Bass & Walleye Boats articles from April 2005

Bass & Walleye Boats archives from April 2005

The consumer wins.(Holeshot)
April 1, 2005... Sometimes, small setbacks end in good fortune. Such is the case of the 3-liter, high-performance 225 shoot-out that was promised for this issue. A delay in the production of Evinrude's new high-performance gearcase dealt us a minor setback--as...

Why not muskie?(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I am disappointed in your reporting on bay boats. In the April 2003 issue, you rejected Gerald Bucholtz's request for an article on muskie rigs. This is a contradiction because you stated that your "main focus will always be on bass and walleye...

Hooray for bay boats.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I am just one more satisfied reader, and was made even more so when Bass and Walleye Boats began reviewing bay boats. Having grown up on the Texas Gulf Coast fishing for anything that was biting, I was only able to imagine what a good...

Another way of doing it.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... First, I'm very impressed with this year's January issue--very informative. Being a Bullet owner, it was my favorite! Yet, I do not agree with all that was written in "Finding Your Center." Now, I know who wrote the article and do respect his...

Level flotation.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I just read John Tiger's response to the criticism he received for not wearing a race vest when testing that 104-mph Bullet. Tiger's answer really hit home because I, too, am a Bullet owner (though our boat only runs in the mid-80s). My wife,...

Fathoming sonar frequencies.(Electronic Fisherman)
April 1, 2005... 'I'm buying a fishfinder that is available in single- and dual-frequency models. Is the dual-frequency version worth the extra dough?" I wish I had a buck for every time I've been asked this question. The answer is that it depends on your...

Four-strokes in the forefront.(Seat Time)(outboard engines)
April 1, 2005... Four-stroke vs. two-stroke engines is an issue that will likely be debated endlessly now that the increasingly tough Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) smog laws for recreational vehicles are upon us. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In past...

Honda bookends.(Fast Lane)
April 1, 2005... Honda is one of those innovative, low-key companies that always seems to sneak up on the competition and give them a slap upside the head when it's least expected. If you want proof, just take a look at the company's four-stroke outboards. A...

Evinrude, Mercury and Suzuki introduce new models in Miami.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Miami International Boat Show, held Feb. 17 to 21, attracted dealers, manufacturers and potential boat buyers from around the world, and featured everything from megayachts to belly boats. Yet, for bass and walleye boaters, the event was a...

J.D. Power and Associates awards Bass Cat for customer satisfaction.(Around the Dock)(Bass Cat Boats wins award)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Mountain Home, Arkansas-based Bass Cat Boats shook up the competition at the Miami Boat Show, receiving the highest honor J.D. Power and Associates presents to boatbuilders. The family-owned bass-boat manufacturer was awarded J.D. Power's award...

Color-blinding experience: the upgraded LCX-19C sports better visibility and enhanced performance.(Fishfinder Test)
April 1, 2005... The latest version of Lowrance's (800/324-1356; lowrance.com) LCX-19C combines a great new display and enough computer power to handle simultaneous fishfinding/fast-mapping screen redraws with ease. The new screen is outstanding, presenting a...

Cool tools: Electronic Specialties' digital tach; New handheld tach for two- and four-strokes is convenient and highly accurate.(Fishfinder Test)(outboard engine controllers)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 1, 2005... When tuning up, adjusting or changing props on your outboard, chances are you do not have an accurate way of checking your engine's rpm. Dash-mounted analog tachometers (dial type) are not precise enough for setting idle speeds and can be...

BWB field-tested: X-Tools floating fillet knife designed 'pacifically' for floaters.(Finders Keepers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... There we was, all alone on Lake Z with ducks still a-sleepin' and nary a ripple on the water when we dropped that first stick of dynamite back in Cahill's Cove. Me and my fishin' buddy, Lefty Figowitz, done plugged our ears with our fingers and...

Rapid Jack introduces magnum 6-inch jackplate.(Finders Keepers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Any rigger will tell you that more setback isn't always better. Mercury's Verado is a prime example. Placing that much weight more than 4 inches behind the transom of even the widest, beefiest bass boat will cause it to get squirrelly at high...

Bilstein's 5150 off-road shocks.(Finders Keepers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... For the off-roading angler, Bilstein (800/537-1085; bilstein.com) offers the 5150 off-road shock absorber ($130), a monotube, high-gas pressure, fixed cross-flow reservoir shock that places the reservoir directly on the shock body, eliminating...

Meguiar's all-purpose cleaning wipes.(Finders Keepers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Whether you're truckin' or boatin', don't forget to take along some some good, old-fashioned cleaning wipes that can get the dirt, grease and grime off all kinds of surfaces. The Gold Class all-purpose cleaning wipes ($5.99) by Meguiar's...

