Ranger

[Johnsfolly]

1 minute ago, FishnDave said:

"It's only wafer thin!"😉

[Ketchup]

48 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I didn’t know he was connected with Ranger.  What’s Mike’s connection to Ranger?  When I knew him he was our Champion field rep.  I thought he just left the business and turned pro.

When Stratos did away with the Champion, he was fishing out of the 210 Stratos “Champion” hull for a few years. Then when PE  “Platinum Equity” consolidated Stratos, Champion “tho Champion was already on the way out” and Ranger,  Mike just went right into the Ranger boat. I believe this was around 2014  

 

 

[Ketchup]

12 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Yeah I can see grabbing onto it, but using it to lift yourself out...

I know. After 30+ years in a boat, i should know better. But that dang habit is hard to break i guess. 

[Quillback]

Just now, Ketchup said:

I know. After 30+ years in a boat, i should know better. But that dang habit is hard to break i guess. 

Yeah, heck I'm probably doing it myself, have to start paying attention to what I'm doing.   I guess if the steering wheel broke off in my hands, then I'd be concerned.  😀

[Ketchup]

30 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Yeah, heck I'm probably doing it myself, have to start paying attention to what I'm doing.   I guess if the steering wheel broke off in my hands, then I'd be concerned.  😀

Haha. That has been my thought several times. I have even got under the console to make sure things still look straight. I usually don’t even realize it until I’m up on my feet, then i think “I’ve gotta stop doing that”. 

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, Quillback said:

Yeah, heck I'm probably doing it myself, have to start paying attention to what I'm doing.   I guess if the steering wheel broke off in my hands, then I'd be concerned.  😀

I've never seen or heard of a shaft or steering wheel breaking, but on rack & pinion units the outer helm bushing is always soft brass and it causes slop in the pinion shaft.  Chevy trucks will do the same thing if you're a lardass and use the wheel to climb in and out of the truck.

On hydraulic units there is always vacuum in the pump housing and putting downward force on the shaft causes the unit to sip a bit of air.....and you don't want excess air in any hydraulic pump, especially when it concerns steering control.    Spinning the wheel, fully both ways, lock-to-lock before taking off will purge any excess air, which eventually pushes out the cylinder seals and drips fluid into the splash well..... but honestly, nobody ever does that (except ME anytime I'm running someone's boat that has hydraulic steering).  

Plus it causes stress cracks in the fiberglass where the console meets the gunnel, and where the console connects to the floor.  

[Quillback]

Thanks for the tips on what to look for!

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

My boat has a grab handle on the side of the console, it is handy. I remember when i had my tracker i would pull up on the wheel not thinking and the whole console would move back

[fishinwrench]

4 hours ago, Quillback said:

Thanks for the tips on what to look for!

No problem.   It's my way of paying my dues for y'all putting up with me.   😁

[dave potts]

Just wondering-would that apply to cars too?  I catch myself doing it all the time.