vernon

Thank you sir, may I have another!

Great trip! Those are some great looking fish. I really miss Bull Shoals. We haven't been over there in 10 or 12 years now. Used to go at least once every spring for a week. One year is was up 40 ft. and we thought there was no way we were gonna catch anything. It just looked so different than what we were used to from previous years and all our "spots" were out in the middle of the lake somewhere. Turns out, it was one of the best trips ever - we must have averaged 100 fish per day and had ten fish that were 5 lbs. or bigger and too many to count in the 3 lb. range. The best part is that most of them were caught ripping tandem willow spinnerbaits about a foot under the surface in all the flooded junk in the backs of creeks and pockets. One of these days...............

Pretty much my point at its most basic. As George Carlin (the Hippy Dippy Weatherman) reported, "Radar has picked up a fleet of Russian ICBM's just off the coast of California so don't sweat the thunderstorms." It might (hopefully?) not be in my/our lifetimes but it won't be long before boat wakes are the least of our problems unless some sort of intervention is imminent. So sad and so unnecessary.

Well, it ain't like he's buying up theses companies under the cover of darkness or via some insider trading deal. If somebody else wants em' all they got to do is step up with the cash. I don't think the bank's really care who they sell defaulted loans to.

Unfortunately, that's at least 30% of the population and that number is growing fast. When you haven't been taught anything, you'll believe most anything. And, after all, who doesn't want "free" stuff? Pretty easy sell.

Laws, schmmaws. Nobody cares about those anymore. Not to get all deep and heavy here but rather than Johnny and his boat companies, what folks really need to be worrying about is guys like Google, Facebook and Amazon. These companies are information monopolies that control and shape the way people think and what they believe. And it ain't the kind of stuff that most of us were raised on. I trust ol' Johnny with the future of my boat buying experience way more than I do these other clowns. In fact, if they have their way, none of us will be able to afford a boat in ten years no matter who's making 'em because we'll all be "equal".

Y'all need to relax and enjoy yourselves a little bit more. Trying to maintain such a high level of intensity will eventually come back to haunt you!

"In the conversation, I felt as though the Corps rep was saying..... please help us." Thanks for mentioning that because I guarantee you that that is exactly what they were saying! There are ZERO elected positions at the COE and the very vast majority of those guys and gals are exactly like we are. They want what's best for the public and the environment and they desperately want to preserve those very things that we treasure so greatly. While I was working at the COE there were many times that I thought to myself, ya know, I really don't need all this help just to look stupid and uncooperative. If this grassroots type effort actually works, it will be one of the very first times ever. Fortunately, there are first times for everything! Keep after em' guys!

That sounds like a plan I could certainly live with! Either that or I'd be happy to "nominate" you to lead our HOA effort from the comfort of your own home! You could then lay claim to being a benevolent "double" dictator!

My previous house was like that. I had to take off the 1/4" trim on each side in order to fit through. Task required four people - two "watchers" and two "pushers" and probably took at least an hour. And that was with my "skinny" ol' 374V. Only did it two times though - after that, I had the door removed and widened it to 10". Seemed like a rather large cave mouth from then on!

You obviously do not operate under the mindful governance and domain of an HOA and all that those wonderful organizations bring to bear! No cars on driveways, no trailer parking on driveway or in front of house, no on street parking, no garage doors left open, no trash cans in front of the house, no political or promotional signage in yard, ............ Well, you get the idea. Heck, even house paint colors have to be "approved". I love it here. Way better than living on some smelly ol' lake full of boats..................

I like the way you think! However, it's more likely that Ranger/Nitro will start manufacturing 65 foot cabin cruisers I'm afraid. Whatever "influence" Johnny might have had in this issue has already been exerted and likely years ago. Now it's time to turn "opportunity" into profit. When it's all said and done it's way easier and cheaper to change one's product to fit the law than it is to fight to change the law. You know it's not at all unusual (and it's probably happening right now) for government entities to be drafting up new policy at the same time that they're "soliciting" input from shareholders regarding those very policy changes. While it's known in the trade as "preparing for all possible outcomes and contingencies", everybody pretty much knows that it really means that the ship has already sailed and we're just performing an exercise intended to provide covering fire for the Blunts of the world. Depressing.

Well stated. While I am pessimistic (at best) that there's much hope of derailing this runaway freight train, all any of us can do is try. One thing is for sure - if we do nothing, then that's exactly what we can expect to get so far as any hint of resolution - nothing. The bigger problem, as I see it, is that in virtually all of these types of government related controversies, the die were cast long ago by big money and sweetheart deals and all that's going on now is the typical CYA effort of the legislators intended to make it appear as if they weren't behind the entire mess to begin with and that all they really care about is the "good of the people and delivering to them what they want". Which, as we all know, it total bull. Unfortunately, EVERYTHING in this world has its price including all of the things that people like us treasure and value the most. As an aside, it's long been my opinion that the legislators that are at the highest risk of not being re-elected are the most dangerous and unswayable. These types of deals are their way of padding and increasing their nest egg after their days of "service" have come to an inevitable end. Believe me, the long reach of their influence and power doesn't end when they leave office. Just ask the Clinton's.

