Little Scrooge
Well-Known Member
I have a 2005 189 Sport that was long overdue for some upgrades and I had requests from some of you asking how they went, so here they are:
This is also a family boat so I struggle with everything I do needs to be removeable or nearly hidden when the family is with me.
1. Remove old TM and replace with MK Terrova 80lb thrust this was the toughest, it required fabricating an aluminum plate to mount to plus I added a MK Quick Disconnect to that plate, had the holes tapped when I mounted the plate. I was very surprised The 189 already had 6AWG wire so I didn't need to add new wire just the 60amp breaker MK recommends.
2. I mainly bass fish but at least twice a year I troll for stripers so the next steps was to make some trolling rigs, again they need to be removeable for family and bass fishing trips, 1-1/2 inch PVC did the trick I mounted the rear over the seat post and the front over the homemade front deck extension (more on that in a minute) I have had a lot of people ask if the PVC will hold up to a big striper. Where I fish the limit is 36 inches in March so my answer is I hope we find out, have some safety lines for this first trip just in case
3. 3 bank charger
4. USB Port to keep the cell phone charged this will be especially helpful when listening to music with the family or dare I say boat trouble
5. New Speakers seems dumb but the old ones were cracked and when family sat on those side seats they got a scratched by the broken plastic, heck I don't even use the radio in the boat all the music comes through my cell phone but it's nice to know could if I wanted to.
6. New deck extension, this is still being worked on. I will have 2. One that permanently has the front trolling rig attached it can be removed and I can put the family/bass fishing version in. I found out I can fit 5 - 3700 Plano's under here so I am making a hatch to open and still need paint/carpet and I will add a step to the front to make access easier.
Almost forgot, I also fabricated a Trolling motor stabilizer arm from Schedule 80 PVC, it is threaded so the arm is removeable and all that is left is the 3 1/2 inch flange on the deck. Plus new tires on the trailer. Last order of business for this season is the name: Ebeneezer Scrooge There is a lot of history here and much of the upgrades were made in the hopes that "Big Scrooges" days of being my fishing partner are not behind him just yet.
Now if I could just get rid of this hard water around here!
This is also a family boat so I struggle with everything I do needs to be removeable or nearly hidden when the family is with me.
1. Remove old TM and replace with MK Terrova 80lb thrust this was the toughest, it required fabricating an aluminum plate to mount to plus I added a MK Quick Disconnect to that plate, had the holes tapped when I mounted the plate. I was very surprised The 189 already had 6AWG wire so I didn't need to add new wire just the 60amp breaker MK recommends.
2. I mainly bass fish but at least twice a year I troll for stripers so the next steps was to make some trolling rigs, again they need to be removeable for family and bass fishing trips, 1-1/2 inch PVC did the trick I mounted the rear over the seat post and the front over the homemade front deck extension (more on that in a minute) I have had a lot of people ask if the PVC will hold up to a big striper. Where I fish the limit is 36 inches in March so my answer is I hope we find out, have some safety lines for this first trip just in case
3. 3 bank charger
4. USB Port to keep the cell phone charged this will be especially helpful when listening to music with the family or dare I say boat trouble
5. New Speakers seems dumb but the old ones were cracked and when family sat on those side seats they got a scratched by the broken plastic, heck I don't even use the radio in the boat all the music comes through my cell phone but it's nice to know could if I wanted to.
6. New deck extension, this is still being worked on. I will have 2. One that permanently has the front trolling rig attached it can be removed and I can put the family/bass fishing version in. I found out I can fit 5 - 3700 Plano's under here so I am making a hatch to open and still need paint/carpet and I will add a step to the front to make access easier.
Almost forgot, I also fabricated a Trolling motor stabilizer arm from Schedule 80 PVC, it is threaded so the arm is removeable and all that is left is the 3 1/2 inch flange on the deck. Plus new tires on the trailer. Last order of business for this season is the name: Ebeneezer Scrooge There is a lot of history here and much of the upgrades were made in the hopes that "Big Scrooges" days of being my fishing partner are not behind him just yet.
Now if I could just get rid of this hard water around here!
