Bass & Walleye Boats articles from January 2005

Bass & Walleye Boats archives from January 2005

Showing our hand.(Holeshot)
January 1, 2005... Recently, our sales staff asked me for a 2005 editorial calendar. I must admit, I was reluctant to comply at first, having been burned by other magazines when I'd shown my hand more than a month prior to publication. Let's just say people in...

Construction criticism.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... In the December 2004 Top Guns article, Peter D. duPre wrote an extremely incorrect description of how we manufacture the deck portion of a Bullet boat. The description of how we produce the hull applies to the deck as well. DuPre wrote,...

Bassin' editor.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Congratulations on your recent appointment as editor! I was certainly pleased with the news. Must be like old home week for you and some of the staff. I am a little confused, though, as to how a hardcore shark fisherman gravitates to little...

Satisfied customer.(Backwash)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I have been receiving Bass & Walleye Boats since it was first published and I still cannot wait to receive the next issue. I read a lot of the letters to the editors that complain about this article and that article or that the coverage is too...

High-speed corrections.(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2005... In our 104-mph Bullet boat test in the December 2004 issue, we stated that the trailer company Bullet partners with is Boatmate when, in fact, it is Custom Line, manufactured by Custom Metal Products. We also stated that Bullet normally uses a...

Clean noses.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Several issues ago there was a comparison of lower units equipped with nosecones. I have misplaced that issue and would like to review it again. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Gary Bruton Temple,...

In search of the perfect fish arch.(Electronic Fisherman)(fishfinders)
January 1, 2005... Does this sound familiar: "I sometimes see great arches on my console fish-finder but I never see them on my bow-mounted unit. I've checked my connections and my transducers and I can't find anything wrong. What gives?" [ILLUSTRATION...

Silent giant.(Seat Time)(outboard motors)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... On a recent boat-testing trip, I had the chance to run Mercury's Verado four-stroke on a performance bass hull for the first time. We tested the Verado against a direct-injected two-stroke outboard of similar size and output. Stay tuned for the...

Travis boats to merge with tracker.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Travis Boats & Motors, the nation's second largest boat retailer, is already a part of the large Tracker Marine family. But very soon, their relationship may become even closer. This month, negotiations are scheduled to be finalized between the...

Marine manufacturers report dollar sale increase for first half of 2004.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), marine manufacturers reported significantly higher unit and dollar sales for the second quarter of 2004 as compared to the same period in 2003. The positive findings have cast...

FLW Outdoors kicks off 2005 redfish and kingfish tours.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Known for its sponsorship for bass and walleye tourneys, FLW Outdoors is setting its sights on redfish and kingfish. This year, it is entering the saltwater fishing circuit with two separate tournaments. Late last summer, FLW Outdoors made...

Mercury's Verado takes the prize at IBEX.(Around the Dock)(outboard motors)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Since its debut in 2004, Mercury Marine's Verado has been making quite a splash in the marine industry. It was no different at the 2004 International BoatBuilder's Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) held in October in Miami. There, the Verado won...

Mandated boater education to be proposed in Washington state.(Around the Dock)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... This month, a revised bill is scheduled to be proposed in the state of Washington that would require residents, while on the water, to carry a card that proclaims they have a basic knowledge of boating. The card would be issued after residents...

Saltwater transplant: we test the Furuno FCV-600L.(Fishfinder Test)(sonar systems)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Fishermen who write off the Furuno FCV-600L as a saltwater-only unit are ignoring a fishfinder with solid performance and one of the best-looking color displays we've seen. While this unit's screen--like any of today's TFT color LCDs--loses...

Racor Filter Funnel keeps dirt and water out of the tank.(BWB FIELD-TESTED)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Seldom do we test a product that exceeds our expectations, but such was the case with the Racor Fuel Filter Funnel made by Modesto, California-based Parker Hannifin Corp. (800/344-3286; parker.com/racor). The company claims this...

Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic helps tow vehicles 75K and older run young and clean.(Finders Keepers)
January 1, 2005... Maintain the youth of your truck's engine as it passes the 75,000-mile mark with Valvoline's (800/832-6825; valvoline.com) MaxLife Synthetic motor oil ($4.99 quart size), available in 5W30 and 10W30 grades. Valvoline says MaxLife Synthetic is...

Bennett Marine's newly designed trim tab indicator gives precise readouts.(Finders Keepers)
January 1, 2005... Bass and walleye anglers who rely on their Bennett trim tabs are going to love the company's recently introduced Tab Position Indicator. The simple, newly designed trim-tab position indicator accurately displays the position of each tab, and...

Alumaducer shoot-through works on aluminum hulls.(Finders Keepers)
January 1, 2005... Eliminate the task of drilling holes in your boat to mount a transducer by installing a Vexilar (952/884-5291; vexilar.com) AlumaDucer. This depthfinder/fishfinder transducer unit ($90) is made using a universal transducer connector and is...

Title bout: Merc Racing and Yamaha go toe-to-toe for the 300 hp "heavyweight" title.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... It almost didn't seem fair. We pitted the veteran horsepower champ, Mercury's hand-built Pro Max 300X, against the new kid from across town, Yamaha's VMax 300 HPDI, a production engine that runs on 87 octane. An "old technology" EFI vs. a...

