Raycaster

Took a few years but I saved up for the Terrova 80 as mentioned. Here is a pic of the mount and pic of the transducer mount. The transducer in in a 1/2" PVC pipe I believe (perfect to bend if caught on rock etc.) Still haven't designed a better front gate setup but soon... If you have a bimini or face heavy winds you'll want 80lb minimum.

Got an idea I'd like to keep the boat in the garage this winter but looks like a Fulton Fold Away Coupler may be needed to make space. I see PA has the 3X3 but does anyone sell the 3X4 in the Hamilton area? I see them online but with shipping costs etc. would be cheaper local I hope. thx.

I just happen to have a 16' pontoon and just installed a 80 Terrova iPilot US2 on the front. I've used it one weekend solid and it worked great. Its quieter than I thought and the 2 batteries (27) lasted 3 long days without a recharge (although should be charged daily). 3 problems (no fault of Minn Kota) The mk-23 Minn Kota quick release plate. The concept is great but the holes are tough to line up with the floor carpet making it .0001% unflat. Had to modify my front pontoon gate and have to figure out a water guard when the gates open. The top speed is slightly slow for trolling for musky. BTW, the Terrova I purchased also has the Universal Sonar so that would take care of your transducer install.

I'm embarrassed... Friend bought one for me and I thought it was a screwed up crank bait or something! Had no action and just sat on the top like a dead fish waiting for seagulls to grab it, useless.. LOL! signed... newbie

This chased me off Balsam last year.

About 6 weeks ago I posted in the forum asking about bimini repair shops. Members were great and followed up with the names of reputable shops etc. I contacted a few but quickly found out that it is their busiest time so my job would be put in que accordingly. I 100% understand shops putting $1000 jobs ahead of mine so I thought I'd have to wait for the slow time (next winter). Anyways, I got a reply back from Freshtrax that his wife may have time for the job. He stated that she wasn't professional but would give it her best shot. I dropped it off and a few days later was told to come pick it up as it was done! Got around to installing it today and just have to say "WOW"! After looking at the bimini I felt bad as it wasn't as easy as I explained and probably took alot of time. Another big bonus was actually meeting Freshtrax and talking fish with him. Couldn't meet a nicer guy and one of the reasons this forum is invaluable to me.

We hit Big Gull Lake once a year and have no problem with the walleye numbers. We are far from "pro level" and still have pretty good success. Most of the vets on the lake troll the narrows while we just rip the weeds hoping for a combo of pike/walleye. As mentioned, there seems to be a lot more baby pike in the past few years so I can see the ratio tipping in the future.

The best feature of having navionics on your phone is when fishing in the dark on unfamiliar lakes. Even on lakes like Big Gull Lake its pretty easy to mix up what narrow to go through and get lost.

No chance for hotspot, no data on lake. I've been an owner of the navionics app since the first android US & Canada maps came out. As I've posted a few times before, I love mobile Navionics but it has had some serious problems. Still remember buying the Android HD version and having 1/3 of the map viewing blocked out by other Navionic Ads for addons to purchase! Had all my maps erased after not updating the first year. Even with the problems I'm still a huge fan of their apps. I also have Vexilar Sonar setup (part of the beta) so I really enjoy the app but sometimes it seems like more options are more important than just basic operations. Pushing the user for wireless data integration kinda defeats it original best feature. I feel the data login etc. is more geared for piracy protection than actually improving the product (like many PC games now a days).

Cell reception was hit and miss with half the txts being sent didn't get through. I'm going to contact navionics support to see if its possible to download Ontario as I have a 128G Ipad! I swear I never had these problems with the original US & Canada lakes $14 for my phone. It used a big chunk of memory up on my phone (around 5-7 Gig I think) but the phone had 16G and even with a few apps and music I still had space. I never used data and after the initial wifi download at home I had access to all maps every time. In truth the depths were not really needed as I know the lake pretty well and have 3 fish finders on board... But at $75 for an app its easy for an old guy like me to grumble...

