It has been a long off season for fisherman on our local water. When heading out fishing for the first couple of times this Spring, boating safety should be one of your major considerations. That's because things changed over the winter.
When you aren't on the water for several months, you don't see the changes that are happening to the river. Maybe the commercial fisherman ran some nets in a area that you always drive through. That Nor'easter could have raised the river level, moving trees from the banks to the channel that you drive in. It is even possible that the river's navigation markers have gotten moved by a barge. There are lots of different things that can happen along the river during the off season. All of these issue make boating dangerous for the first couple of trips in the Spring.
Going out on the river after a long Winter? Take your time, look around and take notice to your surroundings. Think boating safety, because a lot changed on the river over the Winter.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Time to Go Fishing, Boat Ready?
The first of March is right around the corner. Days are getting longer and the temps are climbing, is your boat ready for spring? Now is the time to check over that fishing boat before your fishing buddies say let's go fishing Saturday.
If you did a good job of putting your boat away for winter, getting ready will be a snap. If you didn't, plan on spending a day to get your boat ready for the water. Getting ready is a hassle but getting to the water only to find that nothing on your boat works really stinks. First thing to do is to check the water in your batteries if accessible. Then charge your batteries, all of them. After the batteries are charged, check every electric component all the boat; pumps, lights, depth finders and trolling motor. If everything works great, if not fix it or start a list of items that you will need to continue. If you winterize your motor, all you will have to do is top off your tanks with some fresh the gas, hook up the water and pop it off. If you didn't you should take a fuel sample to check for phase separation and water. Then check you gear oil and change if necessary. Make sure it is pumping water and runs OK before heading to the water. Then check your trailer tire pressures, tires loose air while idle and this causes them to loose load capacity which could lead to tire failure. Also check your trailer lights as ground wires could have corroded over the winter. These are pretty easy items to check out yourself, if you don't feel comfortable doing them go to your local marine dealer.
Do these checks to your boat and you will be in pretty good shape when heading to the water. Then all you will need is your buddies to call, hey, let's go fishing on Saturday.
If you did a good job of putting your boat away for winter, getting ready will be a snap. If you didn't, plan on spending a day to get your boat ready for the water. Getting ready is a hassle but getting to the water only to find that nothing on your boat works really stinks. First thing to do is to check the water in your batteries if accessible. Then charge your batteries, all of them. After the batteries are charged, check every electric component all the boat; pumps, lights, depth finders and trolling motor. If everything works great, if not fix it or start a list of items that you will need to continue. If you winterize your motor, all you will have to do is top off your tanks with some fresh the gas, hook up the water and pop it off. If you didn't you should take a fuel sample to check for phase separation and water. Then check you gear oil and change if necessary. Make sure it is pumping water and runs OK before heading to the water. Then check your trailer tire pressures, tires loose air while idle and this causes them to loose load capacity which could lead to tire failure. Also check your trailer lights as ground wires could have corroded over the winter. These are pretty easy items to check out yourself, if you don't feel comfortable doing them go to your local marine dealer.
Do these checks to your boat and you will be in pretty good shape when heading to the water. Then all you will need is your buddies to call, hey, let's go fishing on Saturday.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Bass Boat Shopping Has Changed Forever
Many things change over time, which includes how people shop for their new bass boats. Technology has changed the process of picking out a bass boat forever, for better or worse.
Back in the day, most buyers went to their local fishing or boating show to inspect the new offerings from the boat manufactures. They would check out new accessories in the vendor area, talk to friends and try to pick out colors and the model boats that they desired. After deciding on the model they wanted, they would follow up with the local dealer that sold the boat brand. Professional salespeople would ask the customer the correct questions to make sure that it was the correct rig to meet their needs. Then they would look at colors to make sure that all the colors picked went together. The system worked pretty well.
