Riptide Charters

Well I finally got on the water today and it?s been WAY too long. A bout with pneumonia and some maintenance items on the boat kept me from meeting my 3rd week in April expectations. So today was more of a shakedown run with a rod onboard than a fishing trip, but I made some interesting observations.

I launched out of Bourne Marina and was happy to see that the new forward V bunks I installed on the trailer work far better than the old Y bracket that was factory installed. The boat splashed nicely and the new Etec lit off without a full rotation of the motor.

I idled out of the marina and gave the motor plenty of time to warm up and clear out the fogging oil. I did and OTW systems check and found everything working except my Lenco tabs. They worked the other day so I?m guessing a fuse issue.

I ran out to the West end and started adjusting the new Furuno NavNet VX2 that Navionics was nice enough to outfit my boat with for the coming season. I have to say their ?fishing? chart has TONS more detail of the bottom than my old unit had. The VX2 seems to have a nicer screen than the VX 1 did an added bonus.

While adjusting the setting on the radar I noticed several familiar echoes. Damn if they didn?t look like flocks of birds about a mile away. A quick run out confirmed the suspicion and there they were, terns and cormorants in nice size groups. The terns seemed to be picking bait rather than working over fish and the cormorants were just paddling around. I made a few casts with no joy before moving on.

I marked a good amount of bait including several large schools of what appeared to be herring. While I?m sure there are fish in the area I did a short loop around the top half of the bay and never found any surface feeding fish. Since it was more of a shakedown run anyway I really didn?t put forth much effort.

I played with the electronics a bit more. Answered a few radio checks from other guys doing the same as me, and I got a bit more acquainted with the new Furuno unit.

The day was really a nice one to run around testing the boat. Seas were 1-2? and the wind was fairly light. The water temps ranged from 51.7 to 53.4 around the bay. The normal ?hot spots? were in the 53 range while the middle of the bay and the canal area were the coolest.

Once back at Bourne Marina the new bunk setup proved itself with recovering the boat too. It lives up to the claim that loadmaster made. The guy from Loadmaster said ?you can?t get drunk enough to miss with this setup? As easy as it was for me sober today I?ll take his word for that.

Overall, a good solid trip. I have a few more small items to attend to but I?m basically ready to go. I tossed a small storm shad under the birds a dozen times without anything but a huge boil from an angry loon. With all the bait in the area and temps approaching the magic 54-55 degree range I?d say the next week or so will have those familiar schools of bright lice covered bass all over Buzzards Bay.

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Good Luck,

Capt. Terry Nugent
Riptide Charters
www.riptidecharters.com

ReelCrazySportfishing

Have a great season Captain

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www.ReelCrazySportfishing.com
Connecticut Charter Fishing
www.fishermansparadisect.com

Riptide Charters

THANKS!

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Good Luck,

Capt. Terry Nugent
Riptide Charters
www.riptidecharters.com

Bob & Mag

Sounded like it was good just to hit the water.
Please post what you find on your lenco problem. Am curious.
Good Luck this season!

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Smoke free 9+ Months!

Riptide Charters

I'll let you guys know what it is tomorrow. I had an "issue" with low voltage this season even with brand new batteries and having wire brushed all the terminals. There is a pair of insulated lugs in the bilge that act as a juntion to all the heavy cables. I knew they were there but out of sight out of mind. While my tabs auto reset with key off, they were doing it whenever I loaded the system due to the low voltage. I checked the lugs and found 2 tennis balls of green / blue fuzz.

Needless to say I have my problem solved. After pulling both lugs and the 5 cables and cleaning them and spraying the nicely brushed connection with corrosion blocker I now have full amperage back at the motor. I think the strain from the corrosion likely popped the fuse on one of the auto resets. I'll dig into it tomorrow then give the old girl the bath she so desperately needs.

Ahh boats and wiring

__________________
Good Luck,

Capt. Terry Nugent
Riptide Charters
www.riptidecharters.com

74Formula233

Good you finally got out Terry!

Yeh, boats and wiring = SUCK! LOL

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old mud

Good luck Terry: sounds good so far!!

Don

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"I was so poor growing up that if I wasn't a BOY I'd have had nothing to play with"
Piker Ancient Mariner

blackhullcharters

Best of luck this season Terry
We got a few trips in on the new Ave Maria 29 Hydrasport the past 2 weeks.
A bit chilly on the center console last sunday heading out the Stellwagen !!!
I prefer my pilot house when it's chilly !!!
You still looking for a sea trial on the 29 ???

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Capt. Ronnie
Team Ave Maria
www.blackhullcharters.com

Riptide Charters

I am looking hard at the 29 HS. I should be set for a trial though, my buddy just bought the lite blue 2007 photo boat from the HS cataloge and I get to run it for part of the season

Glad to hear yours is treating you well. I hope to see you guys at the FLW events. THis time we will be running OUR 29 Maybe we can keep up with you.

Have a great season!

__________________
Good Luck,

Capt. Terry Nugent
Riptide Charters
www.riptidecharters.com

Riptide Charters

well I got the tabs fixed today. It was not a quick fix but it was cheap and easy once I diagnosed the problem. After allot of circuit testing and jumping power to the motors etc. It turned out to be another corrision issue on a bilge located junction bar. IT looked alright, but after checking out all the systems piece by piece it narrowed down to the bar or one of the eye ring connectors. A few minutes with the wire wheel on the drill and the tabs are good as new.

I'm happy it was a cheap fix, and it was easy to fix, but the diagnostics were a PIA and required 2 people to work both ends of the boat. But as I know all too well THATS BOATING!!!!!

I was so happy it was a small thing I broke down and gave the boat the first of several baths that she so desperately needed after a winter under plastic.

__________________
Good Luck,

Capt. Terry Nugent
Riptide Charters
www.riptidecharters.com