Season's Greetings to all fellow Triumph owners-
I drive around all day in a van for work, and I often entertain myself by fantasizing about my Triumph 190 Bay. It offers me an escape from the unpleasantries of my job. It is therapeutic, and it's cheaper and less time consuming than dealing with a therapist. If there is just one person out there in Triumphland that gets a chuckle or perhaps even an idea from this - then it's all worth it. Either way, I am enjoying myself immensely, so here it goes......
I have a yearly ritual of going out to watch the fireworks display on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. I used to do it my 1986 C Hawk cuddy cabin boat. The 140 Evinrude pretty much never ran, so I would motor it around with my 9.8 Tohatsu kicker motor. I would pick my friends up with it at the big water fountain behind the Cambridge Side Galleria. We'd all sit in fold up plastic chairs and have a wonderful time. Then, I would creep up alongside the barge that shoots off the fireworks to have a front row seat. The Environmental police would always yell at me to back away from the perimeter, but I would still get as close as possible. I would have a few beverages and lay on the top of my cuddy cabin roof while watching the fireworks display. Back then, I actively fantasizesd about having a real boat with a big motor that actually worked. I was still just happy to be out there, though.
My idea for this year's fireworks is to place a Lazy Boy recliner on the front casting deck. I can then recline the seat and enjoy the display. I will modify the armrest of the Lazy Boy to have an insulated coozy cup holder or two. By July 4th, I hope to have finally installed my 36 Volt Minn Kota autopilot motor on the bow , which is currently leaning against a wall in my bedroom. I will then steer the boat from my recliner with the remote controlled wrist watch that came with it. I will try to impress people at the loading dock by steering the boat around with nobody in it - using the remote control.
I plan to try and squeeze a huge livewell behind the lean post, so I can go catch pogies or mackerel to use for monster stripers. I may get one like the one pictured below - or I might have one custom made. I work in the wastewater industry, and I regularly chat with a gentleman who was a plastics engineer in college. He knows all about plastic tanks, pumps, etc.. because he builds wastewater treatment systems. He has offered to assist me - if I need help. By the way, since I work for an environmental company (sampling watewater) - I am proud of the facts that: my triumph is almost 100% recyclable, and my Etec has low emissions and is friendly to the environment. Anyway, here is the link for the livewell idea:
------------------------
http://www.aquaworld-products.com/products.html
--------------
I wonder whether or not I could just connect it to the livewell plumbing that's already in the boat? If not - I'll feed it thru the transom or over it.
I sure do like the canvas like the one pictured below:
---------
http://www.triumphowners.net/forums/...6&d=1115839385
-----------
A windshield like the one below intrigues me:
-----------
http://www.seablocker.com/default.asp
------------
Since, I am not the greatest fisherman - these LED lights look cool, and they attract fish:
-----------
---------
http://www.oceanled.com/video_library.php
---------------
I like the looks of these bean bag chairs:
-------------
http://www.e-searider.com/
http://e-searider.com/store/product_...8f15677e4ba76d
--------------
I'd like to run the shallows with one of these( and get a low water pick up (like Putershark)(I could have the transom beefed up - if necessary):
-----------
http://www.portaproducts.com/bracket.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...art=1&posts=10
-----------
I'd like to scout for fish and operate the remote control electric trolling motor from up on the t top (like the Green Grass Clogger):
-------------
http://www.triumphowners.net/photos/...to.php/photo/7
--------
I wonder if I can squeeze in some solar panels up there on the t top to charge my deep cycle batteries?
------------
I have also thought about rolling the dice on a jet drive for my outboard like this:
-------------
http://www.jetdoctor.net/mfg/detail.php?productID=184
-----------
I'd like to have one of the the rails like these to lean against in the bow in rough water:
----
http://www.castaflycharters.com/equipment.html
--------
There are cool photos of stuff here:
---
http://www.actionweld.com/photo_galleries.htm
--------
http://www.topsntowers.com/pages/Mar...Platforms.html
------
I need to get one of these transom saver deals:
----
http://www.m-ywedge.com/instructions.htm
---------
I could use an electronics box:
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/...%3Bpi169550019
----------
these speakers would be nice for under the t top:
-------
http://www.amazon.com/Bose-Environme...7444714&sr=1-1
------------
one of these bazooka tube marine subwoofers would be nice for the bass:
http://www.gooddeals18.com/product/S..._Tube_Sub.html
http://www.gooddeals18.com/product/S...Subwoofer.html
----------------
I have been composing this post over a period of days. I am not going to edit it or try to organize the stuff. That's why I called it random thoughts:
----------
I asked my dealer how to combat water freezing in the livewell hoses,etc.., and he suggested putting RV antifreeze in all of them until it flowed out the back. I never got around to that, though.
--------
My friend and I believe that we followed the instructions in the manual (regarding the "auto winterizing" procedure for my E tec outboard), but we were unable to get it to do it. As a result, my boat is sitting out there in the yard - unwinterized. This is concerning me greatly, so I just took the snowblower I bought to try to dig the boat out of the yard.
