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Wow! Thanks for all the great advice from everyone! This is extremely helpful and has already caused me to re-prioritize some things. Trust me, I already have several Excel spreadsheets going for the boat necessities and gear/tackle. I was a professional researcher before I retired, I don’t do anything without a well thought out plan. You tube is a godsent! I’ve bumped the marine radio up on my priority list. I just hope I don’t run into the problem of interference between by sonar and radio units that I’ve been reading about (I’m looking at the best practices for setting these up). Also appreciate the importance of hands-on learning and will see if I can fit in a charter trip with Brother Nature. We’re behind schedule on a house we’re flipping so I couldn’t go on a fishing trip right now even if I had my boat! If you think of anything more send it along. You guys are the best! Happy fishing!

Don't go out without
- a good Compass
- flares
- a good anchor with at least 300 feet of rope and always anchor at the bow
- consider a good drift sock in case anchor does not hold
- a second battery
- a fire extinguisher
- as mentioned before a good radio & antenna and consider a spare
- make sure bilge pump works

Bruce

What? Speaking of priorities, you have Great Fishing, house flipping, making spread sheets, going fishing, retirement planning, put off fishing, planning a charter and it seems GREAT FISHING is slipping down your priority list. If you want to join the ranks of fishing afflicted people you have to reprioritize. Keep sliding the fishing part of the agenda down the list and you'll be making your maiden voyage in August when the only fish available are lake trout out at the Flemish Cap. Just kidding, but too many people MAKE time for everything on their schedules and only TAKE time occasionally to fit a fishing trip into their lives. One of the other sites I monitor has a user on there with the best "site handle" ever. Calls himself "Far Beyond Driven" Excellent. Sort of like the old maxim, "No one laying in their deathbed ever said, 'sure am glad I worked all those extra shifts on weekends"".

I hear you and I'm guilty as charged! That said, the housing flipping is for my son and my kids will always come first. We're just a month or so away from finishing, which will be just in time for when my boat arrives.