Bass & Walleye Boats articles from December 2004

Bass & Walleye Boats archives from December 2004

No favorites.(Holeshot)(boat testing)
December 1, 2004... Our readers dig shoot-outs, particularly engine shoot-outs. Rather than just reading about how one engine performs, these head-to-head comparisons give readers the opportunity to learn how any given engine sizes up to other engines in regard to...

Two-stroke fan.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... As for Mr. Tiger's Seat Time column in the June issue, there is only one thing I have to say about the article and his opinion: DITTO! Mike Casey Hartsville, South Carolina You are obviously referring to Tech Editor John Tiger,...

More on smaller engines.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... For the most part, I enjoy reading your magazine each month. I have found a lot of valuable information that I have adapted to my boat. There is one thing that really concerns me, however. I am looking to update the power on my Mirrocraft...

Unfair treatment.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... In an October article about E-Tec by Senior Technical Editor Jim Barron, BWB Editor Steve Quinlan includes a sidebar about the performance differences between the Verado 250 and the 225 E-Tec. When Quinlan and Barron tested the E-Tec in Stuart,...

Speed tuning for sonar.(Electronic Fisherman)(fishfinders)
December 1, 2004... 'Turn your fishfinder on as you launch your boat and leave it on until you pull the boat back on the trailer at the end of the day." Which professional angler offered this sage advice? Tough question, I've read it in print and heard it on...

Testing the right way.(Seat Time)(boat testing)(Editorial)
December 1, 2004... For our review of the Bullet 20XD and Mercury Racing 300X featured in this issue, we conducted our testing the way we normally do. We prepped, took notes, weighed the boat and engine and recorded the data no differently than we do for any other...

Merc Racing introduces two new 225s.(Around The Dock)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Merc Racing is set to introduce two new 225 two-strokes in 2005: the 2.5XS, a 2.5L DFI V-6 designed for lightweight bass and flats boats, and the OptiMax 225 Pro XS, a 3.0L DFI V-6 designed for midsize and larger bass boats. The 2.5XS weighs in...

Brunswick forms new organization in Europe.(Around The Dock)(Brunswick Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... In order to effectively focus on the marine industry outside the United States, Mercury Marine's parent company, Brunswick Corp., has formed the Brunswick European Group, an organization that will house its operations and services for the...

Optima sponsors pro/am bass and walleye tourney.(Around The Dock)
December 1, 2004... In September, sweepstakes winners from across the country arrived in Gull Lake, Minnesota, to compete in the inaugural Optima Batteries Reel Dreams fishing tournament. Each of these contestants was paired off with a pro for the two-day, bass...

Cool tools: SenDEC's service-reminder Hour Meter; This new, self-powered unit features three service reminders and records actual "running" time.(News, Views & Reviews)
December 1, 2004... For outboard owners, "As Time Goes By" is more than just a song in Casablanca. Time--or running time, specifically--determines your outboard's maintenance schedule. Most manufacturers recommend a 10-hour break-in with a follow-up check...

Deceptively simple: we test Pinpoint's TR 320.(Fishfinder Test)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... While most other fishfinder manufacturers mix and match units with the latest trends and must-have automatic features, Pinpoint walks its own path with an almost retro state of mind with the TR 320. If you want a unit that runs itself and shows...

Bay Area angler scores MotorGuide trolling motor.(Fishfinder Test)
December 1, 2004... "I'VE NEVER WON ANYTHING BEFORE. THIS IS AWESOME!" said Kevin Fong of San Francisco with excitement after he was told he had won Bass & Walleye Boats' MotorGuide giveaway. Fong's prize is a MotorGuide Tour Edition TR-109 36-volt trolling motor...

World Kitchens beef jerky satisfies hungry anglers.(BWB FIELD-TESTED)
December 1, 2004... Can you fish and chew jerky at the same time? You betcha! In fact, you can tow, launch your boat and run to where you're going to fish while chewing on beef jerky, too. That's why so many bass and walleye anglers keep jerky in their boats and...

Honda Marine's digital gauges perform 15 different functions.(Finders Keepers)
December 1, 2004... You might be thinking about adding some more gauges for outboard control, but the idea of drilling extra holes into your dash doesn't seem exactly appealing. Save dash space by installing Honda Marine's (770/497-6400; honda-marine.com) new...

Tilt and trim now possible for low horsepower engines.(Finders Keepers)
December 1, 2004... Being on the lower end of the power spectrum--20 to 35 horses--doesn't mean you have to miss out on power trim and tilt. The Panther Integral Trim and Tilt ($489) by MarineTech Products Inc. (651/486-2010; marinetech.com) provides anglers with...

Spin Doctor grease extends prop life.(Finders Keepers)
December 1, 2004... CRC Marine (800/272-8963; crcindustries.com) has developed Spin Doctor propeller grease, a premium, synthetic, nondrying anti-seize compound specially engineered to provide a superior waterproof seal and protect against corrosion. ...

