The longest post ever put on this site? Random thoughts/ Stories/Triumph Fantasies

[agereety]

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:
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http://www.aquaworld-products.com/products.html
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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:
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http://www.triumphowners.net/forums/...6&d=1115839385
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A windshield like the one below intrigues me:
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http://www.seablocker.com/default.asp
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Since, I am not the greatest fisherman - these LED lights look cool, and they attract fish:
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http://www.oceanled.com/video_library.php
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I like the looks of these bean bag chairs:
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http://www.e-searider.com/

http://e-searider.com/store/product_...8f15677e4ba76d
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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):
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http://www.portaproducts.com/bracket.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...art=1&posts=10
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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):
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http://www.triumphowners.net/photos/...to.php/photo/7
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I wonder if I can squeeze in some solar panels up there on the t top to charge my deep cycle batteries?
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I have also thought about rolling the dice on a jet drive for my outboard like this:

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http://www.jetdoctor.net/mfg/detail.php?productID=184
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I'd like to have one of the the rails like these to lean against in the bow in rough water:
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http://www.castaflycharters.com/equipment.html
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There are cool photos of stuff here:
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http://www.actionweld.com/photo_galleries.htm
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http://www.topsntowers.com/pages/Mar...Platforms.html
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I need to get one of these transom saver deals:
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http://www.m-ywedge.com/instructions.htm
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I could use an electronics box:
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/...%3Bpi169550019
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these speakers would be nice for under the t top:
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http://www.amazon.com/Bose-Environme...7444714&sr=1-1
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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
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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:
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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.
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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:
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http://www.flextrax.com/fitchart.html
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I am also thinking about adding these type of things to my arsenal for traction:
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http://www.lionsgrip.com/
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http://tractionaids.store.excerpo.co...s&product_id=2
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http://www.autosportcatalog.com/inde...id=143&sc=3364
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I am digging this rope light idea for the boat's interior:
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http://www.triumphowners.net/photos/...php?photo=1896
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I gotta build one these leaning post storage boxes like Molarboater's got:
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http://www.triumphowners.net/photos/...php?photo=1866
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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.
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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.
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I wonder what the record for the longest post is on this site? I would'nt mind holding that title.
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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

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

I think if one was to look at all the links,pics , ect. then you may have done it Andrew!!!
And yes , I did open almost all of them. However, you didn't mention that you had hit the lottery to pay for it all!!!!!
Happy holidaze to you and yours
berto

[MolarBoater]

Rambling is just a leaky brain. See what Chantix has done to ya!haha

It's comforting to know that Chantix works as I have been prescribing it for about a year. Now I have one more carrot to get guys to quit smoking......you could save money to buy a new boat!

I have one of the transom mounted LED's and they work. Think you will want at least two, I went with white light and will add a second this spring.

I asked Santa Claus for a really nice stainless PowerKnob for the helm as I am running out of "things" to add so thanks for more ideas....tower speakers, windshield. Have you given consideration of using your baitwell but adding an oxygenator and replacing the lid with one that will allow light thru? I mounted a baitwell LED and they work good.

OK, here is my double secret, SECRET, project. It is a deck extension which will go back to the edge of the baitwell with a molded fit to the floor and sits on top of the trolling motor compartment. It has one large flip top lid for the 5 day cooler type fishbox. I have been studying the foam used in Igloo's Marine coolers and it is the same stuff as foam in a can but I might build this around a prebuilt cooler. Heck, the whole thing could be a cooler!

Now Astro has already done the deck extension out of wood for his "deck cabin", and this needs to be strong but light enough for one adult to get in and out.

The e-box is a must....and add a t-bag fore and aft and you can carry enough dry towels, food etc for all your friends. Have you thought about adding a stainless grill? Very important as is the coffeemaker and portable water resistant tv (Casio). (I sometimes sit on my boat at the dock on the lake til the wee hours with all the luxuries of home sans bed with the baitlights and a few bobbers out)

WestMarine had the solar panels on sell not long ago and I talked myself out of the purchase as I have never drained the 5 12v batteries yet.

