Do you modify your fishing lures, to make them more effective? If so, you need to know about hot-rodding. And if not, well, you should. In one episode of the Got Bait? fishing series, we show how to hot-rod and rig […]
How to Hot-Rod a Fishing Lure Read More »
On a boat, electrical failure isn’t too far off from a heart attack – and many boats are always one jiggling wire away from this ailment. That’s because boats aren’t like houses or cars, which sit in one place or
Is Your Boat About to Have a Heart Attack? Read More »
Is stupid had a per-gallon price, it would be something like $0.01. There’s lots of stupid to go around – too much – and you don’t even have to drill, frack, or even search very hard to find it. Darwin Award-level
Stupid Things NOT to do on a Boat Read More »
My retriever is a golden. Okay, stop laughing. Please. I know most of the breed leans towards the life of a lap-dog, but there are some strains (raised in Maine and Michigan, mostly) which have been maintained as serious hunters. And
Hunting Dogs on Boats: What you Need to Know Read More »
Today’s outboard motor is a completely different beast than those of yesteryear. And it’s no wonder – remember the days when you could fix a car with a set of wrenches, a screw driver, and pliers? Today, if you don’t
Strange Outboard Problems (And how to fix them) Read More »
Let me take a moment to make the case for the super cheap boat. And by super cheap, yes, I mean a boat-motor-trailer package that you can buy for $2,500 or less. You think it’s not possible? I paid $1,500
Super Cheap Boats: $2,500 or Less? Yes! Read More »
The Jackplate is one of those specialized pieces of boating equipment that comes into play in our corner of the world. Talk to an angler in Seattle or Savannah and they probably won’t even know what a jackplate is. But
Do You Need a New Jackplate? Read More »
There are always tons of new fishfinders and chartplotters hitting the market, but usually they come from a handful of big companies. If none of the offerings from those companies is exactly what you want, you’re out of luck. Not this time—there’s
New Fishfinder-Chartplotter: Si-Tex SVS 460 and 560 Read More »
Every boat has a hull, a power source (even if it’s you, with a paddle) and some form of deck. Beyond that, there’s no common denominator. All boats are different, some radically so. But no matter whether you’re talking about
5 Indispensible Items You Need Aboard Your Boat Read More »
This was a great year for firsts, with me and my sons: they caught their first marlin, they experienced their first over-nighter offshore, and they got their first boat. Yes, their first boat. Now, some folks may feel that 14
The Boys First Boat Read More »
There’s a chill in the air these days, and although most of us probably won’t have to deal with snow and ice, freeze damage can still be an issue for boaters. The very nature of boats – they don’t just
Winter is Coming – Is Your Boat Ready? Read More »
As usual this year, my benefactors at boats.com sent me to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. And also as usual, it was a crazy scene full of uber-expensive yachts, luxury machines, and watercraft as varied as mini-subs and hovercraft.
News from the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Read More »
It’s a common issue for us boaters: we need to wear polarized sunglasses, or the glare off the water just about burns out our retinas. But if we wear polarized sunglasses, every time we try to look at the fishfinder or chartplotter screen
Polarization Problems? New Sunglasses Have the Answer Read More »
Mahi-mahi fishing can get quite chaotic, and when we were shooting the third episode of Got Bait? the chaos was just plain out of control. The dang fish tried to eat our underwater fish-cam. We had double, triple, and even
THEY ATE THE FISH-CAM – Got Bait? III is Mahi-Mahi Mayhem Read More »
I end up testing a lot of pontoon boats for boats.com, and though they aren’t exactly my own personal cup of tea, they do have a lot of redeeming features. In fact, if I had a house on a protected
A Day with the New Evinrude G2 200-hp Outboard Read More »
Whether you’re an angler or a hunter or a cruiser, with all kinds of boating, electronics failure is always a threat. Fishfinders, GPS units, VHF radios, and radar can all go haywire, and usually, at the very worst time possible.
Three Marine Electronics Snafus (And how to prevent them). Read More »
If you’re a dad, you know that sometimes, you just can’t keep yourself from bragging about your kids. Well, sorry folks, but I just can’t help but let a little fatherly pride drive this blog, today. You’ll know why, as
White Marlin, and Unmitigated Bragging Read More »
I get this question all the time: I want to take my boat offshore, maybe even far enough to encounter pelagics like marlin, but I’m not sure it’s big enough. What do you think is the minimum size, for taking
Is Your Boat Big Enough for Offshore? Read More »
If you fish in saltwater regularly, sooner or later you’ll encounter sharks. Maybe even on purpose – there’s no denying the thrill of catching one of these wild beasts. And if it’ a mako or a thresher, you might even want to
Handling Sharks on Boats Read More »
Which is better when you’re trying to catch striped bass: live baits, or soft plastic lures? The bait-versus-lures debate is an old one, which we first addressed with regards to flounder fishing, in the pilot for a new series called Got Bait?
Bait vs. Lures Take II – Which is Best for Striped Bass? Read More »
