Bolar

Just wondering, is the problem that water is coming through the cover, or is water condensing under the tarp on the cooler metal?

So I got the trolling motor tray and it has a drain hole that needs some attention. The tray uses 1/8" thick aluminum throughout, but that isn't thick enough to screw anything into. I didn't have any aluminum on hand that was thick enough to hold a fitting, so what I did was cut up some scrap I had on hand and laminated them together with some JB Weld. Drill that out and tap 3/4". I know brass and bronze don't play well with aluminum so I found a PEX elbow that will work perfect. A 3/4" hole in the tray is pretty big and I figure that I'll be dropping all sorts of stuff down there. To save some headaches down the road, I put in a hose filter. Next I used my Dremel sanding drum (don't use a grinding wheel on aluminum) to remove the paint around the hole and rough up the area for the JB Weld to hold on to. After that dries I hit the area with some black gas grill paint and I'm ready for install. Now all I need is some warm weather to start cutting into my boat.

I just got an email today, Dowco covers are on sale 25% off. Promo code BLUES good to Feb 23.

I didn't consider tape. Interesting....

Nice. Did you permanently mount your peddle or is it still lose?

I just picked up the R&R Design trolling motor tray. It's a nice tray, beefier than I expected. When it gets warm again, I'll start hacking into the deck.

You can start here, they have the parts and some nice videos on trailer bearings.

Just some self tappers holding it on?

If you know your going out and can burn a tank of gas I would use it up. Bouncing of the boat should keep the water, an ounce, mixed up with the gas and should burn fine. If your like me and maybe burn two tanks a season then you might want to dispose of it. If the tank pick-up sucks up the bubble of water at the bottom, you might get into trouble once it gets to your engine.

I don't know about getting someone else up front. I've fished three before and that was barely enough room with one on the back, one on the front and the third at the lower deck. I was up front, and to think back on it I'm amazed someone didn't get hooked that day.

Nice Are you going to video your progress?

No music. I have considered mounting a small monitor at the bow to watch YouTube on how I'm doing it wrong .

The livewell is pretty small for five. I would rig up a cooler instead.

Wow, that is a considerable step up from the Heritage. I just watched a Ranger video on the 1880MS. I like the step down from the front deck. I think down the road some sort of step will be in my future . Good Luck ?.

It's been quite here lately . Last season when I changed my lower unit oil for the first time, I noticed the plug screws were not very tight. I probably could have taken them out with my finger nail, and of course I had water in the oil. All summer in the back of my mind I'm wondering about the lower unit and water. Fast forward to this fall and I changed the oil...no water . Kind of a relief.

Thanks! The label is just P-Touch black with white lettering, trim it minimal size. Getting the right switch was a pain. Last year when I was installing my voltmeter I wanted to get the OEM switch. I went to BPS but they didn't really know the part # for the specific switch I was looking for. Tracker likes these switches, I don't know why they wouldn't have some or know better what I was looking for. Anyhow, they busted out a book of electrical parts and ordered me one. The toggle switch itself is common and can be found anywhere. It's the large beveled retaining ring that's hard to find. Sierra puts out a switch with the ring, but the switch is illuminated. This is what I got the first time at BPS. I had some regular toggle switches so I used them with the retaining ring for the stock look. For the deck lights I just ordered the switch from Amazon, the price was about what I paid at BPS .

So I've been out a few times at night and it gets pretty dark out there . I been wanting to install some deck lights instead of using flashlights, so I purchased these lights from Amazon. I got the red, which I thought might be better for night vision. I considered orange, but I was afraid they might be too bright in the dark. Anyhow, they are nice lights, just peel and stick right on the side of the gunnels. I know, I read the reviews and they have a problem sticking sometimes. I cleaned the area with rubbing alcohol first, then stuck the lights down. I've been out twice since I stuck them on. There are a couple of spots in which I'm going to have to try to re-glue an area down, but it's not too bad. I will say the lights are kind of delicate and might not be the best choice for a bass boat or how I'm using them. They were inexpensive enough that if they don't work out, I know I will replace them with something more substantial. Time will tell. Sorry about the pics, it wasn't dark when I took them.

Nice! I replaced my rod holder with the Berkley Rod Rack. The mounting holes should line up, or be very close. The stock holder doesn't hold the rods going down the road, and in the sun the black holders get soft and don't hold very well when on the water. The Berkley uses styrofoam to hold the rods inside, which introduces new problems. You want to be careful when pulling out the rods, so not to tear the styrofoam inside. I store my boat hook in the same place as your anchor, and I'm able to get the end in the top rod holder spot.

There you go. Starting on page 89. Page 92-93, 90lbs for lift plates and setback brackets.

Looking at the Mercury Service Manual I only see "Drive Tight" listed for torque. You might give Tracker a call to see what they say. It's their transom your squeezing down on.

Anyone see Roland Martins new video on launching the Heritage? It looks like he had some trouble with his license bracket and had to remount it. When launching, I don't trust my boat to stay on the trailer and won't unclip the winch until I'm in the water. Once the the water I then push it off and tie it up. I do loosen the winch line before backing in, but in the worst case scenario, it's not coming off the trailer on land. That's just me though. He forgot to mention the plug so he's getting hit pretty hard in the comments below. Nice to see he's still using the Heritage.

Yep, fish from it a few times and you won't think about the step down, it becomes automatic. I can't imagine the amount of touch-up paint I would need if my hull was painted . I have been using Bar Keepers Friend to clean my hull. Much easier than the Starbrite acid that I tried. We had some of this stuff under our sink. From what I understand, Comet is bad for aluminum. Bar Keepers won't shine the aluminum, but it leaves a more natural metal look to it. Anyhow, I'm sticking with this stuff when cleaning the hull.

Wow, there are choices now. Red or Black hull and 40 or 50 hp engine. I wonder what the "New LED Courtesy light at the bow" is? Nice.

It's been quite here. I've been running pretty solid this summer. I wish the boat would stay cleaner. The carpet is like a lint brush. It catches everything, especially cottonwood fuzz. Yesterday the Hook read a water temperature of 83 ̊, so the scum is baking a line around the hull . I need some time to clean, no real complaints. I'm finally starting to catch some fish of size. Up until now I've been only catching aquarium size fish . My next project is to run strip LED's along the inside gunnels. I got the OEM switches and the lights, I just need to gather some wire to get it done.

Do you have a cover? Unless you continually dry your compartments and gear after every rain, your going to have a mold problem. The only way around it that I can think of is to keep the water out in the first place .