Going to retrieve my girlfriend from her winter hideout soon. Just thinking through what I?ve got to get done this spring:
- confirm my batteries are sound (left them in and never got down for a mid winter charge)
- update my graphs to latest software
- pickup my ultrex from lochemans
- send my 4 blade back to croxton for a little love (more cup and maybe another 1/2 pitch)
- install NMEA connections to graphs and point 1 GPS/HS puck - should have spec?d That with the G2
- check my flares to see if they need replacing - they are 3 years old so I?m betting they do
- see if I can reduce and reposition some weight - move the anchor and tools to the passenger side rod locker, etc
- add some LU fluid to the G2 as it was a tad low in the fall
- grease and lube whatever the Manual says needs to be greased or lubed
- consider changing the charges on my life jackets
- finish inventory and insurance pics for just in case purposes
- test to see if the sw upgrade and TM fix have helped my interference problem
Go walleye jigging
Go blade baiting
- Invite Team Houston for a trip. lol
Stopped and plugged mine in this morning. It is ready to go. But it will be a couple weeks for me. Got to get mom home from Fla and set up. Since there is still 18 inches of ice in front of my house there is no hurry.
My boat is in the hospital getting a check up. She'll be ready to go about the time the ice is gone off inland waters.
My old girl needs to go to the doctor, discovered dead cranking battery and also gear lube leaking from seal where the lower unit mounts to the upper. Sounds like a seal went. Hoping to have her all better by Mad Wags!
I have a total floor & deck redo before I can get out....
Those flares usually only have a 3-year life span on them anyways and they only count as valid if their expiration date hasn't passed. I leave the recently expired ones in the boat too because they usually still work, and if something actually happens, 3 flares can quickly not be enough!
Good luck everyone and have a safe (planned that way) year!
A couple years ago on the 4th of July I got my expired flares out of the boat. I had 9 of them and None of them worked.
Are flare guns allowed in Canada?
Don't poke the bear!!!
I would call OPP or whatever there organization is. I fished with a guy in Florida who had a LED Strobe Beacon that was coast guard legal. It has an orange distress flag for day use.
https://siriussignal.com/
So, does the beacon replace the flare requirement?
I found that this one is Coast Guard approved.
Weems and Plath SOS Distress Light No. C-1001
It is available from multiple sources from $79 - a little over a hundred.
Article I read said it lasts indefinitely by changing 3 C size batteries.
Unit floats and is visible up to ten miles.
By comparison a four pack of Orion handheld flares costs $39.99 from Bass Pro.
So the strobe light would break even in six years compared to flares. I?d just have to remember to check the batteries.
I don?t know if the strobe is accepted by Canadian authorities.
As far as I can tell, 6 flares are still required in CA waters....
? Sail and Power Boats over 6mandupto9m(19?8? - 29?6?)
1. One(1)lifejacketorPFDfor each person on board
2. One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
3. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49?3?) long OR
One (1) lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49?3?) long
4. One (1) watertight flashlight
5. Six(6)flaresoftypeA,BorC (See Note 2)
6. One (1) manual propelling device
OR
One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49?3?) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
7. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump
(See Note 3)
8. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
9. Navigation lights (See Note 4)
10.One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
11. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)
12. One(1)5BCfireextinguisher if equipped with a motor
13. One(1)5BCfireextinguisher if equipped with a fuel- burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance
Page 17....
http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/marinesafety/TP-511e.pdf?WT.mc_id=87y56
Are we supposed to have one of Canada's pleasure craft operator cards?
This is from MN and is a few years old, but I assume it still applies.
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/boating/canadian_boating.pdf
Mine is still in a garage, cold, sitting there waiting. :(
It pays to check Ontario boating and fishing regulations every year because they do occasionally like to surprise people. If I get around to it, I will share anything new and interesting I find.
Don't forget about the trailer....Probably a new set of tires year for me....My truck needs them too....It's going to be ugly for me at Discount tire this summer...