The More I Fish The More Stuff Breaks!

[Rangerphil]

I have been fishing alot more this season and my equipment is showing signs of it. Today my trolling motor pull rope snapped off! Also, my carpet on one of the lockers is coming off underneath. My question is what kind of rope can I purchased for the trolling motor? Can I get it at lowes or home depot? Also what kind of glue do I need to seal that carpet up? I would like to purchase the stuff at one of the big box stores because they are close to me! Thanks

[Fishing Rhino]

Don't talk about the cord on trolling motors. Mine let go a couple of days ago and the motor has been used twenty times at the most. Same thing happened to my first Motorguide, but it lasted over a year. Anyhow, here's what you can do. Remove the broken line, and tie the broken ends together, using a fisherman's knot.

Keep the tag ends as short as possible, but not so short that it will separate when you put a strain on it. Leave a half inch to an inch of cord hanging past the knot. Pull the knot tight, then wrap with electrical tape. Check where the line passes through the plastic guides, and smooth the guides with a fine round file. Finish smoothing with fine wet or dry sandpaper. Reinstall the line with the repaired end toward the handle, and the other end to the release mechanism.

Pay attention to how the line is routed before removing it.

You will end up with a cord that is about five inches shorter, but will still do the job.

I'd suggest a polyester braided cord, rather than nylon. You may have to settle for white. Black is not readily available. You can get a replacement cord at any BPS, but you'll pay a lot more for it than you would for white at about any hardware store.

It wouldn't hurt to spray the guides and line with silicone from time to time. It will reduce friction, and that will reduce the chaffing.

[RyneB]

if you have any of those foam ear plugs laying around. Take one and put it where the cord rubs on the trolling motor base, then take some black electrical tape and take it in place. Works for me and you cant even tell its there.

[(='_'=)]

i would suggest using climbing accesory cord... it comes on a variety of diameters, and is very strong and resists abrasion well... the 4 mm cord is rated for mora than 1000 lbs, it is easy to tie, and is very cheap...

heres a link where you can buy it, for $7 you can get 25 feet of cord.... i would get 50 feet though, it is very useful for alot of applications....

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Sterling-Rope-Prepackaged-Accessory-Cord_10097146_10208_10000001_-1_

[Quillback]

I had the TM cable break on a Minnkota a few months ago, really annoys me that these expensive TM's have such cheap cables. I went to Lowes and got some cord of similar diameter and replaced it at the tie down point. A pain to get the knot tied down inside the TM frame but I got it done. TM's should come out of the factory with durable cables, they should be made of quality material that doesn't break through normal wear.

[Rangerphil]

Well I ended up replacing the rope with a 3/32 coated steel cable. As for the carpet I got some gorilla glue but I may go with the gorilla super glue because it dries faster and with carpet that wraps under the lid I would need to many clamps. Thanks for all the advice!

[tracker01]

Lawn mower pull cord. It works.