Thanks for info guys, will be making calls tomorrow. Sinker, we stayed at Big Gull Cottages and basically stayed in the Chimney Island area just jumping weedbed to weedbed in 8-12 ft. Landed a 37" pike but the rest were small and we probably tossed 15 "snot rockets" over the weekend. Steady walleye action just casting and ripping minnow lures in the weeds. Trolled awhile by the narrows but not productive... Nicely only found 1 OOS bass...

Had a great weekend on Big Gull Lake, sorry no pictures as it was just too hot to fart around with a camera or gopro. The Good: Lots of Walleye, Sunny days, New Minn Kota Terrova, Great friends. The Bad: Navionics (Ipad) let me down again, thought map was downloaded but no and of course no internet service up there. I swear the old Canada Lakes Android version was 10X better with never needing to update your maps (you just download them all one time). I know it's more efficient to just download what you need but the new tablets and phones have a ton of memory on them so who cares? Pay $75 for the latest Ipad version and get no depth maps the whole weekend... A little unhappy but what can you do? A ton of baby pike everywhere, I swear in 5 years the lake will be a big pike factory. The Ugly: Boat prop took some punishment (Totally my fault). I have an old 30hp Yamaha with a 9 7/8 X 11 1/4 F prop that got one of the blades torn up. Tried hammering a bit but it was weak and the piece just snapped off. Not sure if it is repairable? Never bought a prop before and have no idea on the cost of repairs or a new one. I'm in the Hamilton area if anyone knows of a local prop repair shop just pm me, I'd appreciate it.

Its time to replace the old fuel line and bulb as the rubber is way past it prime. (sorry couldn't help myself). Probably just make a custom one as its for a pontoon and not even close to any 6' or 7' advertised. I have the old one but anyone just happen to know the size? (3/8" inside diameter I think but 5/16" mentioned also) . I see some connectors have 5/16" barbs... Time to get the ruler out. Thx ahead.

I usually don't forward-forward sites that people email that "I just gotta see" but these are awesome. http://www.rivermenrodandgunclub.com/cool-and-different-pictures.html I'm not a member of that site or trying to promote anything, just thought guys would enjoy the shots. If its been posted before, apologies.

Bought 2 group 27 at Ancaster Costco 2 weeks ago. Didn't see any 31's but the 27's are already heavy enough, the 31's would of killed me. Bought nice 6g 16' battery cable at Walmart ($29) for trolling motor wiring and put new connectors on. Only need 8' run so hopefully everything will be ok. Not sure about buying 6g adapter for Minn Kota connector or just trimming some cable strands to fit in without it. Yes, not really the pro way to go but heard the Minn Kota 6g Adapter is cheap plastic anyways.

At least LSC mayflies don't bite... I think.

I have a cheap bimini top that I needed 6" wider to fit properly. So I cut it down the middle and bought some matching material to add a 6" strip in the middle. Its in the middle to avoid all tapers etc. and the easiest way for a quick sew job. Unfortunately my sisters sewing machine is in for repairs so she unable to sew it for me. Does anyone know of someone in the Hamilton/Burlington area that could do the job? The material is not thick, just plain tent material. (grey water resistant fabric) Not looking for a super duper fancy professional sewing operation, I'm not picky, just would like done in the next 2 weeks. If anyone knows someone good with a sewing machine that's interested just pm me and we can work out the $ details. I've included pic in case I have made it sound tougher than it is.

I thought I'd buy the IOS version of Navionics as I had an old ipad tossed my way that would mount nicely on the boat. I have the Android version but my Samsung Galaxy 10" is very sluggish and the battery life is poor. Bought the original Canada lakes for Android (my phone) a few years back for $15 and we all got shocked a year later having to buy the new $50 HD edition because the original no longer worked and was not supported. Anyways went to purchase the IOS version and noticed it is $75! And then noticed it has in-app purchase of another $50! Navionics+ = $35 Am I going to have to spend $75 to find out I need the Navionics+ or other features also? Hey, I'm a fanboy of Navionics mobile apps from the beginning but YIKES!

