GTRIEM

Someday maybe I can get set up. It is ashame to build nice stuff then stick it together w/ MIG,which works but isnt always pretty. My last project was rod trees and it was not going well w/ MIG...looked like a 5yr-old went nuts w/ a hot-glue gun:) On the bracket the bottom hole tapped? then screw threaded thru into radial hole pattern? GTR

Wow those look great. I am a toolmaker and can appreciate your work. Wish I could TIG weld though ,for my own projects. GTR

I am very interesed. Keep us informed if this devolpes. GTR

I hear ya, I am working on a solution for the do-it-yourself guy. I am a injectionmold maker and have been working on a "kit" that will hopefully be a economical solution to guys that want economical planer boards...of course the businesses that are already doing this have the edge,and I may find out that the retail costs are realistic. If this springs tests of prototypes proove to be a good board I will go for the forum/& other advertising...otherwise I will be useing some expensive prototypes:grin: As I am not in business yet I don't believe there is any voilation on this forum , and am a user of the current advertisers products. If there are features you would like to see on a in-line planer post 'em... I am developing a board that will have the features I want but will use releases from existing companies,I have a release plan that I am molding for my own use but will not swipe it from another company for sales...give me time to develope one. My delema is the guys that use the release vs. the solid attachment and pull at boat. We like to pull board at boat and thats the direction I am heading on releases. I know this is long-winded but I'm a toolmaker not a marketing guy... bear with me. Maybe I'm nuts-Gimmie your thoughts good or bad. GTR

Thank, csootsman. I found him on www. and a few others. With some luck I can get my pop and bro to do a charter this winter. GTR

Hey man we had the WHOLE lake to ourselves, almost gave me the creeps. It was just 2 ft when we went out at lite,but quickly went to 6+ @ 120fow. Me and Pop was off the lake by 1230. I think we we could have had a better run had I been paying more attention but whatever. To your comment of fish cathing....? if the h2o aint froze...cant ya catch 'em? I have started another thread to see about the river this winter. I cant wait till ice out. A fisherman like me needs them aggresive Ho's to get me primed for the year:D as even a dummy like me can fill the box w/ them. GTR

Heres a pic of some of the catch. Sorry for the delay. GTR

Hey guys, I have lived down here w/ in spitting distance of St Joe for along time. Fish the big lk year after year and have realy just begun to feel like I know even alittle bit. Have waded St Joe,Dowagiac,Galien as an un guided amature w/ limited success. My question is who/where do you recommend for a river charter? How late into the year is fishing good? My river fishing knowledge is nill...so I would like to know when would be a good time to go. If possible would this be a good trip to break up the winter blues? I mean hey them boats look like heated sheds, so weather cant be to much of a problem right? Please school me on the river fishing. Thanks in advance for your input. GTR

nice!

Just incase it turns into more than a cleaning carb problem I have used this forum before http://forums.iboats.com/ These guys have always been helpful and cheeeeper than a marina mechanic. GTR

Thanks guys. I've gotten sick on Erie before but never on Michigan. There is somthing different about the wave action between the 2 lakes. I think the 15min. of line untangling did me in. Can't be concentrating that hard and moving up/down in rough seas...=chum. Shoulda just cut it fast and re-tied. GTR

Ya thanks. Gotta love the feeeshes:grin: Forgot to mention,2 hits on orange/gold wigglewart flatline. 2 on a little blue fly w/ blue SD on 5color. Not that it matters though,ya'll was workin or sleepin this morn. I also will add that I had a MAJOR tangle toward the end ....by the time I got it all set back I was GREEN sick!!! never been sick on Michigan before. Man I hate that feeling. GTR

Well I like Friday the 13, atleast this one. Last trip for this season. Launched just before light. Forecast was 1-3's YEAH RIGHT! Boat ignition switch seemed to not like cold-but we got going after some precision switch jiggleing:o Got out and trolled out to 120fow...we had the lake to ourselves. No feesh was hitting,so while looking around and comenting on the 4-6 footers. Notice a huge flock of gulls out ahead, so we adjusted the AP to head there way. Got within 100ft of the gulls and 2 rods popped-1 lost ? and a boated SH.. went out and cicled back around and came back thru and got another SH and a Ho. Then it was time to pack it in. 2 SH ,1 Ho better than skunk. Thanks for all the reports and advice this season. Be talkin to ya'll in GD over the winter. Ho season is just 'round the bend:) Time for deer now. GTR

