I finally decided on Uniroyal Laredo tires..thanks for all the suggestions and input. Some of my decision was based on availability…seems the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a somewhat unusual size and limits what out there.
Thanks Again.

I got my bedliner and tonneau cover both thru ebay. The bedliner was a used regular old slide in one. The tonneau cover is an Access and was new. My buddy has one by Truxedo. The both seem comparable. I like my vinyl roll up cover. It has velcro sides and doesn’t have the problems of the snap on ones. It installed relatively easy. Another buddy has the Access Literider for years and still looks and works great. I like them cause they can be rolled up and out of the way when we make firewood or haul our bikes to the trails etc. As far as security, I would say not too good. Would probrbaly need a static hard surface one for that. But theres a lot to be said for out of sight out of mind.
Only thing is they all flap in the wind a little but not bad…Next time you run down the interstate pay attn and you’ll see some. I think thats about all I can say but if you want more info let me know.
-Jeff

What type of store do you purchase ring free at? I never used anything like that before but appreciate the infor and will look into it. I have used seafoam and been happy with the results.
Thanks.
Ps.. Just purch a new 05 Merc 9.9 four stroke kicker. Any recommendations on break in with this? Book pretty much sounds similiar as I did with the 115.

Thanks, I found what I was looking for and it is also what I was hoping to find…Thanks Again..by the way its number is 9.9 ELH I think it was….I swear the memory is fading fast. Anyhows its a long shaft but not the 25″ extra long.

Thanks, what I’m wondering is if its a 20″ or 25″ shaft. I am lead to believe its a 20″. Hopefully, but I am confused by what I measured. Wish I’d of thought of looking at the model number. Is it marked on the engine somewhere or only contained in the paperwork part ???
Thanks.

I too attempted to connect my LMS332C to my Cobra Marine Radio to no avail. I contacted both mfrs and Cobra has been more helpful than Lowrance at this point. I wanted to go with the Lowrance Marine Radio because I felt I could avoid these issues but Lowrance could not verify if there unit was waterproof as Cobra is submersible for I believe its 30 minutes at 3 feet depth…Cobra told me the baud rate setting (4800 for my radio) which can be changed in the Lowrance unit…4800 is the default. There is also several other settings, I think mine has to be RMC…I’m going by memory hear so these numbers and figures may not be correct. To make a long story short according to Cobra this RMC is important and I may have to send my radio into them for a small change of some sort…Haven’t gotten that far yet. Hope your project goes smoother than mine. Good Luck.

I think I could do a better job guessing at the weather than a meteoroligist..Ha Ha.
A guy I work with, his Dad and buddies were out on Lake Mich last year in an open bow boat, it got rough, they ended up taking a water over the bow. Turned on the bilge and either it didn’t work or quit working, they took more water eventually the boat got sooo heavy they finally speared a wave, that was it-sunk. Fortunately they were rescued by the Coast Guard. I guess I’m thinking if I get lots of unforseen water in the boat I’m not sure you can have a pump big enough. I do go on Lake Mich a half dozen times a year and will give Erie a try this year. I haven’t checked if I have the room for another pump, boats still in storage-but if I remember correctly I think I did have room…..
-Satch

I puchased an Alumacraft Trophy 175 last year, rated for 150 horse. I put a Merc 115 4 stroke which is really a Yamaha powerhead with a Merc Lower Unit on it and painted in Merc colors. I did this because of the weight of 4 strokes and the 115hp is a 4 cylinder. If I went bigger HP it meant going to a six cylinder. A 2 stroke six cylinder engine still weighed more than the 4 cylinder 4 stroke. I wanted a 4 stroke and thought if I ever wanted to add a kicker weight may play an issue.??? I haven’t pulled a ski’er yet but it seems to perfom well for me. I get 38-42 mph in the right conditions with 1 other person in the boat.I’m happy with that. I didn’t get to compare how a Merc Optimax or Etec would perform as far as hole shot compared to my 4 stroke and I can’t say I have ever been in a boat with those motors on but I believe you would have better hole shot for pulling a ski’er out of the water. If you plan on doing some pleasure boating you may want to consider a full windsheild. I know it takes up room but is sure nice, especially on those 50 degree damp/dewy mornings. I know your buying the boat for yourself but take a minute and sit in one on the passenger side and imagine how much fun it be on a cool morning or rough water day with spray???just my 2 cents as I started out same as you and almost bought a single console…then again whats right for may not be right for you…good luck