Today there are fewer dealers and the local shows only have a fraction of the boats on display. Because of this, boat purchasers have turned to the Internet as the method of purchasing their new rig. The web is a great place to gain information about models, options and get opinions from others from sites like Bass Boat Central. Manufactures website have videos, color programs and show current incentives that are available. This is all great for the consumer, information is a powerful tool. The problem with web sites is that you don't get the personal attention. The web site does not know your boating area or its needs. They are made to show the world what the manufacture offers. Websites will not tell which colors go together on their coloring program or that someone that is over 6 foot tall would need a tilt wheel in order to fit behind the console. There are holes in the purchasing system on the web.
The moral of the story is that times they are a changing; the Internet is here to stay. Go to the web and do you due diligence, figure out the models that you are considering. Then take the time to drive to the dealerships that carry those brands and sit down with a professional salesman before you make your final decision. Tell them what you expect from your new rig and how much you can spend. The salesman at any reputable dealership will help you make the correct choice on your next rig, it's their job and a happy customer will send more business to their dealership. I think that a blend of old and new are always a good way of doing things, works out great when shopping for a new bass boat for sure.
Back in the day, most buyers went to their local fishing or boating show to inspect the new offerings from the boat manufactures. They would check out new accessories in the vendor area, talk to friends and try to pick out colors and the model boats that they desired. After deciding on the model they wanted, they would follow up with the local dealer that sold the boat brand. Professional salespeople would ask the customer the correct questions to make sure that it was the correct rig to meet their needs. Then they would look at colors to make sure that all the colors picked went together. The system worked pretty well.
Today there are fewer dealers and the local shows only have a fraction of the boats on display. Because of this, boat purchasers have turned to the Internet as the method of purchasing their new rig. The web is a great place to gain information about models, options and get opinions from others from sites like Bass Boat Central. Manufactures website have videos, color programs and show current incentives that are available. This is all great for the consumer, information is a powerful tool. The problem with web sites is that you don't get the personal attention. The web site does not know your boating area or its needs. They are made to show the world what the manufacture offers. Websites will not tell which colors go together on their coloring program or that someone that is over 6 foot tall would need a tilt wheel in order to fit behind the console. There are holes in the purchasing system on the web.
The moral of the story is that times they are a changing; the Internet is here to stay. Go to the web and do you due diligence, figure out the models that you are considering. Then take the time to drive to the dealerships that carry those brands and sit down with a professional salesman before you make your final decision. Tell them what you expect from your new rig and how much you can spend. The salesman at any reputable dealership will help you make the correct choice on your next rig, it's their job and a happy customer will send more business to their dealership. I think that a blend of old and new are always a good way of doing things, works out great when shopping for a new bass boat for sure.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
I'm Looking Forward to Fishing Season
The 2012 fishing season for most in the Mid Atlantic Region is over. The holidays will be here and past shortly, only long/dark cold evenings are in our near future. You can sit around being miserable for the next couple of months or you can start putting together a plan for the 2013 Fishing season. Personally, I am looking forward to the 2013 fishing season.
You may think, what does he mean by putting a plan together for the fishing season? It is really pretty simple, it's the old What, Where and Why of fishing. Think about your past year; what would you do differently, where would you like to fish and why? Do you need additional equipment, should you fish different tournaments? Do you want to fish different bodies of water, take that special fishing trip you always dreamed of or fish a spot on your home water that you never fished? It can be as simple as wanting to learn to use a specific lure better, say a jig. In that case, do the research, get a supply of jigs ready by purchasing them or making them and get ready to learn how to use a jig. Planning for the up coming fishing season can take a while but it can also be a lot of fun.
It is up to you now, you can sit around watching reruns on TV and being miserable or you can get ready for the up coming fishing season. If you use this down time to plan your 2013 fishing season, I'll bet you will have the best fishing season ever. I know what I'm doing, I'm looking forward to fishing season.
