1 Attachment(s)
Boats in the Garage / How it occurred / & Loss
It was I, I acquired a new to me floating apparatus. Pretty dang new at that as well.
In short, for those that do not know, in January my Dad passed away. I did not announce it online, or talk much, as I was not particularly close to him, and he never initiated contact in person. If there was some distance, that was OK. After he had passed, I found from conversations with his friends, that he was afraid of me, and the person I had become (A good person, despite common belief of others), and was afraid that I would not like him or some damn nonsense. He was even told as much that it was nonsense, by his friends, but I digress, and that's a different story
The last 15 years were spent with him in Florida, and myself in Michigan texting, calling, and talking, and him following his Grandchildren online. Although I had not seen him, we had some sort of Father/Son Relationship, despite the past, and his fears.
He passed away and with no other family, alone. I drove down, knowing had no others, no family, and started to get stuff sorted out. I eventually found that he had left everything to me. What that was, was a big ash MESS to start with for the whole ordeal.
Per Florida Laws, the estate eventually wound up my responsibility. His house on Pine Island, in Florida, I would have LOVED to have kept, however there were some financial issues that needs to be cleared up.
Well, all those are complete, and with the sale of his house, the remaining, he gave/left me MORE than I ever expected, which was nothing) With pressure from others (No one here @ C.C) to spend, it, everyone telling me what they would do with any and all $, I quietly talked with Jennifer, my Wife of 25 Years. She said I should do whatever I want, she had no preference and made no demands, as it was "Yours". I became disappointed in allot of people, (Not C.C members as I had told very few) some of those people were like, "How much did you get?", etc, etc. and it was discouraging. Again more conversations with Jennifer. And in our conversation, it became apparent, that I should do the most selfless thing I could for my immediate family.
When the funds came into my possession, I used them to pay off our Mortgage. If anything should happen to Jennifer or I, the economy, or that freak clinton try to tax my home away from me, the kids would always have a home regardless.
So that was complete a few weeks ago, Jennifer & I posed for a picture of US together with our ZERO Payment. To put that joyous moment into perspective, we went out to eat, and got BW3 to take home, and life was normal, as BW3 screwed up my order and gave me boneless, instead of traditional.
Rewind,
In the last two to three years, I had been looking into a upgraded boat, budgeting, planning, etc. I had another Crestliner in mind, with specific changes, but before I pulled the trigger, Fast forward, I was asked to consider an Alumacraft Dominator, before making any decisions, by Steve Ash. Well Steve, I went and looked at one, and lots of pictures, and some research
That said, two weeks ago I sent out some feelers, and look into a few options, made some phone calls, and by last Monday, it was into full swing, by Thursday it was a confirmed road trip to Wisconsin. The boat i was interested in was/is hard to come by, for unknown reasons. People must just like them.
With everything confirmed, and a road trip scheduled, Skillet said "Ill go, let me know when" Ready2Fish, said "I'll Go"
Skillet was at the house on time, Ready2Fish was not there, We do a quick check, Venison Summer Sausage, crackers, Peach Mango Green Tea, Engel cooler, Rock Tamers, All systems GO, so we left, like true fisherman, when we text him, he says, "Swing by and pick me up?" We should really rename him, "Ready2BeLate" of course we text him and had to circle back to get him. The three of us loaded into my truck headed to Wisconsin.
There are stories I cannot tell here, from the trip, (You think G had high blood pressure before, this would be worse.) but you need to know that, 1. Becky is alive and well, and I won't say whose house she is currently staying, 2. if you need to go #2 on a toll road, you have to PAY, to get off that toll Road to go #2. 3. Skillet has soft hands, 4. Jimmy gets easily excited. 5. People in Wisconsin do not like it when a nicer boat pulls up to them in a gas station. 6. The toll booth where you throw change into it for passage is broken. 7. No tolls are $17.10. 8. I was discussing its performance, and say that I hope that it is nice and allows Jennifer to spend more time with me (She gets sick if there is a ripple) as it should handle chop better than my current boat, and the look they both gave and said "But what about US"
So while driving home, Skillet & Ready2Fish want to fish, they are looking at times to GO next week, in MY BOAT, I said first thing first, it needs to fit in the garage, that's step 1, step 2 is registration, step 3 is Firearm deer season. The looks I got, that was funny, and when I got home and in bed my tummy hurt from laughing so much. We had a great 13 hour day of driving joking, and in all a darn good time.
It is 21 Foot Variable Degree Deadrise, to 17 Degree's in the rear. So it should span waves, and cut through cop excellently. It came with a Motorguide Xi5, and Three Lowrance HDS9, Gen 3. Those may get swapped out after a year, as I have opted to at least test them for a year, despite being a Minnkota/Humminbord guy so far.
Its powered by a 300 XL DTS, and a 9.9 Long shaft kicker. I also have a fisherman top (Think Ash Bikini top), or (JinGer Burn Prevention System). Included Wash Down system, to rinse out Salmon blood, or Walleye milt. Or to troll/drift by other's and spray them :).
I acquired a 2019 Crestliner 2100 Raptor, over in Wisconsin, with the leftover funds as a down payment, and a small payment to go with it. I just competed transferring the warranties to my name, before starting this thread.
I will post pictures shortly, but here is Jennifer & I posing with out last payment balance. & if anything, Tell you kids your proud of them, do not leave them wondering. I look at my new to me boat, and think of my Dad, whom I did not know all that well, and wonder if he was Proud of me. Then I see Jimmy rubbing on the boat, and Kevin drooling on it, and think to myself, He just may be, he just may be.
Attachment 359551
OE
Boats in the Garage / How it occurred / & Loss
Had an on the water test Friday.
Drove up to Muskegon.
Launching is a bit different, as I am used to a roller trailer.
Had some choppy water, and the variable degree deadrise, and the rear of 17 Degrees made for an awesome stable ride.
Kicker was used & tested, worked well.
I troll will take some learning and practice.
I had it locked on first at 2.5 & thought I could hear Lake Michigan whispering “OneidaEagle, come visit me.........”
Need to work on the Lowrance. Slowly getting them to do what I want. Had issues turning down surface clutter, and a few other things.
Some of the terms are different, but it’s the only struggle.
Found the setting to make the motor guide Anchor Lock (Humminbird Spot Lock) upon arrival at a waypoint, or “Standby”
Was irritated that there was no heading display on the graph once the heading lock was set. Found the setting for that later that night.
Kudos, and props to Skillet who brought me his ice fishing battery pack, and I have been spending evenings on the couch, giving myself a crash course in Lowrance.
Another issue I had was the speed for trolling only showed the % of power. I am more used to speed. Found a way to change that as well.
It’s progress, but one draw back I have found, I think I despise the remote control for the Motorguide.
Even with all 4 seats in the cockpit, there was enough room to walk around, and not feel crowded. Despite the fact that I had left the “Fisherman’s Top” in the canvas bag off the port side.
I have my Kerosene heater fixed today, and can get some TShirt heat going and start putting items into it and packed away for next season.
I have room for 11 total 3700 Plano sized box’s, under the port dash. I have 3 for Salmon, and 2 for Walleye. This means I have more room for more gear than I ever dreamed, 6 more 3700’s to buy and fill. It to small for the special mate boxes, but those fit easily in the front under deck storage.
It has surpassed my initial thoughts on the boat, That’s for dang sure.
Lastly, loading was a bit different as well.
OE
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