Off Season Projects?

[cjac]

Any good off season projects going on?

I see some are rebuilding boats (good luck Rebel!), maybe making rods, lures, etc. Anyone else with some interesting projects?

Last year I wired up my ice fishing portable with LED lighting, and I might add some to the boat this Spring. Beyond that it's all about losing 20lbs and getting ready for a March bass trip to Texas.

Anything interesting being worked on?

[b1gf1sh1]

my boat needs some minor TLC and new LED lights on the trailer. but the lights have been getting done for two years now, lol. so we'll see. maybe i should just punish myself and pay for it to get done. maybe i can trade some lures off, who knows.

i'm still working on getting my new super secret lure inventory up by spring. i'm hoping i can do it this year but i may need to wait till 2010 and just keep doing customs till then and doing ''the lure'' all summer, fall, winter again. it takes a lot of cash to finish them all up with epoxy, paint, components, wood, hooks and that... because i refuse to skimp. hoping to at least get a few ''Rides'' and that BIG ONE you saw (Chris) into a few area stores at least. still deciding on the props, lol. anyway i've got a busy winter/early spring planned.... tip for losing weight... try some swimming? good luck.

[JRedig]

I've got a lure idea i'm working on, made the bodies up yesterday. We'll see how they work on a warm day sometime soon.

Beyond that, the honey-do list is getting done so I don't have it next summer!

[mroyten]

Plan on customizing my boat a bit so I can lay rods down and open my storage compartments at the same time! Currently I got to move my rods every time I want to access my storage areas.

Also, build some bait tubes with either pvc or some clear acrylic tubing.

[Esox_Magnum]

I haven't put my gear away yet, might make that a project LOL. I'm on the ice about anyday I can be, taking a Vikings break today and Mother Nature must hate ice fishermen.

[propster]

Need to do some work on the Ranger. I know what the problem is, but not sure what the exact cause is. Hoping someone here knowledegable about Rangers can maybe give me an idea. Here's the deal. Wanted to turn the rear starboard livewell into dry storage, so plugged every orifice inside and out with rubber plugs. Still have water coming in, and it doesn't appear there is any obvious creack in the livewell itself. In addition, the floor (carpet) gets wet in a semicircle around the corner of that livewell, but there's never any water for the bilge to pump out beneath the floor. So I thought I've got something wrong with the flappers for that livewell, or something wrong with the plumbing to that livewell. Not sure how to change/fix the flappers, but I think I need to remove the floor panel to take a look. But as a temp fix I plugged the outer drain holes in the rear as well, and still I had water coming in there. Any odeas guys?

[10,000 Casts]

Buy a leaning post. Get a new depthfinder to go next to my global map om my bow. Figure out why my interior lights have never worked correctly, put new fenders on my trailer, (both blew off when my tires blew last summer, 1 week apart), put a new trailor tail light on. Won't be able to do it until april which gives me plenty of time to prepare.

[DHanson]

I got to repair both of my trailer lights after backing up in to the ice last time out of the year. That kinda sucks.

Other than that, I'm ready to roll. In the meantime I'll be out ice fishing.

Propster- I would post that up in the boat/motor forum as well, someone might be able to help out.

[Lund 95]

For my off season projects i will be switching the trailor on the pro-v from a roller to a bunk hopefully it will make things easier when out flying solo.

I have already started painting some different lure and blade combos. Of course some TLC to the lures that did it right this past season. Spring can't come soon enough!

[delmuts]

Propster. The first thing i would do is call Ranger!( go to thier web site there should be a ph. number) The people there have been very helpfull for all kinds of problems.

What model Ranger (bass boat or fisherman style)? With you having water seeping out on the floor, i would be thinking a crack some where. For my 680. I had to plug the inlet opening inside the live well, but mine only has one pick up for both the live well and bait well. Hopefully some of the guys will have ideas too.

[Cooter]

My list includes building some more bucktails and spinnerbaits plus repainting and modifying some topwaters. Also need to clean and relube the reels. Have recently made a bunch of leaders, still need to finish up a couple more. Gonna have a buddy spin a body up for a globe - I've got the hardware and will see what I can put together. Might try the veg oil trick with a Jake.

[VMS]

Building a new rod right now...7'-6" Needing one more guide to finish the rod, then do a little decorative work by the handle with a hook holder, then it is off to color preserve and coat the threads...

With reels...the usual stuff...clean, lube, replace line as needed, etc.

Baits..still looking to get into building some this year if time permits...

[HugoBox]

Last year I wired up my ice fishing portable with LED lighting, and I might add some to the boat this Spring.

