pikehunter

Excellent!

I would say no to the offer. Remember that sales people are evaluated on the amount or quantity of service plans they sell as much as or even more than on how much they sell in dollar value of actual product, the high profits are in ESP's, not on product. Instead of purchasing the plan invest a few bucks in a trustworthy mechanic to go over it with a fine tooth comb. I bought the van I'm driving after I leased it for 4 years. They tried to talk me into an ESP when I made the "lease end" purchase and I declined the offer to let them gouge me for an extra $1800.00 on a vehicle that I essentially already owned and at that time already driven out of the manufacturers warranty for about 2 years. The big pitch to try to convince me was that if the tranny goes it will cost you easily over 2 g's for a new one. I told him I'd been driving it for 4 years, I know what is wrong with it and what is OK and to stick your extended service plan up our I have not regretted it and that was over 7 years ago...and yep, I'm still driving that very same van which now has over 300,000km's on it. Come to think of it, maybe I will spend that 18 hundred bucks I saved on not buying an ESP on some paint and touch up the body work on it this spring! After all, it will have it's 12th birthday in June! Knock on wood that is....

Yep agreed, ridiculous!

Move to South Florida. This will solve many winter problems, it's the only sure answer I have found.

Lots of good suggestions already mentioned. I launch with a long line tied to the tower and back it in as Lew said. Tongue walk it and crank it in when reloading, but then my boat isn't as heavy as the pictured craft, but it is a 16' tinny. What I find to be the 2 biggest factors to screw up a successful self launching is the wind and the ramp itself eg. depth, falloff, angle to the ramp and the ramp angle. Every boat ramp is different.

It's over whenever my wife takes the Christmas Tree down. This year it was within a couple of days of New Years Day. Came home one day and it was gone

Holmes has done a lot of good by making a public statement on how much shoddy workmanship is going on. Some by builders, some by contractors and renovators, some by unlicensed people, some also by "handymen." One thing he seldom comments on is how some of these homeowners got stuck in these bad situations in the first place. And that is quite simply that there are a lot of tightwads out there that are only interested in getting the cheapest price. People have to do their homework! Don't go cheap, don't buy cheap materials and quit looking for a bargain! You only get what you pay for, nothing is free. I encounter cheap people everyday at work and do my best to explain why something costs a few bucks more and generally succeed with getting the point across. Sometimes though I can't and just have to sell them the cheap stuff and let it go at that. With that said, yes there are too many shoddy repairs and renos done everyday even when homeowners have paid a premium, that is why you have to do your homework. And yes Holmes is arrogant so is Curyak, do you ever listen how he talks down about his customers, every show of his I have seen (haven't seen him recently though) he talks about how unreasonable, clueless, unmovable or demanding the client is. It irritates me to listen to that, he should keep it to himself or keep it off camera.

I feel sorry for you John, you missed having to shovel out the driveway and the snowplow's dumping before driving off to work yesterday morning. It must be awful hard on your eyes too with all those topless girls running around the beach! Geesh! You're going to come home blind! You should have stayed home and let me take you're place I don't mind the punishment of having to deal with sand in my shoes, bulging eyeballs, sunstroke or having to get my drinks at a pool side bar, honestly I'm tough and I can take the abuse! Have a good time, I look forward to more pictures and reports.

Cartop it home. Get a set of decent roof racks, ropes and tie downs and you'll do OK. My father used to cartop a 14' Thornes tinny with no trouble. I had a buddy when I was a kid who's father used to cartop a 12' on a VW Beetle all the way up north. 12' boats are usually called cartoppers so don't worry about it, unless of course you're driving one of those "stupid looking Smartcars!" Congrats and I wish you many happy fishing trips in you're new boat. Oh yeah, forget the paint, sure it will look nice and pretty all spiffed up but at least using it the way it is a few little dock and rock bumps won't be a worry.

