Recent content by LesR

Colby, glad to hear things are going OK for you and the folks traveling with you. We came back to Fort Loudon Marina on Thursday to fix an electrical gremlin, and yesterday I saw info from Waterway Guide that Watts Bar Lock was closed due to high water. My hunch is that they must have closed...

We're currently at the Fort Loudon Marina above the Fort Loudon lock and put in here yesterday. There's a fair amount of debris in the water, and we heard second hand from a local that the docks in Knoxville were under water. While that dire description may not be true, we're going to forego a...

Thanks, everyone, for your input and suggestions. We loaded the boat in Nashville and made it safely and intact back to St. Louis on Saturday. Colby, I got a quote for the Load Rite trailer from Enterprise Marine and RV - I think you may have mentioned them in a prior thread. Our son now lives...

Good news - the trailer shop was able to re-attach that back support without having to bend/force/weld anything. That support is attached on both sides to the aluminum I-beams. The U bolts holding them had apparently loosened enough that without the weight of the boat, the beam shifted and fell...

First the good news: while my vacation schedule didn't allow us to make this year's "Meet in the Middle" gathering, we left Alton IL early last week and had a very nice cruise down the remainder of the upper Mississippi, up the Ohio to the Cumberland and Lake Barkley, then continuing to the...

Trailer issue

Here's the part I found when one of my scupper drains self-destructed: https://www.replacementboatparts.com/stainlesscappedlheadcockpitdrain1-12hose.aspx. Not sure if that's what you're referring to or how much it's changed from 2007 to 2013. It wasn't an exact match (the length was slightly...

Colby, Welcome home and thanks for your detailed narrative. The canal is one of those true gems for a relaxed cruise.

I installed one of these for my very simple setup (connecting an AIS transponder to two MFDs): https://actisense.com/products/a2k-sbn-1/ Given that my power connection and components/sensors were all within a few feet of the helm, this provided a compact installation. Cost is approximately the...

We have both SH GX1700 and GX2200 radios, so prior versions of the ones you describe. I don't notice any more clarity from the more expensive radio, but I have appreciated the AIS receive functionality. I suspect quality of your antenna (and its connections) may play as big a role in quality of...

One more data point and hopefully encouragement... We successfully installed a Lewmar 700H and a new self-launching anchor roller ourselves last year, and I'm far less handy than Bob and Tom. Before marking and cutting, lay everything out on the bow to ensure all the components fit and have...

Thanks everyone for your input and experience related to AIS install and use. Here’s where I’ve landed based on your suggestions and research of currently available options... I’ve changed my approach from an all-in-one solution (e.g. Vesper Cortex) to individual specialized components. I can...

I'm planning to add an AIS transceiver this year and wondering if anyone has specific recommendations for brand and/or functionality. If I were equipping a boat from scratch, the Vesper Cortex would be very tempting, though it's a bit spendy. Since I already have two fixed and two portable VHF...

Here's the boat we saw in Auke Bay last July, which appears to be a practical (albeit slow) electric cruiser. They made the trip from Bellingham to Ketchikan in 20 days, roughly double the time it took us. Alex told me they could run continuously during the day at 5 knots using power from their...