I just rigged up a pretty cool LED deal on our boat with my bro last night and once I test it a bit I think it will be a pretty good addition for trying to net fish after dark. If BoxMN gets off his arse there should be pix added shortly. Other than that I'll be sharpening each and every hook again. I made a bunch of baits last winter but they were [PoorWordUsage] so I won't waste my time this year. Instead I'm trying to think of more ways to make the 1997 Alumacraft feel like a 2007 boat.

[BoxMN]

Okay, Erik can give any details, but I will post this in the post I had in the experts forum as well, as we all know my brother is an expert at being an arse, ha!

Erik's LED light on a 9 volt battery on the side of a boat for landing muskies at night.

Here a couple thumbnail pics for those not wanting to go to the link:

[50inchpig]

This is a sweet idea -

How does the switch work? Can you use your feet to turn it on at night when fighting a fish alone?

Good innovation

[Rmac]

Where are you guys getting these lights? ... I would also like to know about that switch. It looks like it would be easy to hit in the heat of the moment, unlike most light switches.

[HugoBox]

This is a sweet idea -

How does the switch work? Can you use your feet to turn it on at night when fighting a fish alone?

Good innovation

[BoxMN]

The lights are from the "worst china" online place - just go to the ice fishing forum to see more info about them. We can't post the real name of the store here, hence the funny name above I have two strip like that in my ice shack and they work GREAT.

And just to show how little juice they draw, Erik had a cheap 9 volt battery hooked to one strip and it stayed lit for 5 days, with about 2.5-3 days of that time bright enough to lite a fish house easy enough toe tie thin line. On all the time, on low cost 9 volt! So it won't drain your 12v boat battery at all.

I would put two of them together I think, for just a tad bit more light. I know another guy on forum uses some similar lights that were longer and he really likes how it worked. I think having red on port side and green on starboard side would look cooooool

[cjac]

Well done!

I did the lights in my portable and mounted toggle switches to run each set in the Ze-Rust battery box lid which I mounted to the side of the sled, pretty easy if I can do it. Picked up the lights at 'belas. One set of surface mounted 12 bulb LED light strips, one rope across the top, and a pair of LED circle lights in back.

I'm thinking of adding LED lights in the interior of the boat, under the gunnel, and wiring to a switch on my dash area. A string of 4 foot rope lights up each side of the interior bow is the idea. That will light up the bow area at night time quite well. Like I said, if I can do it, anyone can, as I'm not a "Sparky" by any means. I may tap into an existing wire going to the deep cycles up front or the cranking battery in back, either way it's such a low draw it's marginal. There are the surface mount strip LED lights I mentioned that could be added anywhere too. I put some on the edge of the portable sled at my feet and they light up the holes quite well, they would do the same for the outer boat sides, just need to mount them where they wouldn't get dock rash.

Endless options at minimal cost and relative ease to do.

I look forward to seeing updates! Just make sure all exposed lighting is Coast Guard legal wherever you may boat!

[nater]

Great idea on the lights and the pics as well. That could come in very handy.

I would like to setup a tackle storage compartment in my new boat. Still deciding how much room I want to use and where to put it. I also need to fix my bilge, not sure if its the wiring or a dead pump.

Will probably re-design more bucktails and would like to monkey around with modifying some lures I have that didn't provide any action last year. Maybe even watch a musky video online or in the old dvd player to keep my excitement levels up and learn a thing or two.

[cjac]

Here's a link with pics to show how I did my portable LEDs last year, hope it helps! It shows the LED strips, ropes, and the round lights I mentioned. The round lights can also be surface mounted and the ropes fastened with clips.

Portable Lights

[b1gf1sh1]

Thanks guy's ...as if i ain't got enough to do. that's a sweet idea.

probably never get to putting nice lights all over my boat this winter/spring. BUT... i can maybe squeeze it in when i'm waiting for that catfish to bite on my sucker or chicken liver. like when i had to put in a new bilge pump one time and when i put another aerator in the rear livewell and assorted other stuff because i could'nt find time outside fishing.

[ole matty]

Gonna write up a blueprint to add upper deck on my front of boat and try to make a tackle box for spinnerbaits to save money and room in my boat..

[Rebel9921]

Just ordered a new steering wheel for my boat... clearance... and it looks SWEET... its a start...

Im still "shopping" around for Marine Plywood (1/2" for flooring and maybe stringers, 3/4" for Transom and etc) and Fiberglass supplies... so it'll take a while longer...

[BoxMN]

Rebel, call Hallbergs Marine and ask for marine plywood pricing if you haven't already. That is where I got mine a few years ago when I rehabbed an old pontoon.