This is where I got our AP. http://www.starmarinedepot.com/SIMRAD+AP14R+Rotary+Drive.html The price is pretty much $1500 whoever you check. This past spring when I wanted to purchase,no one but this place even had it. (It was back-orderd everywhere for 2 to infinity weeks at the local shops) Service,shipping,price was all great,well maybe not the price:). Install was fairly easy. It does require 11+in behind dash to replace the rotary with new roatary and motor. The directions are a bit vauge as it requires a 7.5A or so fuse and needs to be on a switch. The unit will frittz out if its hot and you just plug it in. The Raymarine sport one would be your next option, this one would not work on our boat since the cuddy door slides below the wheel and prevented the mounting between the wheel and dash/bulkhead.(the sport is an top side of the dash unit that mounts on wheel.It uses a torque bracket that mounts to bulkhead) Both these units will work , we have a 23.5 pursuit and its awsome to have the wheel manned even when the seat is empty:D Save up your money its worth it! Theres trolling paterns on the AP14? I guess I should dig out the directions if there are. GTR

I am NOT happy w/ our current state. Have been laid-off since Jan., so I see alot of news and its depressing! Lying,cheats,socialists running us into the ground. The moral compass of our "elected" leaders is waaay off. Soldiers are dieing, while waiting for the CIC to make a decision. POTUS has surrounded himself with the most Marxist following staff in history. We are cutting defense while other countries are beefing up there missile arsenal. The administration openly admits that we (Americans) are stupid and need to be told what to do. Its against policy to fly an American Flag is the talk of the nation, along w/ an Eagle Scout has a pocket knife in his car. God is a name/word not to be spoken...but gay/lesbian are terms my children here and need explanation. I could go on and on. Yes I to wonder what the flag will be, if one exists at all. We wouldn't want to offend anyone. Sheeeeesh! GTR

I put the AP14R on our pusuit this year,after a year of research and procrastination.With the opinions and advice from the people here the simrad was the way to go.Fairly straight forward instal,good thing because there are a few things not in the directions...fuse size and that the unit needs to have a switch to power on/off. It performs good within reason,sea conditions matter alot.If you have the space I would use simrad the ray mounts between the dash and wheel and has a bracket to counter torque,could be in the way? I bought at starmarine,but at the time no one but them had it,all were out of stock and were many weeks before they could get. Good luck with the AP.You wont regret it!!!!!!! GTR

yup,the lake aint big enuf sometimes. I think in my case the guys were locking their wheel or AP and then not watching where they were goin.Could see no one at the wheel. Why they kept coming back is a mystery to me...proly just tryin to match our troll and doing it poorly.Heck I can get over the driving mistakes ,I just want my gear back. GTR

I hear ya, couple weeks ago in st joe ,guy in a whaler musta thought we knew what the f were were doin cause no matter what heading we took he came back to us and this was out in 100+ fow and only a handful of boats in sight. Finaly sacrificed to them a 5color and church board + lure. Never got a call on returnin the board...Mistakes happen,(well not me:))but if i did pull a dummy,i will answer a raidio call and try to make amends. Oh well still better than staying home:D GTR

good advice considerin wind is all we get ,it seems:( thanks,GTR

Gonna be outta SH Fri. morn,any words-o-wisdom from anyone? thanks,GTR

gotta love them babies:D congrats GTR

we have a couple...got them when we were goin to erie walleyein,now we use 'em for salmon ,had to replace one 2yrs ago as the reelseat started spining on the blank,made reelin fish in a challenge.:lol:they replaced and have no prob since.we have them with fireline and they work fine. Better to have the economy set-up then nuthin IMO:) thats the wilderness we got GTR

+1:rolleyes: I had to go look outside...such a cool July this year. GTR

The drain pipe/hose is a nice feature to have for sure.If it isnt a PITA your oil may even get changed when its due;). When doing that you may consider the addition of fittings and ball valves for winterizing,small valves and and pipes to replace the pet-cocks for draining the water jackets makes winterizing alot eaiser. This makes a trip to FL in the winter more pleasant if you not upside down hugging the engine,wishing you had an extra elbow on each arm,before you come home to freezing cold MI.

Hello Mike,I'm sure you will enjoy it here,I do:)So welcome. The stuff i learn here , i can not put a price on. Good people here. GTR