Harpo, I did get your email. I still dont buy it, ive cleaned up viruses first hand on OS X. Yes Macs dont get as many viruses or i guess you could say arent as "prone" to them as Windows but they do exist and im sure will be increasing in numbers as Mac becomes more popular as a platform. Ive worked in Information Technology too long to believe that anything is virus/malware proof, its part of my job to be skeptical i guess. I have nothing against Macs, actually if my IBM T43(best laptop i have ever owned)ever goes belly up or becomes way outdated its replacement will be a 17" Macbook Pro.
The Z7 is running fantastic, thanks for asking. I love that 175 Xs Opti , the thing just sips gas compared to my XR6 and is is so strong. The performance is incredible. I burned like maybe 15 gallons of gas on three trips to Winnisquam in NH, my old boat would have burned 45 easy, maybe more. The difference in fuel consumption is just amazing. Im pretty pleased with the whole package.
On the battery note, i dont think i got a "deal" on mine i paid normal price at the same place i bought my last set 6 years ago(which were still good when i got rid of the boat). Maybe my local shop isnt marking them up as much, im not sure. All i know is i handed him $300 and i got two brand new scs 225's. Last time i checked Johnson controls still made the everstart, that may have changed im not sure but i have had problems with every johnson controls battery i have ever used in a boat. Its not for lack of maint for sure i since im super anal about it. I dont think they are build to withstand abuse in rough water. I have never had an everstart, interstatse, die hard etc last me a season ever. every time i have had shorted plates and they arent old at all. To me its worth spending even tripple for the Trojans. Im not a hard core tournament fisherman anymore at all, im mainly a weekend guy with liek 5-6 T's mixed in a year but i dont like having trips runied by battery problems. I have to drive a good way to get to the waters i like to fish and a lot of times i make a weekend out of it. So to spend money on fuel to drive to lets say champlain( a 5 hour drive) and rent a room, buy food and all that stuff only to have the batteries die and no replacements really bothers me because its a trip wrecked. I have had that exact scenario happen more then once with weeklong trips screwed up by it. I really value my time on the water and when i do get the chance to fish up north i dont want to run into problems. It just costs too much to make these trips, if it wasa lake 10 min down the street it would be different. Thats the reason i spent got the trojans and i have had not one battery problem or wrecked trip since. I have been doing this fishing thing for as long time and over the years i have determined there are a few things i will never ever own again, one is any battery by johnson controls, the others are evinrude motors, motorguide trolling motors, and quantum reels ive just had too many problems with all of the above things.
Sorry for making you read a novel here but put the info out there i guess.