October 27, 2015

$1,500: The Super-Cheap (But Still Super) Skiff

We get so carried away these days with our high-powered center consoles and fancy fishing machines, that we often forget just how much fun—and good fishing—you can have in a small, simple skiff. We also forget […]

October 13, 2015

Put Outdoor Air Conditioning on Your Boat for $300

I know this sounds a little nutty, but it’s true: you can put air conditioning on your small center console, more or less, with a mere $300 and an afternoon of work. I say “more or […]

October 6, 2015

The Corcl: An All-New Kind of Boat

I’m betting you’ve never heard of the Corcl before. In fact, I’d bet a lot—because this is a brand-new type of boat, which was just introduced to the world this past summer. In fact, it’s so […]

September 29, 2015

Boat Hull Basics: Steps, Deep-V Deadrise, and More

When it comes to boat hulls, there’s a whole lot of misinformation out there. What’s a deep-V? Ask 10 different people, and you’ll get 10 different answers. What do steps do in a hull bottom? Again, […]

September 22, 2015

Protectants and Cleaners, for Aluminum Boats and Pontoons

If you own a fiberglass boat you have a million and one waxes, polishes, and protectants to choose from, but what sort of protectant are you supposed to use on your aluminum boat? Whether you have […]

September 15, 2015

Electric Trolling Motors: What Nobody Ever Tells You

Electric trolling motors are incredibly useful on fishing boats; they can help you hold position in a breeze or current, work along a shoreline, or slowly creep over fish-holding structure. And the newest, most advanced motors […]

September 8, 2015

Rigging Boat Electronics? Don’t Do This!

Many of us rig our own electronics, especially on relatively small, simple boats. And truth be told, there’s no great mystery when wiring up a fishfinder or a chartplotter. You have power leads, maybe a transducer […]

September 1, 2015

Side Scanning Fishfinders: Marvelous or Myth?

Side-scanning fishfinders are all the rage, but there’s little doubt that there’s a lot of marketing hoo-ha that just doesn’t live up to reality. That’s why I spent a day on the water testing units from […]

August 25, 2015

The Boat Shows are Coming – 3 Tips to Get Your Best Deal

Looking for a new boat? With the summer season growing a bit long in the tooth, it’s time to start thinking about those fall and winter boat shows. These not only give you a chance to […]

August 18, 2015

Photo Tips: Make Your Big Fish Look Bigger

Okay, this was a BIG fish. In fact, it’s a 157-pound bigeye tuna, which my brother Bill (you see him here) cranked in during an offshore trip last week. But it looks one heck of a […]

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