I only have a two wheel drive truck, so I bought some poly-urethane tire chains called "Go Claws" - made by Flex Trax - I hope they work. They show a few videos of them. I wonder if they could get me out of a jam at the boat ramp? Here's the link to see them below:
--------
http://www.flextrax.com/fitchart.html
----------
I am also thinking about adding these type of things to my arsenal for traction:
-------
http://www.lionsgrip.com/
--------
http://tractionaids.store.excerpo.co...s&product_id=2
-----------
http://www.autosportcatalog.com/inde...id=143&sc=3364
-----------
I am digging this rope light idea for the boat's interior:
------------
http://www.triumphowners.net/photos/...php?photo=1896
----------
I gotta build one these leaning post storage boxes like Molarboater's got:
-------------
http://www.triumphowners.net/photos/...php?photo=1866
--------------
When I was in college, I used to put my own fishing show on public access television. I had no idea what I was doing. I was working at a laundromat, and I mentioned to someone that I'd like to shoot video of my fishing trips and put it on tv. At the time, I was dragging my Coleman Scanoe ( made of RAM X plastic) down a rocky hill and launching below a hydro -electric day on the Connecticut River. I would fill the scanoe with all of our gear - except the 3 horse outboard and the minnow bucket. We would launch it - motor as far up in the rapids as possible- and then get out of the boat and drag it thru the shallows. Then, I would fire up my 3 horse outboard while standing in the rapids. I would jump back in the boat ( motor thru to deeper water), and we'd anchor right behind the spillway coming around the dam. We'd catch multiple species of fish, and I wanted to share that with others thru video.
So, when I mentioned my desire to learn about this video stuff- a customer overheard me. This gentleman did not know me. He didn't own a car, but he would bring his laundry in on a bicycle. On his back was his duffle bag. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He brought in his laundry duffel bag, put it on the table, and pulled out a video camera. He said I could borrow it to see if I liked it. I was blown away by this.
Short version - I borrowed it, loved it, bought a used one of my own, and started my own fishing show! I learned how to crudely assemble edit video at the public access video place. They would air my shows on the public access video station. I would take people out from the town and put them on my show. I took out my friends, one of the board of selectmen, people I met at the laundromet, etc.., and it was great fun.
I had a full size video camera mounted on a tripod that I had in the front of my scanoe. Then, I had a remote control pan/tilt head and a tiny video monitor. The footage I shot was horrible and shakey. However, I was able to show all the fun we were having and get some interesting footage.
---------
If I was able to find the time - I'd love to get a couple HD video cameras and mount them under the T-top on my 190 Bay. Now, that I have a Mac computer capable of doing video editing- I could try and get some videos on You Tube or even the local public access station- showing the Triumph out on the water.
----------
I wonder what the record for the longest post is on this site? I would'nt mind holding that title.
----------
Here's a story about how I got my Triumph. I didn't have the money for a deposit. Then, my friend told me to see if anyone would want to buy my old boat. He suggested Craigslist. I said, "no way" - the motor is shot, and the roof collapsed from a huge ice clump on the tarp. Plus, it was built in the 80's, and I never properly registered the trailer. I later found out that the brakes were frozen from rust, too.
Anyway, I found one guy in the world who posted an ad looking for that exact boat! He wanted that particular style for getting Quahogs (some kind of clams). I emailed him. He called me back within an hour. He arrived the same day. They had to take a hammer to bash off the brake system ( he said he didn't need the brakes because he lived 2 miles from a boat ramp). He said he could fix the roof, and he already had another motor for it.
Then I asked him how he was going to get the boat out of the yard with a huge pile of snow between the boat and the driveway? He then proceeded to take his monster 4 wheel drive truck and drag it out onto the driveway. He had his own license plate with him. This whole process fascinated me. He gave me $4,500 cash, and now I had the down payment for my Triumph!
I wasn't out of the woods yet, though. I knew I might have trouble getting financing due to previous credit anomolies. Well, I called my insurance company, and they said I could get 90% financing if I acted now because of a temporary offer. I said, "won't there be a credit check? They indicated that I was pre-approved.
So, I proceeded with the process - all the while, I thought this was too good to be true. I thought it was all a pipe dream. Because my Triumph was not made yet - I had no serial numbers to give to my insurance company that was giving me my financing. Therefore, the process was on hold. A month or two went by. Now, I was ready to approach my insurance company - give them the serial numbers, complete the financing, and pick up my new Triumph boat. This is a true story. I have altered nothing.
I called my insurance company, and they informed me that my window of opportunity had expired. The "pre-approved" loan status had expired. Now, in order to get financing - I would have to go thru the entire process - inclusive of a full credit check. My boat had already been ordered - I had already put down the deposit, and my entire world was falling apart. I thought I was going to have a stroke.
I was angry that I had not been informed about the finite window for the financing offer. Now, we proceeded from scratch. They told me that they were only willing to finance 80% of the total cost of the boat. I had to now come up with 20%. I ordered a boat with every option, the biggest motor,etc....and upon reflection - I might have conducted myself differently.
The Triumph boat was still within my grasp, but I was in scramble mode. I went to the super market "Coinstar" machine to get cash for my jars of change.
I sold a couple things, and I ultimately made it happen. I believe that a "higher power" was involved with this process, as well.
Another key part of my ability to make the purchase of my Triumph centered around my ability to make the monthly payment. I was spending around $300 a month on cigarettes at the time. I knew that if this boat deal ever came to fruition that I'd have to quit smoking. If I did so- the boat payment would be cost neutral. However, I had been smoking for almost 20 years- the addiction was winning.
Then I heard about a new wonder drug for quitting smoking. It is called "Chantix". It's put out by Pfizer. Short version - I got Chantix, successfully quit smoking, and now my boat payment takes the place of my cigarette costs. I share this story because it may help one person out there. It's the holidays, I love my Triumph boat, and I still can't believe it's mine. Dreams can become reality. Happy Holidays! - Andrew