I have a FF250 and am in the market for a chartplotter. Have looked at the Garmin units. Why would I want to connect the two together? Can you please elaborate on this? I’m biased towards the Garmin simply because I already have 2 fishfinders and a handheld from them and have been pleased. However, I want to make the chartplotter decision based in part on which units offer the best mapping software and all the options confuse me. Seems to me all you can put on Garmins is the Garmin MapSource data that comes on a CD-ROM and you download it from your PC to the unit? Some folks have said the Garmin MapSource maps are poor and recommend the Navionics stuff instead, thus shifting a fellow towards Lowrance. Opinions on this topic please. Thanks.

Does anyone have an A/C PC adapter cable, 18 pin(US)to plug in the Garmin 160 to household 110V and the 9 pin serial port on a computer for a software download off Garmin’s website? I’d like to borrow or buy it from you. I believe the p/n is 010-10276-00. Garmin wants nearly $70 for one including shipping costs. Seems like a lot for a one time software dump. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks for your suggestions. I tried switching the units and the problem followed the 160 so I don’t think its the transducer. I’ll see if Garmin will help me. Good fishing.

What are the details of the trip you’ve got reserved? American Plan or not? How many does the cabin sleep? Cost? I might be interested. Was going to start researching just such a vacation myself after the new year got going. Thanks.

I went home and looked at my prop again after writing my initial post. Turns out I have a 14×17, not a 14×7. The diameter must be 14 and pitch 17, meaning one revolution would travel 17 inches in a straight line. I suppose if I knew the gear ratio in the lower unit and factored that in with 700 rpm idle speed and assumed no slippage, I could calculate theoretical minimum boat speed in calm/no current situations????

I was out yesterday (3/26) for an hour and a half around lunchtime and also managed a very nice 18″ brown that hit a number 11 Rapala floater on a three way. Interestingly enough the fish hit a brown trout pattern that I’ve sometimes found effective for eyes and saugs. I guess that proves fish are cannibals if given the opportunity for a meal. Weather was beautiful with a bluebird sky but it didn’t look too good as far as the catching. When I put in at 10:30 lots of guys were coming off already due to lack of success.

Awesome, please toss my name in the hat too. Thanks.

Count me in guys. At the rate I lose cranks in the rocks, another 12 might get me through a few weekends. Thanks.

James,

My Dad and I had a great time with you on Friday, May 30, fishing smallies down by Maple Springs and then trolling for eyes south of Bay City. You know your stuff better than anyone I’ve ever fished with. I will be booking another trip with you but if I win this October night up on Mille Lacs, I might just book it sooner as opposed to later. Count me in please. And thanks.

I had a custom cover sewn in April 2002 for my rig. Canvas Craft in Anoka did a fabulous job for me and I will buy my next cover there as well. I asked the owner how to care for the fabric and he echoed the previous post and advised me to wash it off with a hose and mild detergent once a year to remove the grime and then polish it with Lemon Pledge furniture wax. He claims it will help the fabric maintain its suppleness, flexibility and water repellency as well as combat the effects of sun exposure. Do this once a year and the cover should last you a decade or at least until you buy a new boat.

I must be missing something. I can’t seem to discover how to view images. Help! I don’t want to miss out on “how to skin a cat” with all the hooopla everyone is making about it. Thanks in advance.