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.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
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.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Summer's Almost Over; Fishings Is About To Get Hot
Summer is almost over; the days are getting shorter, kids are back in school and cold fronts are starting to come through, but the fishing in our area is about to heat up. Every fall the fishing gets going in our region as the dog days of August disappear.
Fall has always been my favorite time of year to bass fish. All the tournaments trails are coming to a close, everyone has to fish hard to make the year end classics and the champions are crowned. A whole year of effort comes to a conclusion. Local fishing events like the Renegade Fall Tournament are held where you see all the same anglers year after year. It's just great to see everyone and the fishing is excellent.
Our local waters fire back up as summer passes and the fishing is just awesome. The Upper and Lower Potomac River get hot as the grass starts to die and the fish go to the hard cover for the season. That favorite red Bomber crackbait is the bait of choice on the Lower Potomac. Tubes and hair jigs are the go to lures on he Upper Potomac. Jerkbaits and crackbaits work on the local lakes such as Lake Anna, fish head to the creeks and the jig bite that will soon be in full swing as the cooler temperatures get colder each night. If we are lucky enough to get some rain this fall, the Susquehanna River gets really cranking, some of the best smallmouth bass fishing you will ever see. What's not to like about the fall fishing that is right in front of us.
I hate winter, short days and cold windy temperatures make it a long depressing time of year for many outdoorsman. I have only found one thing good thing about the end of summer and the thought that winter is on the way, fall fishing is here.and I look forward to it every year.
Fall has always been my favorite time of year to bass fish. All the tournaments trails are coming to a close, everyone has to fish hard to make the year end classics and the champions are crowned. A whole year of effort comes to a conclusion. Local fishing events like the Renegade Fall Tournament are held where you see all the same anglers year after year. It's just great to see everyone and the fishing is excellent.
Our local waters fire back up as summer passes and the fishing is just awesome. The Upper and Lower Potomac River get hot as the grass starts to die and the fish go to the hard cover for the season. That favorite red Bomber crackbait is the bait of choice on the Lower Potomac. Tubes and hair jigs are the go to lures on he Upper Potomac. Jerkbaits and crackbaits work on the local lakes such as Lake Anna, fish head to the creeks and the jig bite that will soon be in full swing as the cooler temperatures get colder each night. If we are lucky enough to get some rain this fall, the Susquehanna River gets really cranking, some of the best smallmouth bass fishing you will ever see. What's not to like about the fall fishing that is right in front of us.
I hate winter, short days and cold windy temperatures make it a long depressing time of year for many outdoorsman. I have only found one thing good thing about the end of summer and the thought that winter is on the way, fall fishing is here.and I look forward to it every year.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Boat Accessories; Do You Need Them or Just Want Them?
There are more boat accessories on the market today than ever before; items like power anchors, GPS, side imagining, trim tabs and the list goes on and on. Customers add these items to new and old boats at great expense. The real question is; do we really need all these new accessories or do we just want them?
Everyone, including myself, can't believe how much money is spent equipping bass boats today. We have people bringing in older bass boats and spend upwards of $10,000 on new equipment for their boat. We also have customers adding as much as $15,000 to up grade their new boat, new boats that have more and better equipment than ever before.It is amazing to me that anglers would spend so much money on items that anglers in the past did without.
Most of these accessories serve a purpose or give you additional information to make you a better angler. Power Poles can keep you on the fish and replace your regular anchor. How many of you ever carried a anchor in your bass boat, thought so. How about $3,500.00 side imagining depth finder with chart plotters and GPS. Really cool technology, but how many times have you heard of someone being lost on the Potomac and the Coast Guard going out to rescue them? Me either.
I myself have some of these accessories on my personal boats. I always seem to be able to convince myself that I need them, but in reality, I probably just want them. Some of our customers state that if they up grade their present boat they can keep it for another few years before buying a new rig, makes sense if their old boats equipment had failed. If their equipment was still working, like me, they probably just want those new hi tech goodies. Customer ordering new rigs with all the equipment is fine, just remember, if you ad $15,000 worth of goodies to a $500 jon boat, it will cost $15,500 for that jon boat.