Really? Has it been that long since this topic was brought up? Boy time sure flies fast! Could have sworn it was just a day or two ago. Just enjoy the forums as they are, after all that's why this site is at the top of the heap.

My fingers are crossed and my well wishes are registered with the gods that be for your daughter, you and your family for a remedy and a quick recovery. Remain hopeful and keep your spirits high.

Storey here

Very sorry to hear the terrible news. Keep her in your heart and remember all the great times.

I noticed that when I looked over this years snowblower line up. They are all described by engine displacement rather than H.P rating. You have received some good advise about maintenance. If you are looking for one right now good luck! Most stores are sold out. Ancaster Home Depot had a shipment the other day, 15 of them, but I think they were all presold.

Very sorry to hear of your family's loss. Her great spirit will live forever in your heart and soul.

According to the ad the sale doesn't start until Tues. Dec. 16th.

Sooooo....some don't want to eat anything that is a bottom feeder or is part of an animal's mouth but will eat sausages encased in a pig's intestines. Interesting.

I can honestly say that I have no complaints about my '97 Ford with over 300,000KMs on it and owned since new or my old Honda bought a couple of years ago used also with over 300,000 on the clock. Both have been reliable and I would buy either again. Although if I ever buy new again I would be considering a Honda or Toyota built right here in good old Ontario. And...if you buy a used vehicle what difference does it make if you buy import or domestic? Either way you are not contributing to Canadian or US manufacturing. I know far too many people that work in auto manufacturing that refuse to buy new because new cost too much!! Wow! You make them and get paid the big bucks but you don't buy what you make. How hypercritical is that? So then these same people want our government, you and I to support their over paid jobs! I don't agree with this entirely. And one more point that confuses the whole issue. When Toyota and Honda built their plants in Ontario how much government money was given to them to sweeten the pot? With that point then are the others also due some support? Just some random thoughts from one who can't decide which side of the coin is right.

I was faced with the same decision. I bought a 16' regular pointed bow Lowe Sea Nymph. Reasons: Versatile, higher weight capacity for same size boat, and I didn't want to be cooking in a dark green frying pan on a 90 degree hot sunny summer day...it's bad enough in an aluminum boat with a light tan coloured interior. But the weight capacity and versatility was more of the deciding factors for me anyhow. I would stay away from one with the flat bow and opt for a modified Jon like Urbanfisherman's if I were to buy a Jonboat.

Yeah, some might even call it God's Country.

Exactly! We have had this discussion around the house and the water cooler several times. I don't get the logic either. Except that we are still getting hosed! The oil barons figure we are all stupid and will be happy to see the pump price down to less than half of what it was even though the barrel price has dropped to about 1/2 of it's highest value. What a rip, I say that though without taking into consideration the Canadian dollar's drop in value. But at least the price is better, I can't deny that.

Doesn't matter if the measurements are accurate or not. It's a BIG FISH regardless of what any Tom Dick or Harry's opinion is on the size of this brute. Maybe the size and girth were guesstimates Maybe they did indeed take measurements Like has been said, if they had posted pictures of the process then there would have been criticism for the way it was done and surely there would have been even more negativity here. Maybe the measurements were only quoted to give a better understanding of this beauties size? This guy must feel like a lottery winner. Happy at first but then have to listen to all the whining from the wannabes. Congrates to him for his victory! Kudos to Roy and Lew.

Great looking catch directly on ice and into the pan, gotta love it!

Drove home on the Lincoln Alex. PKWY and Red Hill PKWY from work in Ancaster around 9 PM. I t was getting nasty. I did OK in my old Aerostar with just all season tires, but I'm careful and use the gas pedal very gingerly. I passed 2 cars in the ditch and saw one spin out coming in the other direction. You just have to take it easy, slow down, be cautious, think and look ahead. The who gave you the bird deserves what he got. You should have been pointing your finger at him and laughed.

Niiiiiice! Wonder if it's an American or a Canadian?