None of the big ones we caught this fall, with Thorpe, seemed to be in any hurry to swim away. They don't even thrash/roll in the net like the smaller ones Lew and I caught on the BOG this fall did. It's like..."I've been here before..get them hooks out of my face and let me go about my business". Then they take their time at the side of the boat and slowly swim away.
Great find Lew !
I don't know what the hype is either Paul. The only maintenance on a Verado is a yearly oil change top and bottom ($200 allowing an hour of shop time + the oils and filter) and you're supposed to check the thermostat spring (but you already know it works fine from the temp gauge!). Merc could tell everyone to not bother changing their oil for three years and I doubt it would effect failure rates...they're just not that hard up for a marketing gimic !
Quite possibly Kerry and something I've never disputed, other than the numerous BRP power heads that Temagami Marine had blow up on them last summer..and now that Skeeter pointed out an oil issue I'll look into that and if it was being used. My only comment in this thread has been noise level compared to other options and anyone that says that an E-tec is quieter than a Verado idling away at the dock or trolling muskie is dixie.
The other side of the coin is BRP have so much money sunk into R & D and marketing of the E-Tec they can't turn back now !
All I know Mark is I can't hear my 275 Verado running over an idling 150 E-Tec. They idle reminisent to an old rotax powered skidoo. Maybe that smooths out under power... haven't rode in a boat with one.
Wayne
All I know is they are useless on our island up North. Tried to find a property stake...but darn near every rock is full of iron ore!
I do use it all the time in the yard though... about every time the son cuts the grass with the mott mower as matter of fact. I go looking for all the blades he loses.
I know we have at least one OFC'r here, Mark, that's not happy with his E-Tec.
And in my opinion, for the 0.375 cents that its worth, they are not quiet.
Glen... if you can't find locally. Here's a dealer in MN that's at least cheaper than Down-east directly
http://www.thornebros.com/muskie/trolling_...g_downeast.html
Dang... I shouldn't have gone there.. they have muskie baits as well at fair prices.
Here's a place that has the -11 and the -16 kit to make it a -17 at good prices.
http://www.stripertackle.net/proddetail.as....asp?prod=DES11
found the -17 from them for only $23.95 !!
http://www.stripertackle.net/proddetail.as....asp?prod=DES17
all the holders they carry
http://www.stripertackle.net/products.asp?cat=45
I've never noticed the bolt on S-17's in there Glen... may have been there..just wasn't what I was after. The clamp on S-10's are generally hanging on the end of a shelving unit..an end facing the reel counter.
And Mike's got a point...go spend the money at JB's if they have it... and Browse muskie row while you're in there.
JB's # 1-416-614-7222
Timbr Mart and probably most other lumber yards have similar products Meely. It's also made by Steel Tile in Barrie..well their facility next door anyhow.
Here's one distributor in TO
http://www.advancedrock.net/region_canada.asp
One just looks to have a lower bracket for bolting on Glen. Here's their website. It's the S-10 that is a double clamp on.
http://www.down-east.com/clamp-on.htm
You can also see why they are a deal in BPS for $22.95/23.95 cdn in Vaughn.. retail list is $38US for the S-10