Inexpensive Radar is happening this spring and will be plug n play with the Garmin Network.....I like this network stuff! I can also plug the AV of the little Casio tv into the Garmin monitor and play with a bigger screen.

Enjoy your Triumph and enjoy the good times it'll bring.

[junkman928]

Keep prescribing it cause the Chantix works. Went on it in the spring for two months and haven't lit up since. Did have to go out and buy a new 170CC this fall. The piggy bank was getting full from all the cash saved from not lighting up. Feel a lot better also.
Happy Holidays
BS

[agereety]

Molar boater-

I was hoping to draw out others with my rambling post. To begin with - I was holding back. I have thought about gas grills, oxygen tanks for baitwells,etc.. Clearly, this was a "fantasy post" of mine, but I hope to make some of these things happen in the future. I have also thought about extending the casting deck (or at least having the option to do so).
I bought this Triumph with many ideas in mind. I am thinking about ways to create comfortable seating for my parents, in order to go for cruises around the lake. With regard to that - I am considering having a two seater loveseat to put in the boat for them on occasion. I can never get my Dad out on the water during the mid-day sun, so I have considered putting a full sized patio umbrella where the front seat post is located. I could go on, but I don't want to frighten people......
Alright - how about a 5 gallon bucket mounted on the swim ladder for trash or auxilliary storage? Or how about a space heater with an Eisenglass or strataglass enclosure- for boating in February (in the Northeast)?
How about taking a pilot house enclosure and modifying it to fit around the T-top? I have to stop- I am scaring myself now.
I am pleased to hear that you are a fan of the LED lights. I would love to have them some day - particularly the green strobe one! I forgot about the T-bag. I also like the stretch cord/cargo netting idea for holding stuff under the T-top. Regarding the inexpensive radar- I thought I saw something about a big screen (maybe 12") with audio/video inputs! That would be nice for monitoring my multiple HD video cameras positioned under the t-top. I would like to make clear, though, that I love my 190 Bay as it is right now. I just have a need to push the limits.
Regarding the Chantix- it's a phenominal product. In it's defense - I had a leaky brain prior to taking it. t. Everyone who smokes should at least try Chantix. Good luck with your deck extension project. Thanx for sharing your thoughts. - Andrew

[MolarBoater]

I've been Rx'n Zyban for years with great success and used in conjunction with chlorohexidine mouth rinse.....tobacco will never taste the same!

As for the swim ladder platform...that's my family friendly bathroom.

Hey for now, just get a $30 green q-light and clip to your trolling batteries, much brighter and cheaper than LED transom mounts right now.

I wanted the 10" gps screen but the unit would not fit the ebox.....still thinking about the waterproof "ToughBooks' laptops to be the monitor but still not so easy to integrate functions.

We use Mysterioso for winter boating activities....it'll keep you warm wet or dry.

There is a nice t-top extension you can buy, www.t-topextender.com top cover most the bow....and hang a curtain and hence you have a "cabin"!

Now, we must come up with some cheap camera mounts. Molar

[Jan from Humboldt]

Just a side note guys, I didn't listen and continued to smoke up until 7/3/2003 I quit cold turkey on that day...Of course it took a massive 46 minute heart attack the same day to convince me to really quit.

Quit now and get healthy as having the heart attack is a double dyed stone cold beech to get through and the meds you get put on to continue to stay alive on the backside really suck and are quite expensive.

Trust me, quit now.

[agereety]

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

[NCangler]

Guys, I have to interject here that we prefer that threads and posts on the site be limited to one issue per thread/post and that the thread title reflect the issue that is discussed in the topic. The reason for this is that it will make finding the information in the thread easier for members and new members in the future. When a thread contains a number of items like this one does it becomes a bit of a hassle trying to find specific information. So I encourage everyone to keep our organization goals in mind when posting new threads and posts. Thanks!

[MolarBoater]

We had too much to think last night.