ReelNauti

:DI just picked up a new battery this weekend (Interstate) and it came with nuts instead of wingnuts. I commneted on how it would be nice if they included nylocks instead. They told me that Interstate does not recommend nylocks because they can melt. When they melt, they actually run down into the connections between the stud and terminal causing high resistance. This in turn causes the lead top to begin to melt. I stated that there had to be other problems for this to occur. If the terminals and nylocks are installed correctly with good wiring the terminal shound never heat up. That being said, I have wingnuts on 1 battery (tightend with Channel Locks), the supplied nuts on 1 battery and nylocks on the other.

Where are all the people? It looks like you had the place to yourselves.

The last one I had fail was about 5 years old and a bearing went. The housing and impeller were fine, the motor just started to bind.

In NJ as long as your not drunk, no problem.

It's Winter... at least you not getting the typical winter BS that usually erupts from the lack of sunshine.

That's my plan as well. You browsing or buying? Just browsing. I may pickup a new VHF and new rod/reel for the wife. We go to smell new fiberglass in the winter . Usually we meet up with a group from the marina and the wife likes to use it as an excuse to get away. So we'll head down for 3 nights, but only hit the show on Saturday.

I'll be there on Saturday the 6th.

If your putting a bow rail on it, I would mount the spot on the rail and keep the rail stainless. A stainless rail would be less maintenance in the long run. Putting the spot forward eliminates illuminating any part of the deck which kills your night vision.

On the Hard

We just got a new 55" Visio. It's an LED - LCD 240Hz. The picture is amazing. A little pricy as it's their latest top of the line model, but it's what the boss wanted. We have only had it a few weeks, but like it so far.

My boat was 10 yo when I bought it. The third year I owned it I replaced most of the engine hoses and all the intake lines on the boat. The engine hoses were OK (FWC) and changed just for piece of mind. I had trouble finding some of the OEM pre-formed hoses so I did not replace them all. I carry a few pieces of hose that can be fitted to patch a bad hose. If the hose feels soft, I would replace it. All the intake lines (Engines, Heads and AC) showed signs of failure. After putting off the AC line I finally did that one this year. When I took the line out, I bent it in 1/2 and it cracked open. That one could have sunk me.

Hold my beer.......Watch this! or I will not leave until I catch a fish. or Nobody will ever find me here

I think this counts

Nice Pics....but where are the girls?

When I was growing up my Dad never used shrink wrap and to this day I still don't. Beam isn't a problem, just build a higher pitch. After years of doing Dad's and my won boat's last year I finally came close to perfection. What usually ruins this are cheap tarps (get a good one), rope used to tie it and the mess at the bow which usually collects rain and snow. My frame is 1 1/4" PVC. I had most of the pipe already so it only cost some fittings. The tarp covers about 66% of the boat fine. One key is to use HD bungees instead of rope. This allows some give. I had found some clips at BW before they went out that allows me to clamp down on the tarp. The clips have a cord slot in them to allow for clamping on the tarp with the cord inside. These are the real key. I run a line off the bow on both sides around the boe keel block. I then secure this line towards the stern with 2 lines to the swim platform struts to keep any pressure off of the keel block. The boat is heavy enough that the tarp won't move it but more is better. I then fold the tarp at the bow around these lines and pull them up on the inside and tie them to the railing. This is roughly about a 45 Deg angle. Think of wrapping a present. With the clips, I clamp them of the folded edge of the tarp and make sure the cord from the bow in in the slot which give the clips a little more bite. The clips a turnscrew to tighten and also have eyes that allow me to tie (yes, I use rope) and snug the eyes together around the curved bow under the rub rail. This leaves no tarp wrapped on the outside with a upturned edge to catch the rain and snow as the folds are on the inside. Bottom Line- 1 tarp for $150 = 3 years - you can't touch shrink wrap for that.