Bass & Walleye Boats articles from May 2006

Bass & Walleye Boats archives from May 2006

Who's driving the market?(Holeshot)
May 1, 2006... A Backwash question I answered in the April issue prompted me to tackle a subject I've been meaning to address for some time: Buying a boat is more complicated than buying a car or tow vehicle. A lot more complicated. A buddy of mine bought his...

First draft.(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... The Gulf Coast in southern Texas is my backyard. I love the addition of bay boats to your magazine. To keep it short and sweet, the one stat I would like to see added to the bay boat evaluation's report card is "draft at rest." All other stats...

For the record.(Backwash)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Just two weeks before we put this issue of BWB to bed, one of the engine manufacturers featured in our 225 shootout ("The Main Event," June 2005) challenged the accuracy of our published weight of its engine. Unfortunately, we could not track...

Four-stroke foresight.(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Not long ago, you did an excellent article comparing automotive oil vs. marine oil for four-stroke outboard motors ("Duke of Oil," March 2004). Because of your article, I have been running Pennzoil in my Yamaha F115 motor. My mechanic...

Name change for BWB?(Backwash)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... As a charter subscriber, I can truly say that I have looked forward to and enjoyed every issue of Bass & Walleye Boats. The bay boat coverage is great. Please consider expanding your bay boat coverage to at least two articles per issue. You...

Sensitivity training.(Electronic Fisherman)
May 1, 2006... Fishermen who aren't yet gray above the sunglasses are more likely to be comfortable members of the computer generation. You won't find VCRs flashing "12:00" at their house; they track their bank accounts online, use e-mail instead of writing...

Supporting role.(Seat Time)
May 1, 2006... Most anglers don't live lakeside, so their trailers are a necessary component of their boating package. If it doesn't go, your boating won't happen. So it's clearly important to keep it in running condition and, of course, fully capable of...

High-tailing it.(Fast Lane)(pick-up trucks)
May 1, 2006... Tailgate up. Tailgate down. Which gives your pickup the best fuel mileage? Looking around at the number of pickups driving down the highway, one would believe the answer is as obvious as the tailgate itself: tailgate down. After all, the wind...

Grant funding promotes boating, fishing in school.(Around the Dock)
May 1, 2006... Education and exposure to the outdoors is what will help foster the next generation of anglers and boating enthusiasts. That's why the Future Fisherman Foundation (F3) plans on offering $200,000 in grant funding for physical education teachers...

The most common boating losses and how to prevent them.(Around the Dock)
May 1, 2006... The most common causes for insurance claims Boat U.S. had in the past five years were recently listed in the marine insurance company's Seaworthy damage avoidance newsletter. The following is based on the individual number of claims and...

Enter sweepstakes to win new Minn Kota, Humminbird units.(Around the Dock)
May 1, 2006... How about a brand-new Humminbird fishfinder or Minn Kota trolling motor or onboard battery charger for your boat? Enter the "Find Fish Fast Sweeptakes," in which you can win one of three prizes: Grand prize: One lucky winner will receive an...

BWB Field Editor joins Technical staff.(Around the Dock)
May 1, 2006... We're glad to announce that BWB's Field Editor Lee Boyt is joining the Technical Editor team. Boyt will join longtime Technical Editor Jim Barron, who will continue as senior technical editor, and performance tech guru John Tiger, Jr., in...

Precision Wholesale's flywheel puller: the company offers a less-expensive version of Mercury's specialty engine puller.(Cool Tools)
May 1, 2006... For those who enjoy maintaining and working on outboard motors, specialty tools are sometimes hard to obtain. Many outboard dealers will not sell the factory-required items for one reason or another; some because they believe in keeping the...

Bob's electronic gauge displays precise jackplate height.(Finders Keepers)
May 1, 2006... If you want to be extra sure your hydraulic jackplate's height is where you want it, you should consider getting Bob's Machine Shop's (813/247-7040; bobsmachineshop.com) electronic gauge ($129.95). It displays the jackplate's precise position...

New 56-gallon fuel tank fits 2003-2006 Dodge Ram models.(Finders Keepers)
May 1, 2006... Finding a gas station while towing can be nerve racking, especially when that "almost-empty gallon tank" light is already on and you either can't find a station or the nearest station is miles away. If you have a 2003-2006 Dodge Ram 2500 or...

Flashlights emit red LEDs for emergency purposes.(Finders Keepers)
May 1, 2006... The ThunderBeam line of LED flashlights by Global American Technologies (718/729-4920; globalat.com) emit blue-white light for maximize visibility. Available in various models (TB14-SLV shown), the 14, 19 and 26 LED flashlight models feature...

Cell phone amp boosts Nextel coverage.(Finders Keepers)
May 1, 2006... For those with Nextel cell phone service, make sure you can call your buddies on that big catch by having the CA-NEX Dual Band Cellular Amplifier ($459.95) by Shakespeare Electronics Product Group (803/227-1590; shakespeare-marine.com). The...

