sad day

phester · #1 11-24-2008, 07:28 PM

it's official, my 2008 v-20 season is over. I took advantage of the "mild" N.Y. temps. [almost 50*]and the wind has finally stopped blowing, so I winterized today. Gas treated, motor fogged, a quick wash, lower unit oil done, set her up on blocks, built the frame for the cover [tarp] and covered her up. I did purchase, from Lumberslinger, a factory Wellcraft winter cover two seasons back. It fits perfectly and it's definitely heavy duty but it tends not to shed any snow load. You just can't pitch the cover high enough. Went w/ the conventional 14x26 blue tarp. This is the earliest that I've winterized.....,I'm usually good right up or around Christmas. The larger bass are gone and any day the blues will follow if not already. Black fishing will remain strong for at least another month but I am not the best black fisherman so I'll just call it quits for this year. Boat ran great all season, I wish I had gotten out more, maybe 11-12 times on the V and 15 or so on the tin boat. Got more fishing done on the tin. It is going to be a long 5 months.

macojoe · #2 11-24-2008, 08:14 PM

Yep my season is done also. but I have not covered the boat yet. I have to build a frame and all this year as its the first time covering the OX with the hard top and all.
I put gas treatment in the last trip out so I know that it gets all thru the system that way. Just got to fog the motor, change the lower unit oild and I am done.
It was a good and bad season for me, June & July were great!! Best season for Fluke in about 5 years. Bass were also all over the place and in August my buddy's were killing them! But because of my hospital for nearly all of August and recovery time of all September & most of October I missed a huge part of the year! Went out twice for Tuna landing a 150 ponder, to end the season.

Hopeing for a great 2009!!

lumberslinger178 · #3 11-24-2008, 09:14 PM

Good luck with that cover again Pete, My seasons over too I pulled the boat weds of last week, its being winterize and shrink wrapped til april or May. it was a great season for us (wife and Kids) Already jonesing for next yr....

Monkey Butler · #4 11-24-2008, 09:16 PM

Well, shooting for the first week in May...

From and including: Monday, November 24, 2008
To, but not including : Saturday, May 2, 2009
It is 159 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 5 months, 8 days excluding the end date
Alternative time units

159 days can be converted to one of these units:

13,737,600 seconds
228,960 minutes
3816 hours
22 weeks (rounded down)

Winterizing my motor will consist of putting the powerhead in a big trash bag and the carbs in some zip-loc bags! All of the electricals are in a cardboard box.

My tarp fell down too many times because of puddles in it last winter. I need to come up with a better frame for this winter. I'm thinking of stealing some of this guys ideas:

http://www.reel-time.com/forum/showt...highlight=tarp

unless someone has any better idea.

macojoe · #5 11-25-2008, 03:10 AM

I tried the pvc thing once, its ok, but not as good as they say. and that pvc starts getting expensive after you start buying stuff!

Beat way I found was to get a bundle of strapping from local HP Or lowes screw pieces together till you have one board from bow rail to transom or motor which ever.
Tie to bow rail go over the widsheild and use a 2x4 at the transom to keep it high. cover and tie down good, I get 3 yeatrs or better from a tarp. Use pices of pipe insulation on windshield frame and any were else that has a sharp corner. you will be fine.

randlemanboater · #6 11-25-2008, 08:09 AM

MJ, just run a rope from the bow to the stern over the hard top and that should hold the cover up.

Stillrunning · #7 11-25-2008, 09:21 AM

Sorry to here that your year is over but that means that ours should really get heated up in the next couple of weeks. I'm in the Va. Beach Va. area and the big stripers are just starting to show up. If its anything like the past couple of years we should have some good fishing into Feb. Thats if we have some mild weather and they stick around alot longer.

C YENSEN · #8 11-25-2008, 09:25 AM

I pulled and winterized mine on Sunday. She will be hibernating till April

got to build a frame for my tarp, then she will be done

Franco · #9 11-25-2008, 06:43 PM

Going flounder fishing friday or saturday, might be cold, 68 or so!

phester · #10 11-25-2008, 07:58 PM

I just post up a 2x4 ridge and let it fly a foot past the bow and a foot behind the motor. Set the ridge about two feet above the center glass and post just in front of cuddy door, another post behind the bow light and one more forward of the splash well. The post by cuddy door and back by splash well each get a snug fitting 2x4 installed perpendicular into the gunnels to take out any port/starboard movement. "Gussets" or "collar ties" supports take out any bow/stern movement. Stainless 3" screws and just zip it all together.Pretty basic but it's very sturdy and the snow just slides off.[a little will hang up by the windshield corners but not much] MonkeyB, that guy's cover looks real elaborate....it also looks like a weekend project. And Franco, don't rub it in......the sunblock that is. Stillrunning, go get those stripers! My striper/ fluke season was nothing to brag of....few keepers here and there, no trophies. As the years pass I am liking winter less.