Mark_VTfisherman
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,489
I haven't been around for a while- other than a little lurking and to look something up. But here it is winter: cold, some snow, and although there is still open water at several Champlain ramps it is a little too icy for my 2WD car to fish. Time for catch-up! I have spent the last week or so reading several fishing sites and getting up to date on some MFG threads here on iBoats. Then today I realized I never posted the updates for *my* little Niagara Deluxe for those who might be interested. MFGs are great little boats.
Each summer I go to Oneida Lake in New York for a week of walleye fishing. July was 2011's trip. I learned that I CAN run 4 or 5 miles in 3-4' seas (25- 30-knot winds with higher gusts) in the Niagara. The get to the reefs I wanted to fish was about 20 degrees south of dead upwind; I had to pay attention, but it can be done. Although I was not convinced it was a good idea, the water temps were 70s to 80s so I gave the MFG a workout. Was very thankful for the closed bow and full windshield. I made it safe and other than some water splash, dry! Here is a pic I snapped in a trough while trolling in 3 footers after it finally laid down a bit. I would not want to have been out there in any other boats this size!
The biggest deal about the week actually was my construction of my MFG top. Unwilling to spend money on a commercially made top that may have been a compromise at best, I instead purchased 1/2" EMT from Home Depot, white rip-stop nylon tent cloth material and heavy blue thread from JoAnne Fabrics (total about $20), and about $40 of bimini hardware and a strap set from The Old Fishing Hole in Morrisville, VT. The colored thread sets off nicely with the Niagara's blue.
I made a scale drawing, sewed the top, and then butt-welded the 10' conduit to get the longer lengths I needed. I bent them to fit with an electrician's bender. I dry fit everything, wiped the oils from the conduit, treated the zinc tubing with white vinegar, and painted the tubing with ACE Hardware's polyurethane floor and deck enamel color matched to MFG blue. Here is the whole thing installed:
Shade from the sun, minimal dew overnight, and shelter from the drizzle one day brought in. Easily removed, foldable for transport, and not too much in the way of fishing. And it is fine running 25-30mph across the water. I don't know why I did not do this years ago.
Other than getting rid of the '64 Johnson and perhaps losing the OEM seats, this is by far the best mod I have done to the old MFG. I love these boats!
Hope this inspires others to make good stuff for their MFGs.
Each summer I go to Oneida Lake in New York for a week of walleye fishing. July was 2011's trip. I learned that I CAN run 4 or 5 miles in 3-4' seas (25- 30-knot winds with higher gusts) in the Niagara. The get to the reefs I wanted to fish was about 20 degrees south of dead upwind; I had to pay attention, but it can be done. Although I was not convinced it was a good idea, the water temps were 70s to 80s so I gave the MFG a workout. Was very thankful for the closed bow and full windshield. I made it safe and other than some water splash, dry! Here is a pic I snapped in a trough while trolling in 3 footers after it finally laid down a bit. I would not want to have been out there in any other boats this size!
The biggest deal about the week actually was my construction of my MFG top. Unwilling to spend money on a commercially made top that may have been a compromise at best, I instead purchased 1/2" EMT from Home Depot, white rip-stop nylon tent cloth material and heavy blue thread from JoAnne Fabrics (total about $20), and about $40 of bimini hardware and a strap set from The Old Fishing Hole in Morrisville, VT. The colored thread sets off nicely with the Niagara's blue.
I made a scale drawing, sewed the top, and then butt-welded the 10' conduit to get the longer lengths I needed. I bent them to fit with an electrician's bender. I dry fit everything, wiped the oils from the conduit, treated the zinc tubing with white vinegar, and painted the tubing with ACE Hardware's polyurethane floor and deck enamel color matched to MFG blue. Here is the whole thing installed:
Shade from the sun, minimal dew overnight, and shelter from the drizzle one day brought in. Easily removed, foldable for transport, and not too much in the way of fishing. And it is fine running 25-30mph across the water. I don't know why I did not do this years ago.
Other than getting rid of the '64 Johnson and perhaps losing the OEM seats, this is by far the best mod I have done to the old MFG. I love these boats!
Hope this inspires others to make good stuff for their MFGs.