Sound advice: our electronics editor offers his top picks in fishfinders and sounder/GPS combos.(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2006... Pardon me, but you'd have to be missing a blade on your mental propeller to drive a boat like it was a car on pavement. Most painful (and potentially expensive) boating bumps lurk just below the surface where you can't see them. It's for...

Down and dirty: high-tech four-strokes still require a little low-tech maintenance.
May 1, 2006... When it comes to maintaining our tow vehicles, technological advances have made life so much easier than just a decade ago. Batteries are basically the maintenance-free, connect-and-forget type; single serpentine fan belts are good for 100,000...

Smooth as 'glass: Tracker's new 18 SC Fishing Team Edition makes the weekend angler feel like a pro.(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... When Tracker introduced a Fishing Team Edition of its 21-foot Tundra, it took off so fast that the company decided to offer a similar package with the 18-foot version, only with a few less features to keep the price down. Essentially, the 18 SC...

Home Shop Series Part 2: high-performance bilge pump installation.
May 1, 2006... If you've ever owned a few high-performance boats in your time, you've undoubtedly known the sinking feeling of seeing your boat's stern sitting a little too low (or very low) in the water while at the dock. Frantic, you pull it back out of the...

Cell power: if you take your cell phone fishing, will it work when you really need it?
May 1, 2006... Peace and quiet, escape from traffic and work, and a chance to breathe fresh air and get closer to nature all lure many people to the sport of fishing. Then, of course, there are the super-competitive individuals who just want to swap one kind...

Frequent flyer: the luxurious 19-foot Ranger Comanche brings innovation along with performance.
May 1, 2006... It may seem like an oxymoron to many bass anglers to say any bass boat is both sporty and luxurious. But the boys in Flippin, Arkansas, have indeed built a new model that brings words usually associated with Lexus, Cadillac, Mercedes, BMW and...

Gimme shelter: tonneau covers protect your valuables from the elements--and thieves.
May 1, 2006... It was just a cheap boat cover, a worn tow strap and a beat-up 5-gallon gas can. But they were mine, which is why I was furious when I returned to the boat ramp after a day of fishing to find someone had decided that anything left in the bed of...

Slick question.(Shop Talk)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Due to family and health problems, we have not been able to use our boat for over a year. It was winterized by the dealer and has just sat in the garage since then. When the weather gets better we want to start boating again. [ILLUSTRATION...

Electrical crossfire.(Shop Talk)(outboard motors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I have a 2003 Johnson 150 outboard on my Stratos bass boat. I mistakenly hooked up the battery backwards. There was a spark, so I suspect that something blew. When I fired up the engine, everything worked but the tachometer. I replaced the...

How tight to tighten?(Shop Talk)(outboard motors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I have a 1997 Mercury Laser stainless steel prop (#48-16550A45-25P) with the "plastic insert" inside the hub. I cannot find the specs that came with the prop, and would like to know what torque is correct for the prop nut. With solid/rubber...

What's your flow like?(Shop Talk)(outboard motors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I have a 1989 9.9 Evinrude as a kicker motor that has been giving me problems. Last season it overheated and quit on me. I changed the water pump and found that it had broken apart. Even with a complete pump kit installed, the next time I ran...

Is hydraulic OK?(Shop Talk)
May 1, 2006... I've heard from many high-performance bass boaters that hydraulic steering, at least the kind available from suppliers like Teleflex, is not suited for performance boats with large engines-especially those that can reach 90+ mph speeds. I've...

Worth their weight?(Shop Talk)
May 1, 2006... As an avid reader of your great magazine, I've never seen a report on 2-cycle engine oil testing. I was wondering if the synthetic blends like Amsoil or Cabelas Signature blend preserve your engine life longer. I am especially concerned as I...

Gotta keep 'em separated.(Shop Talk)(outboard motors)
May 1, 2006... I own a 2002 Nitro 896 with a 150 hp OptiMax. My question is in regard to minimum cranking amps required to start this engine. Mercury suggests a battery with a MCA of 1000. I am currently using an Interstate 24M-XHD with a rating of 1000 MCA,...

Weighing engine options.(Shop Talk)
May 1, 2006... I have a 2000 Pro Craft 190 Super Pro, which is rated for 175 hp, and I currently have a 150 Mercury EFI on the boat that weighs about 400 pounds. I would like to upgrade to a new Suzuki 175 four-stroke, which weighs about 475 pounds. Will the...

Slab slayer.(Hot Rigs)(bass boats)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2006... For years, Henry and Jo Haley's 1997 Ranger Fisherman 680C multi-species boat served them well for crappie fishing. It successfully handled poor weather conditions and rough water, so it was with some reluctance that the couple switched to a...

Who? Mike Jones!(A Jones for Boats)
May 1, 2006... I love music. I really do. Name a category from classical to country, from rock to rap and I'm relatively conversant in all those genres. But, I've always exhibited rather eclectic tastes, so my music collection might seem like an A-List party...