Bass & Walleye Boats articles from June 2006

Bass & Walleye Boats archives from June 2006

Confidence is key.(Holeshot)(Editorial)
June 1, 2006... Back when I was a fishing editor, I learned humility real fast fishing with the West's top bass pros. Spending time on the water with the likes of Aaron Martens, Dean Rojas, Skeet Reese, Mike Folkestad, Dee Thomas, John Murray and many others,...

Walleye boat shootouts.(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... A friend got me hooked on your magazine two years ago, and I have subscribed ever since. My fishing buddies and I (six of us) read your magazine when each new issue arrives, and we discuss the topics you cover, such as props, jackplates and...

On the bright side.(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... After reading Bruce Smith's article about the difficulty of seeing at night when backing up his truck (Fast Lane, April 2006), I can truly empathize with him. Chevy didn't help that situation when it put privacy glass in the back window and...

Yes to mo' tow vehicles.(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I couldn't help but comment on the letter you printed in the April issue entitled "No Mo' Tow Vehicles, Please." BWB has the best technical information and hands-on, do-it-yourself articles of any boating magazine--including articles on tow...

DFI vs. multipoint injection.(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... The "300 Club" article in your April issue contains inaccurate terminology. There are no DFI four-stroke engines in the outboard industry. However, there are a few automotive DFI designs floating around out there somewhere. DFI...

Correction.(Correction notice)
June 1, 2006... In our recent jackplate buyer's guide (April 2006), we stated that "Cook Manufacturing's been cranking out top-shelf jackplates for the past dozen years." In reality, Cook has been producing top-shelf jackplates for the past two dozen years....

Flush or not?(Electronic Fisherman)(Editorial)
June 1, 2006... When I look at a flush-mounted fishfinder, I see more problems than solutions. My boat's console hosts a perpetual parade of new fishfinders and GPS units to be evaluated on these pages, so flush mounting has never been an option for me. But, I...

Out of hand.(gas prices and forecasts)
June 1, 2006... As I write this, gas at my local discount station just jumped another five cents again, from yesterday's $3.13 per gallon for 87-octane regular to $3.18 this morning. The price of premium ($3.35) makes me glad I don't own anything at the moment...

Yes, it's a Hemi.(Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 Hemi )(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... It's been many years since I have been ticketed, speeding or otherwise. That nice record of keeping under the radar almost went out the window when I got a little too rambunctious on the throttle while trying to impress a Mustang at a stop...

Preparation tips for the 2006 hurricane season.(Around the Dock)
June 1, 2006... This month kicks off the hurricane season, and since last year's storms hit the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding states so violently, it could be the same--if not worse--this year. For boaters in hurricane-prone regions, we list some tips on...

BWB reader survey.(Around the Dock)
June 1, 2006... Which are you more loyal to? a) My brand of boat b) My brand of engine c) Both my boat and engine d) I am open to change Make sure your vote counts. Visit BassAndWalleyeBoats.com and click on Survey Section. We will...

New Jersey mandates boater education for all ages.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Boater education is now mandated in New Jersey for anyone 16 and older who currently operates or plans to operate a motorized boat 12 feet in length or longer on state waters. The bill was signed into law by the governor in January and will be...

Volunteers needed for America's Waterway Watch.(United States. Coast Guard)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The homeland security initiative is going strong on the water as well as on land. To help protect our waters, the U.S. Coast Guard is urging those who happen to live, work or play around waterfronts, rivers, lakes and coastal areas to become...

Professional grade: Furuno FCV 620; This unit is capable of handling virtually any professional fishing task.(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... The Furuno (360/834-9300; furuno.com) FCV 620 features new high-definition digital technology and runs itself just as well as most anglers could run it manually. Its 5.6-inch bright color screen offers 320x234-pixel detail and 16 color modes,...

Rapair/CDI's Amphenol pin tools: now you can own this once hard-to-find set at a reasonable price.(Cool Tools)
June 1, 2006... Ever since the former Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) introduced the round rubber Amphenol connectors on its 1978 Johnson and Evinrude engines, mechanics, tinkerers and do-it-yourselfers have cussed and discussed the removal and installation...

Jackplate now for kickers.
June 1, 2006... Bob's Machine Shop's (813/247-7040; bobsmachine.com) jackplate line now includes a model for kicker motors up to 40 horsepower. Bob's kicker jack ($849) is made with aircraft-grade aluminum, so it can provide high strength with minimal weight...

Electro-Seal protects sensitive components, dries clear.(Finders Keepers)
June 1, 2006... Acting as a barrier against moisture to protect sensitive electrical components, Electro-Seal ($12.95 for an 11-ounce can) by Ducky Products (626/797-7226; duckyproducts.com) is a waterproof, flexible and permanent rubber spray coating that...

