2005 Starcraft Islander 191

[Furrylittleotter]

I do have two batteries in there. I haven't looked that close to see how they were wired but I will be wiring the deep cycle to the outriggers and probably most accessories and a solenoid to isolate the deep cycle except while the motor is running. I like redundancy as well, but 2 batteries should suffice unless I add an electric trolling motor. I thought my 9.9 merc kicker had a charging circuit but it doesn't. I will add one eventually for emergency charging, but I do have boatus coverage and a uhf radioand they appear to have good coverage in the sound.

Neil

 

[laurentide]

I do have two batteries in there.

Ah, OK, sorry, I misunderstood. You may have to move stuff around when you get out on the water with you and two batteries on one side. Sounds like you've got the wiring all set, too.

Yeah, you should be good with a tow service and kicker. I was just picking on myself for having all that extra junk on my boat. But two batteries is definitely common sense on open water.

I like the cooler seat, I also like standing at the helm.

 

[Furrylittleotter]

No Title

I went ahead and wired the batteries together just to get through the weekend, also put a speaker in temporarily to replace the one that was in the stupid helm box. we are just going to cruise around the Sound breaking in the motor, no downriggers or camping yet. It's going to be gorgeous and I will be enjoying the fruits of my labor big time. Should be able to drop the top for the next 4 months...I've worked my *** off on this thing.

 

[Furrylittleotter]

No Title

Took the boat in the Sound as well as Lake Washington. The cooler arrangement was way better, but it still isn't perfect. I wish the windshield was 6 inches taller! We didn't for the Bimini so I didn't try standing on the platform yet. I did stand on the motor cover while she drove and it's a lot quieter up there. I think some better sound deadening in the engine cover is in my future, plus some towels on the dash to absorb sound and maybe some antifatigue mats on the deck. We saw some cool stuff on Washington. Rich folks live there, have their own seaplane with lift. Pretty cool.

Fishing soon, maybe this week!

Neil

 

[Watermann]

Lotsa smiles is what it's about! Too cool, I love cruising the shoreline and seeing how the other half lives with ll their super fancy houses and toys. Lake Chelan is a great place to go cruise the shoreline and see multi million dollar mansions and million dollar vintage lake houses..

 

[Furrylittleotter]

No Title

Took advantage of a bonus halibut day to take the boat on its first fishing trip. It did very well. Caught a couple small ones in Elliott bay. Prolly shouldn't eat resident fish from there but hey, these are the first in the new boat! I'm getting better at handling the boat and kicker. Will try the remote steering soon. Best part was an aircraft carrier glided by...

Neil

 

[Watermann]

Hey that's cool to see a carrier around port, I bet there wasn't a bunch of Seattle greenies in plastic kayaks following it protesting. :lol: Although there is a doofus who looks like he's really too close to it, he's lucky they didn't open on him with a sea whiz.

The Nimitz CVN 68, it's been at Bremerton to get worked on for a couple years and they may have been doing some sea trials.

 

[Furrylittleotter]

Yea, I'm from Newport News VA where that bad boy was built. Very proud of that. That doofus you see is a coast guard escort who was constantly hailing me because he thought I was too close. I just ignored him. You can tell I was pretty far away. From what I can tell it looks like another month before real fishing starts unless I want to try the ocean... thinking about it. Engine and drive replacement and repairs seem to be doing well.

Neil

 

[Watermann]

Must be a little patrol boat or a RHIB, doesn't a carrier at least deserve some puddle pirates on a frigate?

 

[Furrylittleotter]

I was thinking the same thing! It's not like the ship isn't worth more than 5 billion dollars!!!!! Btw, someone stole my downriggers last night. Just a little reminder that I'm in Seattle. It was the very first night they were on, so it's like some douchebag was walking or driving by every night waiting for me to put them on. I have both renters insurance and boaters insurance so I'm probably out a $250 deductible on $1000 in riggers. But at least some junkie got his fix, right?

 

[BWR1953]

Maybe the carrier had some hidden protection. :heh:

 

[Furrylittleotter]

Growing up in VA I know they float subs under ships near port, but not in 150 ft of water! My friend was a submariner and he said it took several days to come to Port in their sub through the Strait of Juan De Fuaca, tossing and rolling the whole time. He said half the crew was puking by the time they got in and they were seasoned seamen.

Neil

 

[Furrylittleotter]

No Title

Usboats insurance (Geico) ponied up the full asking price for the 2 downriggers stolen from me less $250 deductible, no questions asked. I then bought 2 used downriggers with extendable booms and double rodholders for $500 and $250 in trout flashers and lures. Then we went fishing fir the first time. My first time with downriggers and her first time fishing ever. We caught 3 very healthy trout (salmon?) and a smallmouth bass. They were all fun to catch. We hung a ball up on bottom, lost one ball, a rig and a lot of cable.

The big issue with this boat is it almost completely refuses to go straight unless its on plane. Either with main or kicker it's a major pain to go straight.

I wish I could figure a way to make it better. Any suggestions?

I also removed the rear seats and back cushions and added hinges to the old battery cubbies. Tackle fit great in there.

Plenty of room on the boat for 2, could even take one more and one in the cabin.

 

[Furrylittleotter]

No Title

 

[laurentide]

The big issue with this boat is it almost completely refuses to go straight unless its on plane. Either with main or kicker it's a major pain to go straight.

I wish I could figure a way to make it better. Any suggestions?

Trolling bags will help, but what you're describing is the reason most trolling boats have some type of autopilot. In my case I have an ipilot with an oversized skeg or rudder on the bow, and it'll keep me on compass headings.

 

[Watermann]

The bow wander is due to a light bow and your offset kicker doesn't help that either. Trim tabs are about the only thing that will help that.

 

[Pusher]

Better be careful with those trout. They might be black mouth jacks.

I like the use of the tackle storage at the stern. Does she lay level with the batteries brought forward? I think Jasoutside tried bringing them forward and ended up having issues with the setup. Can't quite remember.

 

[Furrylittleotter]

You guys gave me a lot of ideas. First off: what the heck is a black mouthed jack? I know nothing about these fish. I'm from VA! Second, the boat just "wollows" unless it's on plane, steering is pure mush, a little is too much and it takes constant adjustment, regardless of wind. I would kill for a keel. The bigger the better. I'm trying to avoid bags and tabs. I have enough lines and props to deal with already, and it's always choppy round here. Has anyone ever strapped a keel on or used daggerboards? I bet I could make sidemount daggerboards work. any more thoughts or suggestions are welcome. I really love to just "Cruise" even when not trolling and it's damn near impossible as is.

Neil

 

[Pusher]

Black mouths are a species of salmon and jacks are immature or stunted salmon. The washigton fishing regs have a side by side with somewhat vague explanations of how to tell them apart on page 96 and 97. The fish & wildlife don't cut us much slack but it's really hard to tell them apart.

By the way, don't feel bad about taking the halibut they look to be flounder. Page 113 of the regs have a good picture. They love 30-40 feet of water off sandy shores with clams or shrimp.

Have you thought about using an ez steer rod? It helps a LITTLE bit with the response (due to the kickers help).

 

[Furrylittleotter]

No Title

Trolling bags will help, but what you're describing is the reason most trolling boats have some type of autopilot. In my case I have an ipilot with an oversized skeg or rudder on the bow, and it'll keep me on compass headings.

I have this hydraulic steerer on the kicker that runs off a toggle switch switch you can see sitting on the doghouse. Is that what you mean by an "autopilot" because if it is, they need to rename it. It takes constant adjustment with that switch to go straight. It's unbelievable.

Neil