had a mirmade on her side) for a couple of reasons, she was the only other lady that Sue would let me spend time with, spend money on, and disapear into the evening with, without getting mad at me! She was always a lady in that she stuck with me through some really rough times and never let me down. I would talk nice and stroke the throttle gently and she would purr like a kitten. Crack the throttle forward and she would spring like a panther. She would glide across the water like a feather on a breeze, weather any storm, cold, wet, I could touch the key and she would spring to life and take me where ever I wanted to go. She has moved on to a wonderful family and her replacement will be hard pressed to live up to her reputation but I think she needs a name.

Thank you so much for sharing that with me, just made my day to know that they are pleased with her. I just had a feeling when I first talked to him that he and the boys would do her proud!

Looking forward to it! 705-328-0750 I could use a good deck hand from time to time!