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New One Man Boat
- Thread starter yoderjac
- Start date
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
Now that's punny!Maybe your jigs are too CRAPPY Jack !
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I built the bracket for the rollers today.
It is a pretty simple design. It is all 2"x2"x1/8" angle iron. There are two vertical pieces. I drilled a 3/4" hole in them. They connect through the gate bolt holes. I have not decided if I will use 3/4" screws or 3/4" hitch pins yet. Welded between them is a cross beam. I had to remove the light for the license plate. I'll snip those wires and terminate them since I won't be using a regular plate. The rollers are just sitting on the cross beam in this picture in the approximate locations where they will go. I was just checking the height to make sure the rollers about about 1/4" or so above the trailer bed. It is hard to see in the picture, but I did drill 1 1/8" holes in the crossbeam where it covers the brake lights. That was the largest step bit I had. Since there are also break lights on the side, it doesn't concern me. The bracket is held in place with the original gate bolts in this picture which are too long for the bracket.
After this picture was taken, I mounted the mini-license plate on the back of the wheel well. I drilled the holes to secure the rollers to the bracket. I also eased all the sharp edges on the bracket. I'm now in the process of painting the bracket.
It is a pretty simple design. It is all 2"x2"x1/8" angle iron. There are two vertical pieces. I drilled a 3/4" hole in them. They connect through the gate bolt holes. I have not decided if I will use 3/4" screws or 3/4" hitch pins yet. Welded between them is a cross beam. I had to remove the light for the license plate. I'll snip those wires and terminate them since I won't be using a regular plate. The rollers are just sitting on the cross beam in this picture in the approximate locations where they will go. I was just checking the height to make sure the rollers about about 1/4" or so above the trailer bed. It is hard to see in the picture, but I did drill 1 1/8" holes in the crossbeam where it covers the brake lights. That was the largest step bit I had. Since there are also break lights on the side, it doesn't concern me. The bracket is held in place with the original gate bolts in this picture which are too long for the bracket.
After this picture was taken, I mounted the mini-license plate on the back of the wheel well. I drilled the holes to secure the rollers to the bracket. I also eased all the sharp edges on the bracket. I'm now in the process of painting the bracket.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I think I'm finished modifying the small trailer for now. In addition to installing the rollers, I bought a 12"x 1/2" threaded bar. While I wasn't real concerned about the gate assist spring harming the boat, I guess it might be possible if the angle was very steep. I happed to have a couple rubber stops laying around. Years ago I built my own bow press and used them as limb rests. After more parallel limbs and then crossbows came out, I ended up buying a good press that can handle all of them. So, I had disassembled that press I built and had the parts laying around. They just happened to be the perfect size to mount on the spring.
You can also see in the pic that I decided to use 3/4" pins instead of bolts to hold the bracket in place. I took the borrowed trailer back to my neighbor and loaded the boat on the new trailer. The only other small modification I made was to the PVC roller. At one particular lake I fish, the dam has some issues and they are keeping it low until repairs can be made. The ramp there is very long and steep. The PVC I'm using as a roller actually falls off the trailer into the water and I have to retrieve it before it gets too deep. I ran a rope through the PVC and tied it to both sides of the trailer with enough slack so it can roll up and down the trailer but not fall off.
I ran out of energy. I hope to put the new hitch on the big trailer tomorrow.
You can also see in the pic that I decided to use 3/4" pins instead of bolts to hold the bracket in place. I took the borrowed trailer back to my neighbor and loaded the boat on the new trailer. The only other small modification I made was to the PVC roller. At one particular lake I fish, the dam has some issues and they are keeping it low until repairs can be made. The ramp there is very long and steep. The PVC I'm using as a roller actually falls off the trailer into the water and I have to retrieve it before it gets too deep. I ran a rope through the PVC and tied it to both sides of the trailer with enough slack so it can roll up and down the trailer but not fall off.
I ran out of energy. I hope to put the new hitch on the big trailer tomorrow.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I got a second wind, and get the new adjustable combo hitch installed for the big equipment trailer:
I found a level spot in the driveway. I disconnected the trailer from the truck and tried to jack it up. I could not jack it up high enough to get it level. I had to put it on blocks, wind the jack back up, and then drop the leg. With the leg dropped further, I was then able to get the trailer level with the jack. I then pulled the old straight pintle hitch and inserted the adjustable drop upside down so I had rise instead of drop. I then loosely bolted on the combo hitch. I measured the height to the bottom of the ring and the height to the cradle of the combo hitch. Even with the combo hitch in the highest position, it was close, but not quite level.
