I am digging those T-top extenders in a big way.
Another thing, I have been working on is figuring out a way to have a restroom enclosure on the boat. The T-top extender with a curtain might be the ticket.
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I have had fishing trips cut short on more than one occasion due to the lack of a restroom facility on board. I have also seen things (horrible things) that will haunt my dreams til' the day I die - acts of desperation that center around the need for access to restroom facilities, which could not be properly met while out on the water.
My old cuddy cabin boat offered privacy for those who required it. I used to regularly tie my boat up to my bosses' boat while on the water. I would have up to 8 or 10 people on board, and he would also have a large crew. His policy regarding his porta-potty was very strict (basically he was the only one allowed to use it). I remember him flipping out when someone dropped a fruit salad in his boat, and he often complained about bottle caps in his bilge, etc... I announced, conversely, that my boat had no rules. So, whenever the ladies on board his boat had a need to use the facilities - they would climb into my boat. This situation actually improved the quality of my social life. I had one of these items on board (which I highly recommend)- it's called, "The Luggable Loo":
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http://www.cabelas.com/vprod-1/0009518.shtml
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I have the same "no rules" policy in my Triumph. I will have up to 3 dogs in it at one time. I will probably be using it occasionally to do water and soil sampling for my job. This means it will have augers, dredging devices, and it will be subjected to all kinds of abuse. I have had fishing guides tell me I could not where black soled shoes in their boat- for fear of the black marks, etc.. I welcome people to where golf cleats or soccer cleats in my Triumph - if that is their wish.
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Regarding the camera mounts - I may go "off to the races" again here. First of all - I realized a long time ago that anything is possible. I have a bunch of power tools and stuff, but I really should'nt be allowed to touch them. I definitely require supervision. My friend just retired- he knows what he's doing- and he can "Macguyver" (sp?) together just about anything one can conceive of. I will be turning to him for assistance with modifying my Triumph.
The thing about the video camera fantasy on the boat is this: I am not seeing any fishing shows that can hold a candle to what I experience with my crew out on the water. I feel morally obligated to figure out this video stuff, so I can share with others- what is possible out on the water. I should probably be talking to Randy about this stuff.
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Here's a hilight of what kind of stuff I have in my VHS tape library of my old footage ( and by the way, I am not sure if these VHS tapes have been stored properly):
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I have footage of a seal eating a striper. I have footage of my old 10 foot AVON raft ( a raft that had two swivel seats, a bimini top, a custom motor mount for gas and electric motor, etc..) battling up a chute off of the Connecticut River - we got as far up as we could- then we hiked the rest of the way (with fishing tackle and a video camera) - to a pool directly below the fish ladder at the Holyoke Dam. This was occurring during the "Shad Run" - the anadromous fish that come up river to spawn. They are directed by current flow toward a fish elevator- in order to lift them over the dam. At the time, we thought it would be cool to fish where they were all gathering.
It was awesome. You could see their fins sticking up out of the water - by the hundreds. They were jumping up thru the rapids - just like salmon. All the people that were gathered at the viewing station near the fish elevator turned their backs on the elevator , in order to watch us catching huge shad one after the other. As it turned out - we were trespassing and consequently detained by the Environmental Police. That video segment ended with us being asked to produce our licenses. We ended up with a warning - lesson learned. I have a total respect for the Environmental Police. The funny thing is: when I am buzzing up the river - many people have told me that they confuse me for the police! My Triumph looks like their boat, so people clear me a path. I find humor in that.
I also have footage of us approaching commercial fishing boats filled with pogies. We would hit them up for bait (much quicker than snagging pogies one by one with a weighted grappling hook). These guys were scouting for pogies using airplanes that communicated with the boats. Then they would circle the schools of pogies with nets (using small boats). Then the nets would be dragged in by the big boat, and we'd sneek in to get a couple buckets of live pogies. I have video of these guys waist deep in pogies, and they'd have to take the stripers out and throw them back. Some of em' were huge. All the while - while they're dragging in the nets - seals are jumping in and out to get as many pogies as they could eat. I watched my Dad lose a huge striper that got caught up in the trawler net. Then, there's footage of a tour boat approaching our boat while out on the Kennebec River while a young kid on board our boat is landing a striper. The tour boat guy is on the microphone making jokes, as they're pulled up alongside our boat. He's giving a "play by play" of the events over the loudspeaker, and it was hilarious - all on tape!
Maybe, I am partial to my friends and family on tape, but I know some characters. When my Dad sets the hook on a bass - he's very vocal. I remember having to spend way too much time editing out inappropriate language on these videos. Once, he set the hook with a bobber and minnow rig, and the bobber hit me in the face and shattered my polarized glasses lense (always where polarized glasses - for visibility and safety).
I could go on and on. My point is: most fishing shows are boring to me - with few exceptions. I am a horrible videographer. Some of the best footage I have was filmed by other people that I handed the camera to. It's hard to operate a motor and shoot video at the same time. That's why I am into the idea of stationary cameras being used to capture footage of my "crew of characters." I think I need to go buy a lotter ticket now. - Andrew