Mitchell is a scary place until you get the used to it. Pontoons, jons or small tin boats are basically the norm around Mitchell due to very shallow parts and stumps everywhere. Any of course by mid summer you have to deal with the heavy cabbage. It makes for great bass/pike fishing but you really have to watch your way and pay attention to the markers. Keep prop as high as possible... The problem right now targeting pike on Balsam is that for every pike you catch you'll probably bring up a OOS bass and wally, no matter what your lure is. I'd hit Mitchell for pike and go very, very slow with someone at the front spotting.

One plan was to wrap it in 1/16 white plastic panel. With a heat gun I could slowly wrap the console and bend clean edges etc. I built an enclosed shower kit which came with a few sheets 4X8 of durable white plastic that would work perfect but I have yet see the sheets on sale by themselves. I've seen semi-plastic panels with a cardboard type backing but none of them just plain plastic at HD and lowes. New thought of wrapping in aluminum due to the cost. BTW HTHM, your post reminded me of painting cupboards to get a plastic like smoothness. I sanded and painted, sanded and painted, X10. It ended up with a orange peel texture after all that work. Your 100% right, its just a old boat anyways but don't want it total ghetto either...

Hthm, did the paint come out relatively smooth? Also, wondering about the cost. All the youtube examples are from the states and i've seen $100 diy jobs turn into 3x the cost in canada. Maybe my best bet would be to find a fixer up console in a boat graveyard... Im going to head down and talk to a local supply shop to see whats involved.

I redid my pontoon a few years back (with help from forum) rebuilding the mostly plywood furniture and console and then new vinyl with foam etc. Everything is OK (a little worn) but the console needs doing. A friend suggested just to fiberglass over the plywood, sand smooth, paint and voila - I'd have a professional console looking like the expensive molded ones I'm avoiding to buy. I've been You-tubing the subject for awhile and of course its not that easy. Besides the cost of a molded console (> $400) the boats steering cables gives me no wiggle room for adjustment and I have to mount the steering wheel exactly in the original location and angle. Ideally I'd like to redesign the console (keeping the steering measurements exact) but changing the instrument area and allowing for a windshield. Has anyone here tackled a fiberglass job?

Been looking ahead to install my Minn Kota Terrova 80 24V and besides scrolling thru pages and pages of the arguments of 8 or 6 gauge wire I was wondering if anyone had suggestions of connectors beside the MKR-18 that can only handle 8 gauge without another adapter. Lots of complaints that the MKR-18 are junky and cheap plastic, just wondering if someone came to a better solution. Not going into the whole 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 gauge argument, probably just go 6 and do it properly once even if it is overkill. In all the forum feedback the only agreeable fact everyone states is that the connectors always end up being the weak link, either not waterproof, or cracking -rusting or cheap terminal screws etc. I have Anderson connectors at the battery side already, maybe the same for the TM side? Suggestions, links, pics are welcome.

If anyone has applied for any Minn Kota rebates and are having problems they should contact : Minn Kota rebate customer service specialist at 1-866-253-3704 (Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm). Its almost been a month and I had yet to receive even a tracking number so I contacted the above number. I was inform there was 3 errors on my application for rebate - (on Minn Kota's side) as they confirmed my submitted information was perfect. 1) wrong rebate ($5 instead of $80) 2) invalid serial number (I included a photo just in case - they still made mistake) 3) wrong email address (cogeco.com instead of cogeco.ca) They were very polite correcting the problem, gave me a tracking number and expedited the rebate. It still was a little disappointing to go through this as I double and triple checked my rebate information and even included printed photo's to negate any chance of mistakes causing delays.

Thank you for the replies guys. I'm thinking of building a cradle for the 2 batteries and use a dolly to get them around. My back won't be happy but I guess its a trade off now that ipilot with spot lock will be doing most of my anchor chores!