Eyefull

I had my father and father-in-law (both Vietnam vets), Jim (WWII) vet, and Grant a Vietnam vet aboard the Eyefull II. Like others have said, it was great to spend the day with Americas best. The storys they shared, and the pride they felt when we returned to the crowds cheering for them was priceless. The whole event was grade A, great food, great people, and great fishing. I have it on the calendar for next year already. Thanks Nels for a great event.

yep, better safe than sorry. Foolproof on a boat is good insurance. I was just shocked at the amount that that decal was off. I see that same decal on so many boats.

Just an FYI. The reason I made the aluminum measuring plate was because I witnessed an issue that many people could inadvertently get messed up with. Lots of boats have the vinyl decal on their transoms with the "great lakes" fish and the measurement scale. I was mating for a local charter boat and we had a few minutes to kill before the customers arrived. We put a measuring tape on the decal just for kicks. The stanley tape measure said 15" was 15.5 on the decal! That could lead to a hefty fine. Check your decal scales, they could be way off because of UV or heat messing with the decal over time.

Yes, what Frank said. I actually made a 15" plate for the boat for the first time ever. I can't say how many fat 14.875 fish I have begrudgingly thrown back this year. The big ones are there, its just like perch fishing, you have to get the bait past the piranha bite of the little guys.

Nice job Aaron

Go to www.lindys4fun.com. Click on marina tab. I put my boat in yesterday, lots of open slips. They fill up to about 80% in a nother couple weeks. Call and talk to Lisa. PM me and I'll let you know where the fish are when you are here, glad to help. Tony Childs "Eyefull" slip 13

Lindys Landing Marina in Quanicassee is very reasonable and very centrally located. You can fish either side of the Bay from there with an easy run.

A 350' or 400' will not track very far (outside) from the boat no matter what board you pull them behind. They will always be your inside lines in your board spread. You put a 250' and say a 150' outside of them in descending order. The shortest setups will always be the farthest from your boat. Your shorter coppers will track much easier and farther outside vs. a 350' or 400'. With your shorter shallower coppers to the outside, it will also tend to keep a fish over the top of the deeper lines when hooked up most of the time. Also, always keep in mind that a low diver let out to 350' can also get into your long coppers in current or with a hook up.

Using stainless wire has a few inherant challenges for rods. Stainless wire is abraisive. When you pull a diver with wire, there is a constant sea saw action being applied to the rod. The diver surges from wave action and boat speed changes. This resulting back and forth action of the wire against the guide surface can and does saw low quality guides in half. The first sign is grooves worn in the guide rings. Roller rods allow the line to move back and forth without creating surface friction with the guides. Over time, this surface friction also causes the wire line to curl, kind of the same effect as pulling a ribbon across scissors while wrapping a present. Roller rods dramatically reduce this problem. In recent years there have been guide rings brought out that will handle wire effectively. SIC or silicon carbides handle wire for a while with no issues, but repeated use (like a charter boat) will see them fail eventually. Fuji brought out their SN (Silicon Nitride II) guides about 5 years ago, designed just for wire. They have a hardness that is uneffected by wire. They also are ground so smooth that they have very low surface friction, causing little heat. The tip top guide on any wire rod causes 80% of line fatigue, so a roller tip or twilly tip is almost necessary to keep curly line from becomming a big issue.

Nice job Bill. Everyone needs a big weenie.

I agree with the others. You already have the tools, might as well go wire. The technique is the same as with braid. You let it out slow, keep your drag set so that it just creeps or ticks. Braid will be ok with roller rods, just be very carefull to make sure that the braid stays on the rollers. If it gets off the rollers, game over, the frames will cut you off quickly.

Thanks Mark. I will be coming over there, possibly next weekend. I have some rods for Bob, and a fishing Jones to take care of. I have some trolling bags for someone over there that I can't remember their name:o. If I am holding trolling bags for you, please accept my apology and let me know.

I don't think so. They run about $79 new at West Marine. Must be something else.

WTB: 25-50' shore power cord. Needs to be in great shape.

Most are mounted so that the trim plate is at or just below the bottom of the hull.

Yep, those are cheap:D

Looking to get even better video footage this coming season. Looking for a video camera mount that is adjustable and will mount to either my rocket launcher or a rocket launcher rod holder. Anyone have any that don't cost as much as the space shuttle and are functional? I have a Panasonic HD video camera, it has the standard threaded receptical.

Crap, maybe those things were lucky, should have kept them:lol:. Nice job on Huron silver Grant.

Bill, every place I look or work on the boat, I am pleased that things were always done right. No cobblejobs anywhere. I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. You obviously took care of her just like I will.

Hey, that looks just like the chicken scratch drawing I made this morning, except I am using a 6" shaped guide roller, but very same principle. Also replacing the Vpads with neoprene rollers. Thanks, it looks like it works great on your boat.

Yeah, at least one:eek:

Yep, it will be trailered a lot. I am replacing the pads with rollers, and adding another brace and roller about half way down the slope in front to assist getting the bow headed up while being cranked in.

Been rubbing, waxing, and polishing my hands, arms, and fingers to the bloody stumps the last four days. The Eyefull II is almost ready to hit the water again after a very successfull demonstration trip in Muskegon. She is ready for new bottom paint hopefully next week sometime, and the new Traxstech equipment will be ready early next week also. The way this boat shines up is a testiment to how she was taken care of by previous owners. Here's some photos of what she looks like tonight. Tomorrow will be recaulking all of the caulk lines. Hopefully she is fishing walleye on Saginaw Bay by mid week next week. Kind of burnt out, working on the boat all day, then cramming in rods at night. Friday I have to go back to my real job and will be pulling triple duty:grin:. Still waiting for a couple of decals.................

Everything except for the two Scotty electrics with the fixed 2' arms, and the planer boards are sold. I am asking $600 or best for the two remaining riggers to move them. Make me an offer on the planer boards.

Great job! I'm so jealous, still a week or so away from splashing the Eyefull II.