I have a 17-1/2 foot deep V Alumacraft. I’ve been on Winnebago, BeaverDam , and Michigan. Sometimes it seems awfully big, other times it seems awfully small. I went from a 14 foot deep V to this….big change. No one boat does it all…thats why I have my 14′ jon with 18 hp go-devil for the rivers… Planning on trying the big boat on Erie this spring. First trip there ever. My friends with the 19 and 20 foot glass boats laugh at me and tell me I will wreck my boat. Hope there wrong. I tend to be over cautious and not as crazy as them…you should hear some of there stories.

96 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 litre 6 cyl pulling an Alumacraft Trophy 175…borderline powered. Get around 13 mpg pulling boat. With out boat I get around 17. I also have a 14 foot jon boat with a 18hp go devil for the rivers. Works out Great! Closest Lake to me is half our drive, with most of the water I fish being close to an hour. It hurts but what you going to do. When I use the wifes 2000 Grand Cherokee gas mileage seems a little better but I never checked it so I can’t say for sure.

Thanks for all the input. I finally ordered one straight from Alumacraft. Didn’t know I could do that. Came very quickly!
Now I just have to figure out how to attach it to the boat. It came with everything I should need.
Thanks Again.

JDM—Check your pm’s
Thanks

Thanks for Great Suggestions and Photos.
Need to get one of those holders!
Satch

I have a Lowrance LMS332C with the Navionics Premium Gold I believe it is?? I noticed that the map and my GPS location as shown on it when zoomed way in is not as accurate as I would hope. It is close however and helps a great deal, I like to fish small reefs shown on the map but I have to run split screen just to double check my depth. There is a bouy shown on this map perhaps for navigation purposed on the lake I mostly fish. If I position my boat with GPS puck as closely as I can to this bouy Can I calibrate my GPS to this bouy??? Has anyone done this or is it do-able?
Thanks, Satch

Thanks for all the GREAT INPUT !
I finally nailed mine down on the outside of the passenger side console. I had to go under the floor to get there otherwise I would have run out of cable. I used an aluminum plate on the bottom and HD indoor/outdoor velcro to secure it and put no hole in boat and unit should be removable if I decide to put into vehicle during off season. The cable had a very short amount exposed from the top of the console to where it tucks under the side of the boat.
Thanks Again to everyone !
Satch

I am attempting to drive on, that is what the dealer said I would be able to do. I have trouble hitting the target, I suppose this gets better with practice, Can I hurt the boat badly if I miss?? Seems like a very small target area to have to line the bottom of the “v” into. Does it work well to back the trailer in far enough to winch on instead of drive on, haven’t tried that. So far when I do finally get er lined up I discover I didn’t have the trailer in far enough because I really have to giver and the boat still don’t go on all the way, end up backing the trailer in further….I had to do this twice to get the boat all the way on the trailer until the eye goes under the bumper in the front of the boat.
Maybe Jon is on to something with the silicon spray???Thanks Jon,
Have to give that a try, but that still won’t help with the alignment of the boat onto the trailer problem???? Any other ideas for that???
Thank You !!

Thanks for all your input and help. Too bad I live too far away or I would have taken you up on the offers for help. Live in SE Wis, near Lake Winnebago and the Horicon Marsh, probrably a 5 hr ride to the Citys Area.
I didn’t know those brackets existed. I also live far away from a Cabelas, 3hrs to Prarie du Chien…since they closed the Herters/Cabelas store in BeaverDam. Was at a nearby Gander Mountain but they had very little to offer. I did however find a Ram Mount at a neaby Mills Fleet Farm.
There is a Scheels store not too far away wonder if they may have those brackets?
Again thanks for all your help!