The hitch itself worked beautifully. After I tightened up the bolts, I backed into the trailer and it centered the ball perfectly. When I cranked down the jack, the self-latch clicked into place. I took a test drive for about 2 miles around the block. It drove very nicely. The Kioti was loaded on it with the weight over the back axle still. The truck does not squat at all. Tomorrow, I'll take it to the farm and try moving the load around and unloading and see how it does.
I found a level spot in the driveway. I disconnected the trailer from the truck and tried to jack it up. I could not jack it up high enough to get it level. I had to put it on blocks, wind the jack back up, and then drop the leg. With the leg dropped further, I was then able to get the trailer level with the jack. I then pulled the old straight pintle hitch and inserted the adjustable drop upside down so I had rise instead of drop. I then loosely bolted on the combo hitch. I measured the height to the bottom of the ring and the height to the cradle of the combo hitch. Even with the combo hitch in the highest position, it was close, but not quite level.
The hitch itself worked beautifully. After I tightened up the bolts, I backed into the trailer and it centered the ball perfectly. When I cranked down the jack, the self-latch clicked into place. I took a test drive for about 2 miles around the block. It drove very nicely. The Kioti was loaded on it with the weight over the back axle still. The truck does not squat at all. Tomorrow, I'll take it to the farm and try moving the load around and unloading and see how it does.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I headed to the farm today with the new trailer and Kioti to spray for the fall plant. I tested out the trailer when I arrived. When I dropped the ramps on level ground, the lips were less than 1" off the ground. Much better. I was able to move the Kioti forward on the trailer to the point where I had plenty of room for the big mower, and the truck did not squat at all. I had no issues offloading the Kioti at all. I'm beginning to think the new hitch.
Here you see the ramp lips are very close to the ground when parked one the level. This should prevent it from trying to lift the truck when loading.
Here you see the tractor moved forward and the truck is handling the hitch weight just fine.
Here you see the ramp lips are very close to the ground when parked one the level. This should prevent it from trying to lift the truck when loading.
Here you see the tractor moved forward and the truck is handling the hitch weight just fine.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
Back to the boat, I heard back from Humminbird. They suggest that since the the new transducer didn't work, I should send the Xplore back for repair. I asked the tech rep if it was worth trying to do a factory reset first. She thought it was worth a try. When I find some time, I plan to bring the unit in and go through all my setting screens and take pictures and then do a factory reset.
I probably won't do any more fishing once it gets colder. The way I launch and re-trailer the boat requires me to stand in the water up to my knees, so once the weather gets cold I'll probably stop fishing and focus on hunting. I'd like to wait until then to send in the Xplore if the reset doesn't work.
I probably won't do any more fishing once it gets colder. The way I launch and re-trailer the boat requires me to stand in the water up to my knees, so once the weather gets cold I'll probably stop fishing and focus on hunting. I'd like to wait until then to send in the Xplore if the reset doesn't work.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I spent the day at the farm working on box blinds trying to get them prepared for youth day in a little over a week. I made a dent but have a bunch more todo. So, tomorrow I plan to take the day off and go fishing. I'll test the factory reset Xplore and have my fingers crossed it will solve the issue. I plan to take the new transducer as well, but I can't imagine that the reset would fix it with the new transducer but not the old one. I recorded all the setting yesterday, so if the SI works, I'll reapply them one by one to see if one of them caused the problem.
On another trailer upgrade, I ordered a tool box for the small equipment trailer. Because of the jack position on that trailer, I can't really use one designed to sit centered on the tongue. This weekend I plant to take it to the farm and weld up a specialized bracket for it. In addition to a few emergency tools, I plant to put the pumps for the boat in it.
On another trailer upgrade, I ordered a tool box for the small equipment trailer. Because of the jack position on that trailer, I can't really use one designed to sit centered on the tongue. This weekend I plant to take it to the farm and weld up a specialized bracket for it. In addition to a few emergency tools, I plant to put the pumps for the boat in it.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
Good News! I went fishing today. Last night, I did the factory reset on the Xplore. Today, when I got to the lake and turned on the electronics, all the sonars worked including Megalive 2 and Side Imaging!