You may think, what does he mean by putting a plan together for the fishing season? It is really pretty simple, it's the old What, Where and Why of fishing. Think about your past year; what would you do differently, where would you like to fish and why? Do you need additional equipment, should you fish different tournaments? Do you want to fish different bodies of water, take that special fishing trip you always dreamed of or fish a spot on your home water that you never fished? It can be as simple as wanting to learn to use a specific lure better, say a jig. In that case, do the research, get a supply of jigs ready by purchasing them or making them and get ready to learn how to use a jig. Planning for the up coming fishing season can take a while but it can also be a lot of fun.
It is up to you now, you can sit around watching reruns on TV and being miserable or you can get ready for the up coming fishing season. If you use this down time to plan your 2013 fishing season, I'll bet you will have the best fishing season ever. I know what I'm doing, I'm looking forward to fishing season.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Batteries; Will Yours Work In The Spring?
Every year when boaters get their boats ready for the fishing season after a long winter layoff, they find that their batteries have gone bad. Have you thought about your boat's batteries lately? Will your batteries be any good in the spring? Battery failures are more common than ever, today's bass boats use more battery power than in any time in the past. We have added a lot of new equipment to our boats, bigger engines and other devises that all run on battery power. Batteries have never been cycled like they are today, causing them to fail at a alarming rate and fail much quicker than in the past. This blog discusses tips to keep your batteries from going bad over the long winter months.
Marine batteries lasted 3, 4 even 5 years in the past before going bad, today with the heavy loads and constant cycling they are lucky to last three years. Batteries that are not maintained can last as little as a year and a half. So what can you do to save your batteries from going bad over the winter? Well that depends on whether your batteries are worn out or not. If they are worn out they can't be saved by keeping them maintained, but if they are good and just need maintenance your can keep them from failing. Here is a list of things that you should do to keep your batteries maintained. The first thing you should always do is keep your batteries fully charged. A charged battery can not freeze, this means that if your boat is sitting all winter you should charge your batteries a least once a month. Cold weather along with today's engine and some electronics cause a constant draw on the battery which draws the voltage out of the battery. So your battery is going dead even if your are not using your boat. Some customers ask about pulling their batteries from their boats, don't do that, just keep them charged. The next really important thing to do is to make sure that the fluid level on the batteries is full if you have a battery that is not maintenance free. Only use distilled water to fill your batteries, not tap water that has many minerals in it. After filling the batteries fluid level charge the battery until it is fully charged. Battery connection are the next item on the list, make sure you have good battery connection on all your batteries. Bad connection cause poor charging, higher amp draw and heat that causes the battery to be cycled more. When checking the connection do not grab a pair of pliers and check the wing nuts, grab the wires and see if they can be moved, tighten if loose. I suggest replace all wing nuts with hex huts for better connections on every battery. That is the end of the list to help keep your batteries from failing over the winter.Pretty easy stuff huh?
Batteries are the heart of today's bass boats, take care of them and they will take care of you. Now it is up to you, go check on those batteries before eating that big Thanksgiving meal, you will be to tired afterwards.
Marine batteries lasted 3, 4 even 5 years in the past before going bad, today with the heavy loads and constant cycling they are lucky to last three years. Batteries that are not maintained can last as little as a year and a half. So what can you do to save your batteries from going bad over the winter? Well that depends on whether your batteries are worn out or not. If they are worn out they can't be saved by keeping them maintained, but if they are good and just need maintenance your can keep them from failing. Here is a list of things that you should do to keep your batteries maintained. The first thing you should always do is keep your batteries fully charged. A charged battery can not freeze, this means that if your boat is sitting all winter you should charge your batteries a least once a month. Cold weather along with today's engine and some electronics cause a constant draw on the battery which draws the voltage out of the battery. So your battery is going dead even if your are not using your boat. Some customers ask about pulling their batteries from their boats, don't do that, just keep them charged. The next really important thing to do is to make sure that the fluid level on the batteries is full if you have a battery that is not maintenance free. Only use distilled water to fill your batteries, not tap water that has many minerals in it. After filling the batteries fluid level charge the battery until it is fully charged. Battery connection are the next item on the list, make sure you have good battery connection on all your batteries. Bad connection cause poor charging, higher amp draw and heat that causes the battery to be cycled more. When checking the connection do not grab a pair of pliers and check the wing nuts, grab the wires and see if they can be moved, tighten if loose. I suggest replace all wing nuts with hex huts for better connections on every battery. That is the end of the list to help keep your batteries from failing over the winter.Pretty easy stuff huh?