Prop primer: here's how to pick a prop that will maximize your boat's performance.(boats maintenance, propellers)
January 1, 2005... Selecting the right propeller was relatively simple in the early days. The choice of material was generally limited to aluminum--or occasionally bronze for Mercury outboards. And, particularly in the sterndrive field, one of three pitches...

"XS" performance: Merc Racing's new hot-rod V-6 combines clean with mean.(boat engines)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Two-stroke lovers everywhere are already mourning the death of Mercury Racing's vaunted 2.5 EFI. This much-loved 280 hp powerhouse is due for its last production run this year. This writer will surely miss the little 2.5L dynamo--nothing else...

Power to burn: outboard technology is evolving--and improving--at a blistering pace. Here's what's new for 2005.(2005 OUTBOARD BUYER'S GUIDE)(boat outboard motors)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2005... In the world of marine power, some years bring a slew of new engines, while others--such as 2005--are best characterized not so much by debuts, but by trends. Certainly, there are plenty of exciting new outboards to talk about--but first, let's...

Top of the heap; We test the latest technology in high-tech bass rigs: Ranger's Z21 Comanche powered by a supercharged Mercury 250 Verado.(fishing vessel)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... The crimson red and charcoal Ranger Z21 Comanche cut a long-lasting wake as we streaked across the blue waters of Nevada's Lake Mead. It was a warm and dry morning, perfect for a ride in the new-model Ranger coupled with Mercury's new 250 hp...

Finding your center: TDC gauge helps tuners with engine setup.
January 1, 2005... Most good engine builders and racers will tell you that to get any engine running properly, be it a stocker or full-bore racing powerhead, you have to first cover the basics. This means that the set-up procedures, including linkage adjustments,...

Go deep: Triton's rock-solid deep-V 176 is all about business.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... At first blush, I have to admit that I missed the boat. I arrived at the parking area adjacent to the busy launch ramp to test a pair of new Triton walleye boats, the fiberglass 215X and an aluminum DV176. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I...

Kickin' it: we install a Yamaha kicker with shift and throttle controls on our Ranger 620VS Fisherman project boat.
January 1, 2005... When it comes to moving a boat, the multi-species fisherman probably employs more types of motive power than anyone. The diversified angler has the main engine to get out and back (the faster the better), the electric trolling motor for...

X-traordinary! Xpress' new HD22B bay boat combines bass boat performance and offshore ruggedness.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... When your target species live in big water, such as coastal waters, bays or even large freshwater impoundments, your rig had better be rugged, efficient and reliable. And it sure as heck better be able to keep your bait alive until it's time to...

Trail blazers: light-emitting diode technology is changing the look of boat trailers.
January 1, 2005... What would you say if I told you there were products for your trailer that could save you time and money, make your trailer look more attractive and, best of all, be easily installed with simple hand tools? These amazing products are...

Fishing Lund style.(Hot Rigs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Fishing and boats have always been a part of Kevin Drummond's life. His first boat was simple as he started out with an aluminum jonboat, then upgraded to a bass boat. He also owned a 28-foot Sea Ray. But a couple of years ago, he realized that...

Breaking the code.(Shop Talk)(boats, check engine warning)
January 1, 2005... I have a 2001 Evinrude 150 hp Ficht that I've run approximately 30 gallons of fuel through. Its first time on the water, it ran flawlessly. The next time I ran it was on a multiday trip three weeks later. The first day it ran fine, then the...

Too high or too low?(Shop Talk)(boats, propeller shaft)
January 1, 2005... After reading the BWB articles "Project Champion," February 1997; "Jackplate Jackpot," March 2000; "Jack Be Quick," August 2000; and "Setback for Speed," June 2002; I had an 8-inch Slidemaster jackplate installed on my Champion 190. The...

Return the sender.(Shop Talk)(boat, electrical instruments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... I have a 1995 115 hp Mariner on a '95 R72 Ranger bass boat. The tilt and trim work fine. It's the gauge that doesn't register. When the problem began, sometimes it would work, other times it would not. Finally, it just stopped. Now, when you...

'Rude question.(Shop Talk)(boats maintenance)
January 1, 2005... I own a 2001 Evinrude 225 H.O. The problem I am having is with the lower unit gearbox. It all started in December 2003 when my original gearbox went out. In the last seven months, I've gone through five more. The last one is doing OK so far...

Stop guessing.(Shop Talk)(boats maintenance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... I have two questions. I have a Nitro 188 fish 'n ski with a 2002 150 hp Mercury XR6 that has less then 50 hours on it. I have received two different answers from Mercury dealers on when to change my water pump impeller. The first said to change...

Bend to fit, paint to match.(A Jones for Boats)(fishing boats)
January 1, 2005... As much as I admire professional tournament anglers, I must take issue with at least one aspect of their experience. For recreational fishermen, these cast-for-cash guys ride the tip of the spear when it comes to evaluating boat performance....