already spoken for

I built this 7 years ago for my youngest son and it is solid as the day I put it up. It is roughly 4' X 8' and has 30 year shingles, lol. It would make a great deer stand, ground stand, shanty, storage, playhouse, bon fire etc. It's located in St. Francisville and is yours (free) for the taken, all you have to do is come get it (be sure and bring a couple of strong buddies).

Anyone using the Minn Kota I-Pilot troll motor? I'm thinking about getting one for my bay boat and really like the anchor feature (when the water is too deep for my PP) as well as others. To me, the mount looks kind of gimpy, wonder if it will hold up to the pounding it will get? Is it worth the extra money? Any input is appreciated!

I got my second (in one month) Geauxpass violation. This one dates back to 6/18/12 and i'm just getting my notice. They are getting better, the last one dated back to 8/19/11. I cleared the first one but took an entire day! I always pay my Geauxpass, either online, at their office or most recently, at the toll booth. This is getting VERY frustrating to say the least! Does anyone know someone I can contact that will listen and do something about it? I just wonder how many more of these I (and you) will get.

Anyone using INAVX GPS marine navigation for Ipad?? I have an Ipad that I'm not using and I thought it would make an awesome navigation system for my new boat. I have done some research on the INAVX software and it gets really high reviews. You can get heavy duty marine type mounts to hold the Ipad and just really thinking about purchasing the app ($49). You don't need internet connection to run the GPS, just to update maps. This really has my interest, does anyone have experience with this app on an Ipad? Thanks!!!

I feel like I'm being ripped off by my own state! I got a ticket in the mail today from Geauxtrash saying that I didn't pay a toll on 9/16/2011. Well, I remember that trip as it was the first trip in my new Gaudet and can remember stopping by the office in Golden Meadow to pay the toll, I remember a gentleman there looking at my new boat. Why are they doing this, has anyone else had problems?? I pay LA enough in taxes already, I would hate to give them a bonus!

I decided to pack a rod and some new baits I picked up at the sportsman show this weekend for my work day in Houma. I finished up early, so I headed down to Leeville. Finally got to pay toll and cross the bridge and took first exit back to old LA 1. Headed south until I found moving water (about halfway between Leeville and Fourchon). Water was moving from the west side of LA 1 to the east, so I decided to fish the east side. Had bait in the water and birds were picking so I was pumped. Made several chunks and nothin! I answered a phone call and while my bait sat on the bottom, the first speck picked it up. I slowed down my retrieve and started to catch trout on every cast. It lasted for 45 minutes, or until the water stopped moving, then nothing. The water swithed directions so I fished the West side, but still nothing, got dark and decided to head back to the hotel. Ended keeping 10 fish and threw back at least another 10, maybe 15. No monsters but all keeper fish around 14-16 inches. Used Matrix Shad I bought this weekend, not sure what thay call them, so I included the 2 I used in a pic. Fun day!!!! Think I'll take off a little earlier tomorrow.

I finally layed the fiberglass yesterday. I read all the books and watched all the videos and thought I was ready. WRONG!! Fiberglassing is not for sissies! In the end, I guess it came out better than I thought it would. Had some wood staining as you can see in the pics, and a few imperfections that I think I can sand out. Still have to add a couple more fill coats then get to start all over on the inside, but hopefully i'll know what not to do on the inside. I'll be glad to finish the glass work so I can get back wood work then get out on the water.

Well, I finished planking my canoe yesterday and spent time today just to look at it and decide how to cut my shear line. I must say that to this point, it has been a very fun build, and very rewarding! Next step is adding and shaping the bow and stern stems then on to fiberglassing (I already faired and sanded the hull). If there is anyone interested in building a canoe or Kayak, feel free to contact me, now would be a great time to see the canoe as it is still on the molds. Thanks for looking! Happy Mardi Gras!

I started planking (or stripping) my canoe this past weekend with the help of my good friend Greg. I didn't get a whole lot done because I was reluctant to attach the first strip, and I just looked it it way too long. If the first strip is installed wrong, the whole canoe will look wrong, so this was a critical step. Anyway, I attached the first strip and away we went. Well, Greg had to leave and my wife took over and that didn't last long, so I had to make a device to help me handle those long strips. Imagine a strip of wood that is 1/4' by 3/4' and 20ft long, it's like holding a noodle. I have attached some pictures of how each strip is attached to the inner stems. Another picture shows how each strip is temporarily attached to the station molds by pin nails (Most use staples) that are pulled out later. Another pic shows a shot of the canoe starting to take shape. This is actually a fun project for me and I'm really enjoying seeing it come together. I'm already thinking about the next project, you in Greg???

Well, thanks to admiral for slowing down my project! I decided to take up his suggestion and google 'indianheaddecals' and came up with several clever ideas that put me back a week. The first was an indian design accent strip just below the shear line (Gunwale) of the canoe, see pics. I haven't decided for sure on the second idea, but I love the indian head decals, after all, 'Nezpique' (neh-PEE-kay) means tatooed nose indian and I think one of those indian heads would look good on the bow!! I also decided to take a short cut and do a football shape design on the bottom, this is easier than shaping and bending the small strips on the bottom. After I plank up around the bilge and get to the bottom, I'll just trace out the hole on to my football, then cut it and glue it in place. The football will be contrasting to the rest of the strips, it will be dark green sinker cypress. I have also attached a picture of my steam bender, my neighbor thought I was making moonshine. The only wood I needed to steam was the inner and outer stems. The bow and the stern each has an inner stem and an outer stem. The inner stem is the one that all the strips attach to. The outer stem is added after all the strips have been glued in place and acts as a bumper. I'm hoping to get most of the strips glued in place this weekend (unless admiral has more clever ideas!)

I've been wanting to build a cedar strip canoe for a long time and I'm finally getting started (actually mine will be a cypress strip). I thought i'd post some of the first steps, and if anyone is interested, I could continue to post as I go thru the building process. The canoe I decided to build is a 17ft traditional style canoe with re-curved stems. I purchased the plans from Newfound Woodworks and its called the Traveler. I do some woodworking as a hobby and there's really nothing complicated about building a strip canoe, at least for me. I think the challenge will be the fiberglassing part, but I will have a few weeks before that step. My canoe will be called 'Nezpique'. I grew up hunting and fishing Bayou Nezpique and I just thought it make a cool name. Anyway - gotta get back to the shop!

Recreational Fishing Alliance - Are you guys familiar with this organization?? Just saw a commercial promoting the RFA while watching a fishing show this morning and it sounded like a worthwhile group to donate money. I already belong to GCA, just curious if anyone has an opinion??

What makes our young children so violent that they would murder elementary school kids?? This is happening far to often today and its very disturbing to me! I'm praying for those family's involved.

Just recently had my motor serviced. Changed lower unit and motor oil at a Yamaha dealer. I noticed oil seaping out of this hole in the lower unit, just a few drops on the floor. I ran the boat a couple of times since the service and haven't noticed this until today. Is this normal?? Thanks for the help!!

2 reels broke within 1 week just setting the hook on specks (not big one's either). These are Shimano 2500FG spinning reels 13 monthe old, one month out of warranty. These are medium priced reels with what I believe is a factory aluminum cast problem. They broke in the exact same place!! Anyone experience this problem with Shimano spinning reels??? It will be interesting to see if Shimano covers this obvious defect. Thanks for your input.

I'm assuming this is a dove roosting in a Crape Myrtle just off my back patio. In flight it has bright white tail feathers and some red on its wings. It seems small to be a dove and I have never seen one with all these colors. It also seems very tolerable to humans, because it lets me get as close as I want for pics. Beautiful bird!! Anyone know what it is????