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Over time it had become obvious to me that I spent far more time on big water than the northern lakes. Not that I don't enjoy those -but both E and O are only 60 minutes away - and with no Toronto traffic between me and these launches its really a no brainer. I loved my Starcraft 16 foot dual console, but it meant being very selective and watchful being out a few miles - Erie especially I don't trust, and the distance you have to run to find fish is significant. So I started looking for something that would still work on the smaller lakes, but provide me a greater margin of comfort on the big water (oh, and it had to fit in the garage too). Hit the Spring Fishing and Boat show to formally launch the search. There weren't too many in my size range, and nothing with a deep V hull unless it was too big. Searched all the websites, again, not a lot, and very little that was recent and had a 4 stroke. I did find one beauty up in Barrie - but couldn't come to a reasonable price. This is how I ended up doing what I always said I would never do - buy new. I like the Starcrafts, so decided to stay there. After visiting many dealers who were not too interested in negotiating a deal, I found myself at a dealer a couple weekends ago with G. They had a 176, dual console promo special in the offsite show room. Fishfinder, 55lb trolling motor, mooring cover included. I asked for pricing with a 115 and a kicker, full stand up, and some tracks. It looked pretty good - actually it was pretty much where everyone else had been before kicker, mooring cover, fishfinder and track. So I put in an offer of $1000.00 less, expecting at this point the same response I got everywhere else. The sales guy went off to huddle, came back and stuck out his hand - Its a deal. I was kind taken off guard, but, heck what do you do now, say, - hey I was just kidding and walk away? Two weeks later I arrive to pick up the new water toy. I am early, and they are running behind, so I sit for a couple hours before she comes out to show herself; took her out to check the power packs The mechanic showed me the ropes, and dials, then hit the gas and in split second we were on a full plane and trimming up the motor. He looks at me "Nice". Yeah baby She is a little stern heavy right now, so I gotta figure a way to get a couple hundred pounds of ballast up front. The casting deck area is huge - in fact a lot of the extra room in this boat is up front and I think that is why she sits a little low in the back. Plus the rod locker has 6 foot tubes for 12 rods (not that my great lakes rods will fit) all in the front. Anyway, the Marina didn't have the track installed (back ordered and only arrived the day before), so my work was cut out for me. Narrow gunwales on this boat, they have built some floor-to- gunwale-height storage lockers / flotation area. Made a couple access holes for mounting and it was time to go: Starboard side took great care and caution when drilling: Lots of weight going up here - so support under the track for as far as my arms could reach Then, wouldn't you know, Scotty is the only maker of riggers that are not compatible with standard risers - fortunately Jos at Angling outfitters came to the rescue with some aluminum plates. McGiver time Mounted and ready: And - 4.5 hours of work, and another 3 hours of driving around later Then messed with installing my fishfinder - The one that came with the boat will go up to the bow once I recharge the patience battery So today, with winds so high I would never have gone out in the Starfire, I said lets see what this is about. Calling for winds from the NW in the 25 k range with gusts up to 50, I knew we would have to hug the shore, and just hoped they would be more west and less north - that way they bounce of the escarpment and give us a couple miles of fishable water We arrived at the launch at 7 and dressed her up for her maiden outing White caps and steady 2 footers were taken in stride and never a worry. The 115 put us out in no time even at half throttle and then the 20 took over. It is difficult setting up in that kind of water and after 30 minutes I was just about to set the last rod up when the port planer board, pulling a SWR with a chartreuse and black rippling redfin did the unmistakable king dance and took off. It was G's turn up and for the next 10 to 15 minutes they played a game of tug of war back and forth. This fish ran everywhere and was taking us out in progressively deeper water. We came out past the shelter of 50 point and were in some good rollers. At one pint the fish changed direction and charged forward and I had to put the 20 into WOT to stop it from overtaking us. Finally G brought the fish up along side, and as I reached to scoop, a roller came along and the fish made a run all at the same time. We watched a easy mid 20s king slipped under that water. But we were all smiles and G was thrilled. He got everything but the pic and what a way to start his year! A little while later I took a small eater Coho in the 2 - 3 lb range, and about an hour later G took a good 10 -12lb laker (no pics in the post as he was a real bleeder ) we managed to get him revived and released. The wind settled down around 11, but the so did the fish, so at lunch time we called it a day. A full dock on the way in cant wait to get some decent water time this year.