Banks' computerized exhaust brake helps cut downhill speeds.(Finders Keepers)
June 1, 2006... Gale Banks' (800/277-1991; bankspower.com) computerized supplemental exhaust braking system ($912.45; model for 1994-'97 Ford pickup shown), made for diesel pickups, employs a microprocessor that electronically senses fuel-pedal position to...

SeaStar Power Assist Pro provides improved steering response.(Finders Keepers)
June 1, 2006... What performance boat owner wouldn't want precise steering control? This year, Teleflex Marine (217/324-9400; teleflexmarine.com) offers its SeaStar Power Assist Pro hydraulic steering, which, according to the company, provides the response of...

Significant other: Lund's 1700 Explorer Sport eschews amenities such as steering wheels, passenger consoles and convertible tops, but it'll win the heart of most serious walleye anglers.(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... When I invited my favorite walleye fishing guide to accompany me on a test of a pair of new Lunds, Captain Doug was eager to try out the latest from his favorite line of boats. He had his eye on the new 18-footer, an open model in Lund's...

The history of bass boats, Part 1: pioneers in the bass boat industry take us on a journey through boating history.
June 1, 2006... To appreciate how good today's bass boats really are, we need to look back to the origins of the machines--not only as highly specialized fishing platforms, but also as an on-going testimony to the passionate efforts of the industry's pioneers....

Serious business: Stratos' 200 Pro XL offers serious bass anglers an equally serious fishing platform.(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... Serious bass fishing means getting to the water in the shortest amount of time so there's more time to fish, then getting from spot to spot quickly for the same reason. Yet, a full livewell means nothing if you can't make it back in time for...

Clean conversion: we turn a Mercury Racing 2.5 EFI into a meaner, cleaner machine.(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... Hardcore outboard enthusiasts lowered their flags to half-mast last year when Mercury Racing built the last of the famed 2.5 EFI outboards at its assembly plant in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. The 2.5 EFI was technically an "old school" outboard,...

Home shop series, Part 3: tow vehicle wiring in the 21st century.
June 1, 2006... This is another installment in our "Home Shop Series," designed to show that even though many procedures are best performed by qualified professionals, there are still plenty of jobs home mechanics can do that'll save them a bundle. These...

Chariot of the champ: we test the boat Luke Clausen fished from in his 2006 Bassmaster Classic victory.(Triton Tr-21X)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... Anyone who's read even a few issues of BWB knows that weight--and the placement thereof--impacts a boat's performance both directly and indirectly. At the same time, a serious tournament angler isn't going to pack so lightly that he doesn't...

Bullet proof: Banks' Billet torque converter braces for big diesel power.(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... As a proponent of diesel performance upgrades, I would be remiss if I didn't warn about the dangers of all that added power. Just take the Edge Products module in my truck as an example. It has a setting for mileage, which I rarely use because...

Rebuilt or new.(motors)
June 1, 2006... The No. 4 cylinder on my 200 Johnson is blown and I have been assured that the motor can be rebuilt. Now, I'm considering my options: have it rebuilt, get a new powerhead or find a non-current motor. After reading your article on the leakdown...

Power pack failure.(oil-injected 40-hp Johnson electric start motors)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... I am in dire need of help with my 1999 oil-injected 40-hp Johnson electric start with power trim. I have owned this motor for three years and replaced the power pack four times. The dealer said he will not replace it again even though the part...

Take my chine walk (please!).(speeding the boats)
June 1, 2006... Your article on chine walk ("Curing Chine Walk," January 2006) answered quite a few questions, but also presented other issues. It looks like the boat setup is one of the most important areas. I bought a demo boat last year--a 2003 Triton TR-19...

The man with the Yamaha plan.(repairing Yamaha V-4 TLRB115 J)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Who would you suggest I have build my Yamaha V-4 TLRB115 J powerhead? A friend of mine fishes the redfish tours and wants to have a V-4 put together that makes as much horsepower as possible at an rpm that will keep it intact. I suggested Ray...

Reigning Champion.(Champion 203 CDX)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2006... Just like Don Brooks, his Champion is tournament-ready. Usually Brooks will drive anywhere from South Dakota to Texas on the tourney trail in his 1999 Ford F-150 towing a 1999 Champion 203 CDX. The combo has refined, modest looks with enough...

The package deal.(package offers in boating industry)
June 1, 2006... From the very start, life is a package deal. You can't do any better than Mom and Dad. It's those older sisters and younger brothers who complicate things. Face it, none of us would willingly buy into a situation which, as its centerpiece,...