Raycaster

Was doing ok on Balsam so thought some GoPro footage would be nice. I have a GoPro 4 Silver and use it rarely but always worked fine. Went to use it and now it locks up after 10 seconds turning on. If I use the touch screen or buttons or nothing it just auto locks at 10 seconds with removing the battery the only fix. This happens with a SD Card inserted or not. I have done every forum/youtube/help website instruction possible. Reformatted SD CARD and it freezes with or without card. I Have switched SDCARD that has worked fine over 1 1/2 years. (SanDisk Extreme Plus 32GB GoPro approved) I have manually updated the firmware (it didn't need it but I have tried everything. I have reset the camera. Held buttons for 10 seconds in various sequences. I have hard reset it (hold front button and insert battery) I have changed and re-charged all batteries. I got no problem taking it apart if someone has a internal fix. I assume out of warranty repair would be more than its worth... Anyone have a secret fix I missed or is it an expensive paper weight now? Thanks ahead.

I'm usually in the front of the boat with the minn kota so being able to view a tablet/phone for depth or structure without having to run behind the console is awesome. Just an average fishing guy so can't justify another unit for the boat. I think $350 for WiFi, Chirp and Navionics is a decent deal and should last me awhile.

Just installed a Raymarine DragonFly Pro 4 on the boat this week and got to try it out today. Really wanted the DragonFly 4 Pro for the wifi and chirp option and easy head removal. Went out in Hamilton Bay for 90 minutes before the storm came and gave it a light workout but didn't get the rods outs. Pros: Easy install. Chirp gave excellent clarity of structure Wifi to phone worked perfect, (forgot Ipad in car in the rush!) Worked as advertised. Cons: Slow boot up. 4" display very small for split screens Lost screen is very shallow water (blanked out - not sure) Screen "blew out" a few times with overly bright areas. Nothing exciting found in the bay 8) You can see in the first image the "blow out" I mentioned. Overall the cons were more nitpicking than anything and using tablets around the boat will take care of the 4" display problem. The 7" display was almost 2X the cost with the exact hardware and options except display size. I didn't get super deep into the settings so contrast and color options may fix a few things. The WiFish worked perfect on my phone but the mapping doesn't seem to come from the navionics chip in the head unit. When ever I went split screen on the phone map/sonar the mapping was simply google maps trying to eat up phone data... I do have navionics on my android phone so that split properly on its display like the vexilar unit used to. The ipads will present glare problems on sunny days but not a huge concern.

I have been fixing up my old 16' pontoon again and have been rebuilding the console. I originally covered it in vinyl and it looked ok but a few years later its torn up and needs replacing. I bought a 1/8" sheet of white plastic and been gluing and capping it and its starting to look good but started thinking maybe someone has a used one sitting in a backyard or shed/barn. I don't need a huge whaler console but would pefer something like that. The one problem I may have is that my steering hoses are pretty stiff and un-movable so some consoles just won't match up. Just pm details (price/size) etc. and I'll get right back. Thx.

Thx guys. Yup, time to open the wallet...

Thx guys. Yup, time to open the wallet...

I have 2 Group 27 Deep Cycle batteries for my Terrova 80 that I purchased last year. The batteries were great last year but something is a little funky this year. I have a MotoMaster Eliminator Smart charger 12/8/2A that seems to be taking too long to charge now. Last year the batteries took 4-8 hrs to recharge to FULL depending on how low they were. The batteries look fine with proper fluid levels etc. They were stored inside during the winter. This year the firs weekend they are taking over 12hrs +. Its a smart charger and eventually does finish the FULLcharge. I think you could spend a year on the net researching battery chargers. I've read and read but looking for real life suggestions. The batteries and charger are probably 100% working and just need a normal charging schedual again during the summer but a new charger might be nice... I've been looking at the NOCO Genius GEN Mini 2 On-board Battery Charger and wondering if it would be ok even though its only 4A per bank. The unit above it is 20A (10A per bank) but its also $100 more. I know the answer is probably to grab the 20A but hoping to get away with the 8A model.

My neighbour sold me basically a new compressor with a ton of tools in December. They were all shiny like brand new and he said he just never used them so... Anyways, I 100% trust him (he would buy them back in a heart beat if I asked) but the 2 impact guns don't seem to work. Its just a simple 8 gallon HUSKY set for home DIY and by no means professional but good for taking off tires etc and some pin nailing. I tried taking my winter tires off and couldn't budge even one nut. Tried both guns and had the proper psi etc and oiled before hand. I thought maybe the nuts were super tight but when I tried manually with a wrench I had no problem. The guns sounded perfect and they did spin properly but just had no torque power. I was able to hold on to a socket and the gun wouldn't turn it! I went to a friends house to see if the compressor was crap but his guns operated perfect with my compressor and my guns were still crap on his compressor. Soooo... Yup the guns are inop, but can I fix them? Is something just seized up inside that provides the torque? Can't really think anything is worn or broken as they are in mint condition un-used. Any help appreciated. (Yes, I know they are cheapies).