I enjoyed the day and caught a bunch of crappie. Most were small, but I kept enough to do some experimenting with preserving them. I filleted them and cleaned and dried the fillets. I then put them on a cookie sheet on parchment paper and put the dry fillets in my freezer for 30 minutes to flash freeze them. I took them out of the freezer and put them in bags and vacuum sealed them an put them back in the freezer. I'll see how well they keep.
I enjoyed the day and caught a bunch of crappie. Most were small, but I kept enough to do some experimenting with preserving them. I filleted them and cleaned and dried the fillets. I then put them on a cookie sheet on parchment paper and put the dry fillets in my freezer for 30 minutes to flash freeze them. I took them out of the freezer and put them in bags and vacuum sealed them an put them back in the freezer. I'll see how well they keep.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
Soundslike you are making progress Jack. Progress is good !
I have no idea where you are fishing, but there may not be any big crappie in that body of water. There’s one little lake that my best friend and I fish that has about as many throwbacks as keepers. We have to have ten inchers to be legal on public waters here and we seldom catch an eleven or twelve inch crappie on that lake. We mostly drift fish it with minnows, two hooks to a line, and two rods each. It’s a nice social event, just drift with the wind and give each other hell like we have for the last 35 years no matter what we’re doing.
When we get serious, there are better lakes that yield much better crappie.
I have no idea where you are fishing, but there may not be any big crappie in that body of water. There’s one little lake that my best friend and I fish that has about as many throwbacks as keepers. We have to have ten inchers to be legal on public waters here and we seldom catch an eleven or twelve inch crappie on that lake. We mostly drift fish it with minnows, two hooks to a line, and two rods each. It’s a nice social event, just drift with the wind and give each other hell like we have for the last 35 years no matter what we’re doing.
When we get serious, there are better lakes that yield much better crappie.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I've been fishing two lakes that are close by. One is a low fertility lake that the DWR fertilizes and limes every couple years. You are correct, it has high volumes of small crappie. The other like is a water supply lake. It too has high volumes of small crappie. The first lake has some big bass in it. It has a 16"-24" slot limit with 1 bass over 24". There is no size limit on either lake for crappie. The DWR is actually encouraging folks to keep the smaller crappie and bass for eating. It is just a pain in the butt to fillet the small ones. The largest I caught was about 9 1/2 inches.
There are some other lakes around with larger crappie. Some have the same 10" minimum that you guys have.
Last time I was out, I had success drift fishing in the wind. I would motor into the wind over schools of crappie and then drive back over the schools. I've just been using jigs with plastic, no live bait.
This time during calm periods, I was actually able to use the Megalive 2 and cast to some schools. Both methods work pretty well. I'm hoping that using the Megalive 2, I'll be able to target some of the larger fish.
There are some other lakes around with larger crappie. Some have the same 10" minimum that you guys have.
Last time I was out, I had success drift fishing in the wind. I would motor into the wind over schools of crappie and then drive back over the schools. I've just been using jigs with plastic, no live bait.
This time during calm periods, I was actually able to use the Megalive 2 and cast to some schools. Both methods work pretty well. I'm hoping that using the Megalive 2, I'll be able to target some of the larger fish.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
Sometimes, I addressed this a couple post up. Today, I had some very calm periods. I had no problem seeing the crappie Jig, even ones with a 1/64 oz head on the Megalive 2. I think most of the problem was boat movement with the wind.
My solution for this is going to be buying the Kayak Terrova that has spot-lock. I'll probably buy that this winter. But I have to say, motoring into the wind over the schools of crappie and drift fishing back across the has been a very productive technique.
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Same.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I've seen that method. It leaves you with a block of ice with fish in it. I'm trying the flash freeze method since I have the vacuum seal available. You dry the fillets and put them on parchment paper and flash freeze them for 15-30 minutes. This stiffens them up enough so they are not smushed by the vacuum seal.
This part worked pretty well. The individual fillets were intact after vacuum sealing. Time will tell how long they keep with method.
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Have you never frozen filets before?
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
This is the first time using this method.