Batteries are the heart of today's bass boats, take care of them and they will take care of you. Now it is up to you, go check on those batteries before eating that big Thanksgiving meal, you will be to tired afterwards.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Is Your Boat Ready for Hurricane Sandy?
We don't get many Hurricanes here in the Mid Atlantic, but it is starting to look like one is coming to visit us Monday or Tuesday. The time to get your boat ready is now, not Sunday or Monday when conditions may make it unsafe to prepare. Is your boat ready for Hurricane Sandy?
Many boaters in our area don't even think about getting their boat ready for a hurricane because they keep their boats on the trailer. You might think that your rig will be OK sitting in driveway or in your yard. Some customers keep their boat in the water, if you do? You should pull it out as soon as you can and then get it prepared for the storm. I keep a couple of boats on South Florida where hurricane preparing your boat is a must, below I will share some thoughts that you might not have thought about.
Preparing your boat for a hurricane is much different than preparing for afternoon thunderstorms that hit our region on a regular basis. Hurricane's last for hours, even days, we are in the 4" to 8" of rain cone as of this writing. Tree roots become loose from the torrential rains, the wind will be blowing for hours, even healthy trees come down during a hurricane. The first thing you must do is find a safe place to park your boat. Look around the area that you usually park your rig; can trees fall on it? Are there items near by that could be blown into your boat by the wind (trash can, carts, bikes, etc...)? If your rig is parked on pavement or concrete, chalk your wheels so the wind doesn't blow your boat into something like your car or truck. If it is parked on the grass, make sure that you can back up to it without getting stuck in the mud after the storm passes. Pull your drain plug, you might have a auto bilge pump, but we are talking a lot of rain, your battery might go dead trying to pump all the water out. If your batteries go under water, they can cause damage to your boat. Park with the trailer nose up so the boat drains well. Charge your batteries, you may not have power for some time after the storm and you might need your boat after the storm in case of a emergencies. After the storm make sure that you get the the standing water off your your boat cover, the weight of the water will stretch the material and possibly break your windshields.These tasks might seem like a pain, but it is easier to get ready for a hurricane than it is to come back from not getting ready and costs a lot less.
Do these things and you should be as prepared as possible for the upcoming storm, don't get ready and I will talk to you next week. Have your insurance agents phone number and the claim number for us when you drop your boat off for repairs. Please be careful during this storm and hopefully everything and everyone will be OK.
Many boaters in our area don't even think about getting their boat ready for a hurricane because they keep their boats on the trailer. You might think that your rig will be OK sitting in driveway or in your yard. Some customers keep their boat in the water, if you do? You should pull it out as soon as you can and then get it prepared for the storm. I keep a couple of boats on South Florida where hurricane preparing your boat is a must, below I will share some thoughts that you might not have thought about.
