First Launch....

[SVNET]

Finally the weather held up enough to allow me a good hour at the Lake.

After work, called up my good buddy David and off we were to the Lake for the first time.

First time Launch and on a rush to make it to the lake before dark but we managed.

David got one catch, but then it got too dark to be in the lake with no lights and bugs eating us alive so we had to leave.

All in all, a very good evening, I enjoyed very much although I did not catch anything, I did get some cool pictures.

ENJOY...!
In our way to the lake listening to Rock 104 FM.

Very first Launching...!

Catch of the day...!

Some Cool Pictures

Home made boat Trailer! Just a way to transport the thing for now!

End of the night with a nice Burrito at Moe's South West Grill....

 

[dedawg1149]

congrats on your first launch,looks like you had a good time.how did it do did you have any leaks

 

[Pinball]

Awesome pictures, looks like you had a lot of fun. The one picture looks like you set off a small nuclear device. How did the Tracker do as a tow vehicle?

 

[SVNET]

Well, glad to report there were no leaks, boat floats just fine. It feels a bit more stable then a canoe but still not as stable for my taste or for me to be walking around up and down the boat... But for my purpose, it does exactly what I want it to do, it allows me to fish away from peer or in places where there is not a peer.

We did have a bad connection between the motor and the battery which forced us to use the oars that was not fun, I felt how out of shape I am and made me realize how hard it is to move a little vessel from point a to point be.

For my purposes, I think a working electric motor will do, something to help me get away from the shore far enough to be out of the way but without having to paddle with the oars. But a little 3hp kicker will do the trick as well, something light weight and portable, small boat, small engine, easy to handle, just go out in the water and fish, all I wanted.

Also, I realize the need of wiring the boat with marine lights, it is a scary though to be out there in the middle of a runway like a standing duck with no lights. Do to the bugs and mosquitoes, I don't think I will do too much night time fishing, but I will add two lights just in case...

With regard to the Geo Tracker, it is a love and hate situation, I love the little car and its attributes which makes it very handy and fun vehicle, the design of the beast was a great idea, but the weak engine kills its purpose and abilities. I think my current boat setup is about the extend of the Tracker pulling ability for long distance travels on its 160K miles tired little engine. I just don't see the tracker being able to pull a much bigger load to greater distances...

I just wish that they would make trackers with bigger engines, something halfway between a Jeep and a tracker, a little more capable then the tracker, but not such a gas guzzler as the Jeeps and not as unreliable too. The trackers takes 8.5 Gal of gas and it gives an average of 27mi to the gallon. It took 1/2 tank to take me to the lake and back. That is 4.25 gal at 3.60/gal = $15 worth of gas. Unfortunately there are not any bodies of water from where I can launch around my house so I have to travel far. They are all about the same distances, just in opposite directions.

So, boat fishing is something that I can possibly due just about once a week to keep the expenses down and prolong the life of the tracker so not to kill it with trip to the lakes. Now, motorcycle and peer fishing sounds like a more affordable and attractive idea for a catch and release type of fun... 45mi/gal in the open country side roads to a great fishing destination doesn't sound too shabby...

Last but not least, I really need a boat trailer to do the launching or I am going to get some dirty looks on a busy day for hugging the ramp. When you don't have a launching trailer, it takes a long time to unload a boat so that it can be flip upside down and then carry it to the flat trailer and strap it down. I have found some good deals on used trailers in my area, but so far they are all huge/heavy trailers for much bigger boats. So I am still in the hunt...

Well, that is so much for my first launch report, until next try!

 

[phased]

Congrats on your maiden voyage! Takes a couple of trips to get all the little problems worked out and to "learn" how to do everything efficiently but once that is done it becomes a lot more fun. Great report and great pics.

 

[Jim]

Great pics! Looks like a nice body of water! Launching even with tha ttrailer will become a science and you will get faster each time doing it.

 

[SlimeTime]

Cool! 8) Better check your boating regs about being on the water after dark with no lights (while under power), hate to hear you post you got fined.

ST

 

[Waterwings]

Congrats on the launch, and great pics! 8)

 

[FishingBuds]

Awsome, trip for ya

Next time on the trailer take a closer look at it to see if it looks adjustable? The rear end will have bolts and you could shorten it?

You could adjust for the boat but still have a long trailer that would be cool cause it would keep your tracker away from the water that much more :wink:

Ih yea tell Dave that he was close on giving us a pic of crack :lol:

 

[SlimeTime]

lol...maybe he's a plumber :mrgreen:

ST

 

[BLK fisher]

Good job guys. Great first launch.

 

[ben2go]

Good first day on the H2O.I commented on your other thread about your trailer.I wanna add hear that Harbor Freight and Norther Tool sell boat trailers for $380.If you can find one of these stores with an assembled display model,and talk to the manager.Let him know you are willing to pay cash and have it ready.If it's been setting out side negotiate on that fact and the fact that the trailer may have been improperly assembled and may need to be inspected repaired.Make sure to get a bill of sale,title or manufactures statement of origin.This is the only way to title,tag,register,and insure the trailer.You can also call the home office of the store and tell them your situation and they can get the proper paper work for the trailer.It's just easier to get it at the store.This is another point for negotiation,even if you are not required to register a trailer in your state.

 

[SVNET]

Good first day on the H2O.I commented on your other thread about your trailer.I wanna add hear that Harbor Freight and Norther Tool sell boat trailers for $380.If you can find one of these stores with an assembled display model,and talk to the manager.Let him know you are willing to pay cash and have it ready.If it's been setting out side negotiate on that fact and the fact that the trailer may have been improperly assembled and may need to be inspected repaired.Make sure to get a bill of sale,title or manufactures statement of origin.This is the only way to title,tag,register,and insure the trailer.You can also call the home office of the store and tell them your situation and they can get the proper paper work for the trailer.It's just easier to get it at the store.This is another point for negotiation,even if you are not required to register a trailer in your state.

Thank you for all the great advised here. Lots of important stuff that I was not even aware off...

I am in the process of locating a real boat trailer, I have the money in hand, I just have not run across the right one for me.

The ones I have found this far a bigger then what I need and too heavy but I know eventually I will either found a better boat combo with trailer or just a good trailer.

This whole adventure with my utility trailer is just an experiment to allow me to still use the boat until I get a good trailer.

On thing I noticed today because the boat was face up and it rained, my boat does not has a plug, so it gets full of water, why is that ?

Regards.

Happy labor day to all of you!

 

[ben2go]

Have you checked your other post about your current trailer?