I know I'm constantly running my mouth defending the COE and here I go again. Nonetheless, I can assure you of a couple of things that WILL happen from the COE's perspective. 1) They WILL diligently and accurately record and document all concerns expressed at these town halls and whatever other feedback/input they receive from community members. 2) They WILL diligently and accurately package and present these concerns to state and federal legislators and include their input and recommendations which typically parallel and support those expressed by the community members. Believe me, the COE doesn't like or want to deal with the dangers and damages caused by these ocean liners either. However, after doing so, they have no choice but to wait for policy revisions, regulations, directives and instructions to come back down from above that will tell them what the rules and regulations will be going forward and how they are expected to implement and enforce them. Period. In a nutshell, that's life in the military which is exactly what the COE is.

That's one of the ones that I looked at a while back. I'm sure that it works great for moving a trailer but in my situation there's not enough room between the trailer tongue and the wall for the Trax unit to pass by to turn where I need to. In fact, I usually go ahead and unhinge the break away tongue before moving the trailer so I don't have to hassle with the extra effort required to miss hitting the wall when turning so even the larger size Trailer Valet wouldn't do me any good. Just not enough room to hook anything up to the hitch. The fact that the smaller version that Motoman described attaches to the side of the trailer is what piqued my interest. If I had the room though, I'd sure have one of those babies!

You bet. If you have any other questions just ask and I'll do my best to answer accurately. The storage aspect can be equally as daunting as the buying experience!

Another couple of views.

My situation is similar to Motoman's. Three car garage but the boat has to go on the side where the width of the garage door is better suited for a golf cart than a Z521. I can back it in about half way with the Tahoe but it requires some man power and maneuvering from that point to get it back into the corner which is NOT easy. The garage floor has a slight slope from back to front that sometimes it seems like it just as well be a 40 degree pitch roof when trying to move a boat that's that heavy against the grain. I've used trailer dollies (mine are called Go-Jaks) for almost twenty years and find them to make the otherwise impossible possible but it's still a chore and requires my brother and I at a minimum to wrestle that beast the final few feet. For the record, that's 6'4" 260 lbs. and 6'2" and 220 worth of "effort". It's enough of a challenge that I gotta admit there have been a few times that the thought of putting the boat away at the end of the day has swayed us to decide that a day at the golf course was the more attractive alternative. I've used four Go-Jaks for as long as I've owned a dual axle trailer and the advantage of four over two is that the trailer can literally be moved sideways. "All" that's required is that all of the wheels on the dollies be pointing in the desired direction. Unfortunately, it is a huge pain in the behind to get all 16 wheels turned and going the way one wants the trailer to go - especially when changing direction. A few years ago I sent a couple of emails to the company (with no response) suggesting that they offer wheels that are ball shaped (similar to the kind on many chairs, tables, pianos, etc.) that would eliminate the need to align them in a given direction - just push wherever you want to go. Something that simple would help tremendously. I've looked around at ball shaped replacement casters but so far all are cheap plastic and nowhere near substantial enough to handle the weight of a boat and trailer. I've looked around some (but not a lot) at the wheel jacks that Motoman has suggested but most were motorized which made them too big and cumbersome to solve the problem (and crazy expensive). There's only so much room between the trailer tongue and the garage wall at the point the boat needs to be turned and the mechanized units just wouldn't fit in between. Plus, then I'd need someplace to store that dang thing. I gotta say I'm intrigued by the brand and model that he's shared here and will investigate further to see if it might help to ease the burden of moving my trailer. Man, I'd love to be one of the guys with the Morton buildings that you just drive through and drop the trailer at the end of the day! Never satisfied I guess and would likely whine if hanged with a new rope.........

Like what?

Oh sure - where's Snagged - the "Ancient Chinese Secret" critic now? Careful Quill. Not unlike Chickenman, he's everywhere.

Oh yeah? Well you go play with your SNAKES!

Wisely translated Grasshopper! Channeling my inner David Carradine: "Man who gobble much bait too many times for all life be much patient but stay fool for eternity." Or something like that.........

Yep. The motor torque might tear it loose or break it and it will run fine until it wads up again and gums up the operation. Sometimes will blow a fuse if it's that bad though.

"Lizard" hot. I like it. I like it a lot. Not the hot but the term.........

I've ALWAYS hated that stuff! Got all excited when it first came out and bought all I could find. Spooled up all our reels, headed out and spent the rest of the day cussing the line and my own dummazz for falling for the hype. Tried some a few years ago (got it for free in some promotional deal) and it was every bit as bad. Kathy has always liked Fireline and I used it off and on for certain applications throughout the years and thought it was OK. Spooled up an ultralight last year with the yellow Fireline with what I think was like 12 or 14 lb. and it actually worked very well for that purpose. I'm sticking with fluro and hybrids for bait casting though. My "senior" level of patience is not equal to the frustration of extensive experimentation anymore!