Family value: Nitro's new 189 serves both the fisherman and his family at a price that's easy to swallow.
April 1, 2005... Nitro has a longstanding reputation for value. Whether you're in the market for a bass boat, fish 'n ski or bay boat, you know you're going to get a lot of bang for your buck with Nitro. We're talking high-quality boats at a price the working...

Covering your ass-ets: a little insurance goes a long way in protecting your property and livelihood.(motor boats)
April 1, 2005... In general, the typical bass boat owner is probably the most experienced boat operator on the water, spending four to five times more hours behind the wheel than the typical pleasure boat owner does. It's that time on the water that gives us...

Proper prop protection: how to safeguard your prop against nasty dents and dings, and what to do when 'prevention' is no longer an option.
April 1, 2005... For any angler whose lower unit has hit a rock while underway--at any speed--there is no doubt about what was struck. I know from first-hand experience that even the submerged stumps of oak trees offer some "give" when blades of aluminum or...

Silent predator: propelled by Mercury's powerful-yet-quiet 250 Verado, Bass Cat's Cougar FTD is one stealthy boat of prey.
April 1, 2005... I have had a long-running interest in Bass Cat. My first ride in one was back in the early '70s. I was impressed then and continue to be impressed by the quality and performance of these boats. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bass Cat was...

Painting with sonar: Humminbird's new side-scanning feature paints the underwater world in lifelike detail.
April 1, 2005... New sonar users are often disappointed when they discover that the picture on their fishfinder doesn't resemble a snapshot of the lake bottom under their boat. The views from down-looking and conventional side-looking transducers convert a...

Set up straight: propshaft height, engine setback and prop selection all play critical roles in bass boat performance. Yet, finding just the right combination of all three is the key to optimum setup.
April 1, 2005... Most bass boat owners take great pride in having a rig that consistently outruns others of similar size and power. Like tournament fishing, bigger numbers are always better. But the dilemma facing the majority of bass anglers--and those running...

Special edition: Travis Boating Centers now have their own 2450 FishMaster CC.(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 1, 2005... Flitting across Texas' Clear Lake, a safe haven for any size boat needing to get out of Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico during rough weather, gives you a really good feel for what a boat delivers in both ride and performance. The tidal...

Tiller ... I love 'er: want to run with the big dogs but don't want to give up tiller steering? You don't have to, thanks to a new, power tiller steering system designed for V-6s.(motorboats)(Product/Service Evaluation)
April 1, 2005... There was a time not too long ago that the walleye angler questioned the need for speed and power. As in most sports, be it tournament fishing or auto racing, the need for speed--whether for pleasure or for fame and fortune--is often supplanted...

Smooth 'N safe operator.(Hot Rigs)
April 1, 2005... Roland Smith has a high regard for safety. In his 26 years serving as a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot for the U.S. Coast Guard, Smith has seen his fair share of bad weather and sinking boats--but, as he exclaims, not one of the deluged...

Heat-soaked EFI.(Shop Talk)
April 1, 2005... I have a 2001 Mercury 200 EFI, and after fishing for about four hours in hot weather, the engine will start and idle fine but will bog down on acceleration. If you bleed fuel out of the fuel system at the test port, the engine will run fine...

Prop breakage.(Shop Talk)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... I have a 2000 Triton Tr-17 with a 2000 Evinrude Ficht 115 mounted on a 6-inch Hydro Dynamics manual jackplate. The center of the propshaft is 5 1/2 inches below the pad. The rig runs 54 mph (measured by GPS) at 5900 rpm and the prop is a 13...

Yamaha gearcase retrofit.(Shop Talk)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... Great magazine! Your May 2004 article "Yama-hauler" says the 3.3L's lower unit (with low-water pickup) can be interchanged with the 3.1L's lower unit. Is that true for a 1998 VMax 225 3.1L also, or do they just interchange on 2003 and 2004...

Not-so-turnkey Yamaha.(Shop Talk)
April 1, 2005... I have a 2003 Yamaha 90 with Prime Start that is supposed to start with a turn of the key, but the longer it sets up, the harder it is to crank. I've talked to several others with the same problem. There is nothing wrong with the cranking motor...

Indexing plugs.(Shop Talk)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... I recently purchased a used 19-foot Pro V Lund walleye boat with a 1999-model 150 Ficht Evinrude engine. I understand with the Ficht model that, when installing new spark plugs, they have to be indexed. Could you explain how to do this? ...

Pro Max-imum noise.(Shop Talk)
April 1, 2005... I have a 1999 Mercury Pro Max Super Magnum 225 engine. I experience a tremendous amount of noise from the exhaust between 3000 and 3500 rpm. This happens particularly when I decelerate from a higher rpm. Is there anything I can do to remedy...

Tow headed.(A Jones for Boats)(boat trailers)
April 1, 2005... Technology is a beautiful thing. In less than 24 hours after logging on to the Internet, you can have at your doorstep a multitasking, software-already-installed, plug-in-and-go personal computer. It can--virtually speaking--take you anywhere...