Where Bullets fly: a Merc 300X-powered Bullet 20XD proves to be the fastest stock rig we've tested to date.(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2004... With the wind tugging at our faces and flapping our cheeks, Bullet test pilot Paul Nichols and I blistered the rippled surface of Knoxville, Tennessee's Cherokee Lake at well over 100 mph at least a dozen times in a fully rigged,...

Battle tested: Mercury's Verado passes the ultimate performance test at the 2004 Bassmaster Classic.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Earl Bentz's secretary buzzes him, "Earl: There's someone from ESPN on line seven who wants to speak to you." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Thanks," Bentz, the president of Triton Boats, responds. "I'll take the call." He picks up the...

Sweet Avenger: Sylvan's slick, new Avenger covers all the angles.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... I like a fishing boat package that is simple in looks, layout and operation. Throw in "adaptable," and I'm hooked. After spending two days last summer testing and fishing out of a single console Sylvan, let's just say I was reeled in. She was a...

Replacin' the rip cord: step-by-step instructions for servicing your kicker's manual starter.
December 1, 2004... If you've ever owned or used a smaller, manual-start "kicker" outboard, chances are you've pulled the starter cord out at least once in your lifetime. It's a frustrating and helpless feeling, and as you sit there in the skiff with the pull cord...

Big-water bay: Hydra-Sports' versatile 2300 Bay Bolt provides plenty of room, a sweet ride and a stable platform for fishing bays and beyond.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Americans have been fishing bays for more than 400 years, so you might think that by now, all bay boats are pretty much the same. Because these versatile vessels deal with calm, shallow water as well as the roughness of the near-off-shore, some...

50 Top Guns: here are the hottest freshwater fishing boats available for 2005.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... WHAT'S YOUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT RIG? Maybe a rock-solid aluminum walleye boat, rigged to take the battle to Ol' Glass Eyes wherever he lives, or perhaps it's a high-performance fiberglass hull that gets your heart pumping the moment you turn...

Power preview: what's new in outboards for 2005.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... The 2005 model year brings us a few new engines, such as Mercury's Verado line and Evinrude's new V-6 E-Tecs. Yet, for the majority of engine manufacturers, product improvements are the driving force next year. In some models, noise levels are...

Weights & measures: shifting a little weight in your boat can greatly improve its performance and handling.
December 1, 2004... Moving 30 or 40 pounds of weight around in a boat designed to carry 800 or 900 pounds may seem insignificant, but a 2 or 3 percent shift in weight can add 3 or 4 mph to your top speed, help you plane more quickly and improve your rig's overall...

Don't mess with Skeeter.(Hot Rigs)
December 1, 2004... Bob Hubbard enjoys a fun, family fishing trip as much as he does winning a tournament. Well, maybe. But either way, the proud Texan says he has the right boat to accommodate all of his fishing needs. When Hubbard fishes club tournaments,...

Redesigning the wheel.(Shop Talk)
December 1, 2004... I've been a BWB subscriber for some time now, but I can't seem to find a pro to answer my question about props. I recently bought a new, 115 hp engine with a 14X22-inch-pitch prop. I was amazed to see the thickness of the blade in the area...

Factory or aftermarket props?(Shop Talk)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Your recent article on performance upgrades for a Yamaha 115 V-4 ("The Flying V," June issue) was informative, but it didn't mention propeller diameter and pitch. I have a Pro-V 115 Yamaha with a 13 1/2X21-inch prop on a 17 1/2-foot SS140...

Worthwhile investment.(Shop Talk)
December 1, 2004... My husband is interested in purchasing an immaculate 1988 Ranger bass boat. His primary concern is the engine. It is a 1988 Johnson GT 150 V-6. It has been run an estimated 25 hours (this is not a typo!), but it has not been used in more than...

Alternator rating.(Shop Talk)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... I just bought a new Johnson 140 four-banger, and I am really surprised at the guts this thing has. While the Suzuki model has a 40-amp alternator, the Johnson has only a 17-amp alternator. Is this a plus? I mean, is this lower output because of...

Stop, drop and roll?(Shop Talk)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... I have a 1998 Stratos 283 Fish 'n Ski with a '98 150 Evinrude. When I bought the boat new, the engine was set one hole up from the bottom. At that setting, when I came off plane and set the boat down in the water, the front of the boat would...

Cross-flow or looper?(Shop Talk)
December 1, 2004... I own a 1985 90-degree, V-4 140 hp Evinrude outboard and need to find out if this engine is a cross-flow or looper. The engine runs fine at all ranges except when coming off of high speed to idle. The cooling system sounds noisy, like a garden...

When good critters go bad.(A Jones for Boats)
December 1, 2004... Don't get me wrong, I like animals. Perhaps not as much as the Crocodile Hunter or those dog polishers in Madison Square Garden, but I'm way down the scale from Cruella de Vil. In fact, I probably have a greater affinity for the finned and...