Thank you for the awesome replies guys, I will use a AAV and probably ferncos above and below the fitting. My eyes lit up when I saw that Saddle Tee, looked perfect for the job.

Installing a bar area with a bar sink at a friends house and dreading the waste hookup. Its on the main floor with a crawl space underneath. The stack is 3 ft away but for a proper run I'd have to connect right to it. It is PVC etc but of course rigid with no adjustment for a connecting coupling etc. Is there a special rubber skirt connector I could place in if I cut 4" out of the stack etc? Would I use a normal WYE coupling, cut in to measure flush and glue with a rubber sleeve above and below? Or is there a better way without disrupting the stack? I will take pics next time I'm there. Thanks for help guys.

Our group heads out end of May and chase the pike. Lots of weeds, lots of pike and luckily very few OOS bass to worry about. Last year we caught a ton of small pike (under 12") so the pike populations may be going up. I know the wally guys won't be happy.

Talking with another tech friend and he pointed out why not eliminate the whole raperberry pi from the equation and just use bluetooth relays contolled from a tablet or phone with gps already available. So a foot pedal connector to a waterproof enclosed $50 8 bank bluetooth relay with some canned android code would be a simple start. The terrova runs on 24v with a 60A breaker so I need to check whats running through the pedals and find out about the speed setting beyond using the gps to determine it.

Surprised no geeks have replied. cons: Parts approx: $200. pros: Universal ipilot for ANY TROLLING MOTOR with a foot pedal!

Was at Bass Pro today and I guess I have been out of the loop as I just noticed Minn Kota updated the Terrova with Bluetooth and Android/IOS apps. Of course I bought mine last year and the bluetooth upgrade looks like Minn Kota offers no way to upgrade. I got to thinking that it might be possible just to hard wire into the foot petal and let a raspberry pi with GPS and bluetooth addon unit control it. And then perhaps custom Android apps could database more than 5 spotlocks etc. and make for a nice GUI for easier control. My Python is pretty rusty but there is a ton of canned code available... hmmm. just a thought, maybe could even poll quicker gps for a tighter spotlock. JUST THINKING OUT LOUD.

Thanks guys you are great. I'm on the hunt now locally before asking for favors...

Finishing up some brackets for the boat using 1.5" square tubing etc. Thought some plastic end caps would be nice but can't seem to find locally in Hamilton. I have struck out so far with the usual big box stores in the area. Easy to find online but hoping just to pick some up. Any hints would be appreciated.

Tom, I think your on to something with the gold chains. They seem to be Grade 70 Transport Chain.

Thank you for the replies guys, yes of course I'll go heavier for the safer option. My trailer is a used tandem axle that has been modified for pontoon use with any specs long gone or simply not applicable any more due to the mods. I will look into the "4 x the individual tire weight rating" for sure. Again thx for the help.

Not sure about gold colored chains but most chains are high strength steel with their diameter dictating their towing safety specs. Although most new chains will be 100% better than my old ones I'm just wondering how heavy duty I need to go.

Finished installing the fold away coupler for the trailer but still have to put a new chain on. Again, not really sure on my trailer or boat specs so the chart suggestions are kinda ballpark still. I have a 22' tandem axle pontoon trailer with a small 16' pontoon. The old chain had unsafe links, was rusty and now I have to extend from behind the coupling so its new chain time. Can i pick up the chain and bolts at PA? Suggestions on chain size and also what type "shiny, hot dipped etc" Thx ahead.

Thanks IronMaker, it would be nice to know the approx specs for ant future upgrades etc.

Sounds good too me too Dara. Its the bolt on version so pretty easy to install.

Got a great deal on a Fulton Fold Away 3"X4" coupler for my trailer. It looks like an easy install but wondering about: Gross Trailer Weight Max Tongue Load These measurements basically work out the Max Pivot length for the coupling. The unit comes with a chart but my 22" tandem axle trailer was converted to a pontoon trailer and impossible to track down the exact into. My boat is a old 16' pontoon with a 30hp and I always assumed purchasing the used tandem trailer for conversion was overkill for safety etc. For a 36" pivot the chart shows a 6000lbs Gross Trailer Weight and 600lbs. Max Tongue Load spec. Really want to get the boat in the garage this year...

Thx guys. Phoning today

Here is the minn kota mount.