The bottom line on these new hi tech accessories is that they are really cool to have and use. These accessories cost a lot to purchase and only you can decide if they are worth the additional dollars. The truth be told, Rick Clunn and many of the anglers of the past caught alot of big bass for a long time without these tools. If you can afford these items, cool go for it, if not, you will probably be just fine without them.
Everyone, including myself, can't believe how much money is spent equipping bass boats today. We have people bringing in older bass boats and spend upwards of $10,000 on new equipment for their boat. We also have customers adding as much as $15,000 to up grade their new boat, new boats that have more and better equipment than ever before.It is amazing to me that anglers would spend so much money on items that anglers in the past did without.
Most of these accessories serve a purpose or give you additional information to make you a better angler. Power Poles can keep you on the fish and replace your regular anchor. How many of you ever carried a anchor in your bass boat, thought so. How about $3,500.00 side imagining depth finder with chart plotters and GPS. Really cool technology, but how many times have you heard of someone being lost on the Potomac and the Coast Guard going out to rescue them? Me either.
I myself have some of these accessories on my personal boats. I always seem to be able to convince myself that I need them, but in reality, I probably just want them. Some of our customers state that if they up grade their present boat they can keep it for another few years before buying a new rig, makes sense if their old boats equipment had failed. If their equipment was still working, like me, they probably just want those new hi tech goodies. Customer ordering new rigs with all the equipment is fine, just remember, if you ad $15,000 worth of goodies to a $500 jon boat, it will cost $15,500 for that jon boat.
The bottom line on these new hi tech accessories is that they are really cool to have and use. These accessories cost a lot to purchase and only you can decide if they are worth the additional dollars. The truth be told, Rick Clunn and many of the anglers of the past caught alot of big bass for a long time without these tools. If you can afford these items, cool go for it, if not, you will probably be just fine without them.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Boating on the 4th of July? Be Careful
The 4th of July is a very popular day for boating here in the Washington D.C. area; but be careful if you go out on the Potomac River around DC.
Watching the 4th of July fireworks celebration in the Nations Capitol will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, the experience is even better if you watch them from an boat on the Potomac River. Boating is great fun with friends anytime, but this is a special night every year on the river. If you are going to take advantage of this very special event, you should take some special precautions to keep you and your friends safe.
Many boats come out on the river early to get a good parking spot to watch the fireworks on the 4th. They load all their friends in the boat for a day of food, fun and partying. Nothing wrong with partying on the water as long as the captain of the boat takes control of everyone on the boat and refrains from partying. A long hot day on the water with to much alcohol puts everyone in danger. Even if your group is well behaved, you must take care to watch the other vessels around you that may not be well behaved. Heat is also a large concern of being out on the water all day, having cold water or sports drinks on board if someone starts to feel bad, then you should get them off the water if they continue to feel poorly. Sunblock is a must on the river also, burns only hurt for a couple of days but skin cancer is a serious concern over the long terms. I know I sounds like a bummer, but it is better to be safe and have fun than the alternative.
The most important thing to do if you are going to the Potomac River for the 4th of July is to have fun and be patient. Ramps will be crowded and lots of other boaters will be moving up and down the river. Take your time and enjoy the whole day. Be safe and have fun, maybe I will see you there. Happy Birthday America!!!
Watching the 4th of July fireworks celebration in the Nations Capitol will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, the experience is even better if you watch them from an boat on the Potomac River. Boating is great fun with friends anytime, but this is a special night every year on the river. If you are going to take advantage of this very special event, you should take some special precautions to keep you and your friends safe.