Preparing your boat for a hurricane is much different than preparing for afternoon thunderstorms that hit our region on a regular basis. Hurricane's last for hours, even days, we are in the 4" to 8" of rain cone as of this writing. Tree roots become loose from the torrential rains, the wind will be blowing for hours, even healthy trees come down during a hurricane. The first thing you must do is find a safe place to park your boat. Look around the area that you usually park your rig; can trees fall on it? Are there items near by that could be blown into your boat by the wind (trash can, carts, bikes, etc...)? If your rig is parked on pavement or concrete, chalk your wheels so the wind doesn't blow your boat into something like your car or truck. If it is parked on the grass, make sure that you can back up to it without getting stuck in the mud after the storm passes. Pull your drain plug, you might have a auto bilge pump, but we are talking a lot of rain, your battery might go dead trying to pump all the water out. If your batteries go under water, they can cause damage to your boat. Park with the trailer nose up so the boat drains well. Charge your batteries, you may not have power for some time after the storm and you might need your boat after the storm in case of a emergencies. After the storm make sure that you get the the standing water off your your boat cover, the weight of the water will stretch the material and possibly break your windshields.These tasks might seem like a pain, but it is easier to get ready for a hurricane than it is to come back from not getting ready and costs a lot less.
Do these things and you should be as prepared as possible for the upcoming storm, don't get ready and I will talk to you next week. Have your insurance agents phone number and the claim number for us when you drop your boat off for repairs. Please be careful during this storm and hopefully everything and everyone will be OK.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
It's That Time of Year; Burn That Gas Out of Your Boat
Fall is fast approaching, season ending fishing tournaments and championships are going on now. Some have already put their boats away to get ready for hunting season, while others are just putting their boats away for the season. I know that I blog about ethanol way to much, but that should be a sign to you that it continues to big a huge issue for our customers. If you continue to use your boat year round, ethanol will not be a issue that you will have to deal with. If you do store your rig over the winter months, burn that gas out of your boat before your you put your rig away.
Ethanol is used in all gasoline that is distributed along Route 95, this means that everyone using gasoline in the Mid Atlantic area uses it. That means you use it in your boat, your lawn mower, chain saw etc. Ethanol has a shelf life of under 90 days before it has phase separation. At which time it will begin to absorb water, creates an acid solution and loose its octane rating. This is really bad of your outboard and any other gasoline engine that you put into storage. Phase separated gasoline can blow your engine, corrosion can cause damage to your engine components and cost you a lot of money.
Preventing problems from ethanol phase separation is pretty easy. Before you put your rig away for the season, add some brand of ethanol fuel treatment to your boats gas tank (we use Sierra E Guard or Star-tron at our shops), then run the boats gas tank as low as possible the last time you plan on using it. If you have already put your boat away without doing this, drain your gasoline out of your boat and put it in your car or truck, then add ethanol treatment to your tank. When you put gasoline in your boat for the first time next spring, fill it up with high test gasoline, this will raise the octane level of the older gas when blended with fresh gasoline.
Remember that you still need to do your standard winterizing, gear oil filter, greasing etc. If you winterize your boat and take care of the ethanol issue you will be a lot better off when spring arrives. If not, we will be waiting to see you in the shop in the spring.
Ethanol is used in all gasoline that is distributed along Route 95, this means that everyone using gasoline in the Mid Atlantic area uses it. That means you use it in your boat, your lawn mower, chain saw etc. Ethanol has a shelf life of under 90 days before it has phase separation. At which time it will begin to absorb water, creates an acid solution and loose its octane rating. This is really bad of your outboard and any other gasoline engine that you put into storage. Phase separated gasoline can blow your engine, corrosion can cause damage to your engine components and cost you a lot of money.
Preventing problems from ethanol phase separation is pretty easy. Before you put your rig away for the season, add some brand of ethanol fuel treatment to your boats gas tank (we use Sierra E Guard or Star-tron at our shops), then run the boats gas tank as low as possible the last time you plan on using it. If you have already put your boat away without doing this, drain your gasoline out of your boat and put it in your car or truck, then add ethanol treatment to your tank. When you put gasoline in your boat for the first time next spring, fill it up with high test gasoline, this will raise the octane level of the older gas when blended with fresh gasoline.
Remember that you still need to do your standard winterizing, gear oil filter, greasing etc. If you winterize your boat and take care of the ethanol issue you will be a lot better off when spring arrives. If not, we will be waiting to see you in the shop in the spring.
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