Many boats come out on the river early to get a good parking spot to watch the fireworks on the 4th. They load all their friends in the boat for a day of food, fun and partying. Nothing wrong with partying on the water as long as the captain of the boat takes control of everyone on the boat and refrains from partying. A long hot day on the water with to much alcohol puts everyone in danger. Even if your group is well behaved, you must take care to watch the other vessels around you that may not be well behaved. Heat is also a large concern of being out on the water all day, having cold water or sports drinks on board if someone starts to feel bad, then you should get them off the water if they continue to feel poorly. Sunblock is a must on the river also, burns only hurt for a couple of days but skin cancer is a serious concern over the long terms. I know I sounds like a bummer, but it is better to be safe and have fun than the alternative.
The most important thing to do if you are going to the Potomac River for the 4th of July is to have fun and be patient. Ramps will be crowded and lots of other boaters will be moving up and down the river. Take your time and enjoy the whole day. Be safe and have fun, maybe I will see you there. Happy Birthday America!!!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Kayaks; They Are Everywhere
Back in the day, kayaks were only used by the adventurous types, normal people used canoes and jon boats for their small boating needs. Have you noticed that you rarely see canoes anymore? Drive around our area during rush hour and you will find that you see kayaks on top of cars, sometimes multiple kayaks on multiple cars, kkayaks are everywhere.
Why are kayaks getting so popular? I believe that kayaks have become so popular because of several reasons. First, kayaking may be the easiest way to enjoy yourself on the water today; no license needed to operate, you don't need an large vehicle to transport them, they use people power not gasoline and they cost less than almost any other vessel on earth. The next best thing about a kayak is that you can use them anywhere; local ponds, lakes, rivers and even the ocean. Kayaks are light and can be handled by almost anyone. Kayaking is also a great way to get a workout and kayaking in the great outdoors is truly better than running on a treadmill next to me for a hour. I believe the biggest reason people have taken to kayaking is the new breed of kayaks on the market today. These new kayaks are not the kayaks of the past that you slid into like a foot in a sock, these new sit on top of kayak are stable and comfortable to sit on. Some kayaks like the Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks even have pedals and rutter that propel and steer the kayak. They pedal kind of like a bike, fins under the kayak push the kayak along and you steer with a handle to change directions. That's pretty cool stuff, they allow you to fish from these boats virtually hands free. Kayak accessories are also available, endless options from GPS, sails, live wells, outriggers and even carts to transport your kayak from your car down to the water. All of the items above have make kayaking more popular than ever before.
If you want to get out on the water, get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank, kayaking may be right for you. I must warn you that kayaking is addictive, easy and fun. The next thing you know, you will have your kayak on top of your car coming home from work so you can stop and kayak till the sun goes down.
Why are kayaks getting so popular? I believe that kayaks have become so popular because of several reasons. First, kayaking may be the easiest way to enjoy yourself on the water today; no license needed to operate, you don't need an large vehicle to transport them, they use people power not gasoline and they cost less than almost any other vessel on earth. The next best thing about a kayak is that you can use them anywhere; local ponds, lakes, rivers and even the ocean. Kayaks are light and can be handled by almost anyone. Kayaking is also a great way to get a workout and kayaking in the great outdoors is truly better than running on a treadmill next to me for a hour. I believe the biggest reason people have taken to kayaking is the new breed of kayaks on the market today. These new kayaks are not the kayaks of the past that you slid into like a foot in a sock, these new sit on top of kayak are stable and comfortable to sit on. Some kayaks like the Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks even have pedals and rutter that propel and steer the kayak. They pedal kind of like a bike, fins under the kayak push the kayak along and you steer with a handle to change directions. That's pretty cool stuff, they allow you to fish from these boats virtually hands free. Kayak accessories are also available, endless options from GPS, sails, live wells, outriggers and even carts to transport your kayak from your car down to the water. All of the items above have make kayaking more popular than ever before.
If you want to get out on the water, get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank, kayaking may be right for you. I must warn you that kayaking is addictive, easy and fun. The next thing you know, you will have your kayak on top of your car coming home from work so you can stop and kayak till the sun goes down.
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