I used to be unbelievably blessed by the spouse and household of an expensive buddy upon his passing a pair years in the past. I’ve written about it earlier than, however Neal Webster was like a grandaddy to me. And when he handed, his spouse gave me his 2001 Triton. On the time, I used to be working arduous to payoff a mountainous molehill of debt that I had accrued in a earlier life. Which, reward God, is gone now minus what’s owed on a home and land. So I’ve an older boat and thought I might share how I make it fish so much newer with the perfect upgrades for fishing boats.
In my earlier effort to payoff my debt, I had gotten rid of my earlier newer boat. So, I had no boat of my very own on the time. I consider entire heartedly that this boat now could be a grace from God as is that household that I didn’t deserve, however I’m oh so grateful for.
All this stated, my journey has surpassed the authorized voting age now in all 50 states. And the motor may even guzzle down any fluid of its alternative with out reprimand, if it have been so inclined—prefer it does gasoline for the time being.
Thus, upgrades are so as. There are some that Neal did to the boat whereas he nonetheless had it, and a few extra that I’m researching and dealing in the direction of now. So, I believed it might be a good suggestion to undergo what I consider to be the 5 finest upgrades you may make to an older rig. Right here they’re.
TROLLING MOTOR
Nothing is put by means of extra rigorous torture day in and time out than a trolling motor, particularly by a shallow water fisherman like myself (and like Neal). Whereas he had the boat, Neal upgraded the trolling motor twice, as soon as from a really primary Minn Kota trolling motor to a Minn Kota Fortrex. And once more a number of years in the past to a Minn Kota Ultrex.
Not solely do trolling motors put on out over time, regardless of the model or high quality, however the developments in energy, effectivity and expertise have been huge over the greater than twenty years since my boat left the meeting line. Upgrading to a trolling motor just like the Ultrex, with further energy and superior options like Spot Lock, is the perfect factor you are able to do for my part.
FISH FINDERS
Although I do consider that an upgraded trolling motor is probably the most impactful addition that may be made to a ship, the hole between that and new fish finders is ever-so slim, and even negligible for the offshore angler. The developments right here once more within the instruments and applied sciences have been mind-blowing over the past decade. Not solely these in ahead going through sonar, but additionally in conventional 2D sonar, facet imaging, down scan, mapping and the processors used to function all of it.
Neal tried a number of completely different graphs alongside the way in which, lastly settling for a Lowrance Elite 9 on the sprint and a Hummingbird Helix 9 on the bow. These have been very useful, although I’ll say that it’s finest to decide on graphs from the identical model, in order that they are often linked collectively and share info like waypoints, routes and mapping.
I’m at the moment researching the perfect budget-friendly (when you’ll excuse the boldness to make use of such a time period right here) forward-facing sonar for my rig; reaching out to Humminbird, Lowrance and Garmin to see what they’ve to supply for the angler with an older rig who wish to peer beneath the floor, with out having to mortgage his home to take action. Search for an in-depth article associated to this in coming weeks.
LITHIUM BATTERIES
Lithium batteries can be utilized to crank the outboard, energy trolling motors and run livewells, graphs and different features of a ship way more successfully than lead acid batteries ever may or can— primarily as a result of they weigh a fraction of what lead batteries do.
Although lithium batteries are a expensive funding to make certain, one 36-volt battery (which might be wanted to energy a 36-volt trolling motor) would weigh round 45 kilos. And this one battery may do the work of the three 12-volt lead acid batteries (which may weigh as a lot as 70 kilos apiece, for a grand complete of 210 kilos).
So, simply swapping out the trolling batteries and cranking battery to lithiums may simply lead to a web lack of over 200 kilos of weight within the boat. That’s an entire different individual.
Once more, these batteries are dear throughout the board. However the advantages are superb in energy and weight and most come backed by a 10-year guarantee, the place lead batteries do good to final a yr or two now. When you plan to have your boat one other 10 years, the maths works out to the place the one time funding on lithium batteries is about the identical as what it might value to swap batteries time and time once more over the following decade.
That is one other improve I haven’t made but, and an space I’m additionally researching closely to first decide the most suitable choice for powering my 24-volt Ultrex, after which to interchange my cranking battery as properly down the highway.
SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS
Whether or not you fish primarily deep or shallow, shallow-water anchors like Power-Poles or the 2 choices from Minn Kota (Talons and Raptors), could be a huge improve for any boat. Neal had already put in a Energy-Pole on my boat years in the past, and I often use it to carry myself in shallow water whereas fishing.
However even when not actively fishing, I like to make use of my shallow-water anchor to carry the boat in place whereas I’m engaged on deal with and particularly after I launch and cargo the boat. My boat has a keel guard alongside the hull, so I can seashore the boat on the ramp or adjoining to it after I’m loading and unloading the boat. And whilst you may actually do that and not using a shallow water anchor to carry the boat there, it’s good to know that the rig will probably be there after I return, and never floating off as I watch from shore scratching my head and weighing my choices.
MARINE OUTBOARD ENGINES
The coup de grâce to the Achilles heel of any older boat is to re-power the rig with a brand new outboard. Now, whereas that is by far the most costly funding you possibly can put into an older boat, it’s one that may pay big dividends within the occasion you wish to promote it sometime, and would possibly even take advantage of sense to do in some circumstances.
Say the powerhead goes out on my 2001 Mercury Optimax subsequent week. Whereas I don’t have the $5,000 or $6,000 it might seemingly take to repair it mendacity round allotted to such an unlucky happenstance, it might be price contemplating simply saving up much more to place an entire new engine on the boat.
For 3 or 4 instances as a lot, which is little question an entire lot of cash, I may put a model new 225 Professional XS on the boat and reduce out oil prices, poor gasoline mileage and the inevitable plethora of different repairs that will probably be vital on my present, well-seasoned outboard.
Once more, it might be a tricky resolution to make, however price contemplating. Particularly in case your hull and the remainder of the boat is in implausible form (which mine shouldn’t be), and also you have been protecting it one other 10 years or extra.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
The very last thing I wish to do in placing this piece out there may be to fire up discontentment in anybody’s coronary heart. Fishing can flip right into a measuring match in a heartbeat when you’re not cautious, lusting over all the brand new toys and devices that different anglers submit about on their social media—many leveraged to the hilt financially little question, relying on a $200 pot match win to make the following cost.
Please, don’t put your self in that place simply to have the newest and best gadget. Contemplate your self, like I do, to be unbelievably blessed and lucky to have a ship to fish out of; and for the well being to go fishing. And in the end that determining how one can make the boat higher is considered one of your chief considerations in life for the time being.
However if you’re pondering pouring an funding into your rig, I hope that this dialog helps spur you in the fitting course. I’ll maintain you posted in coming months on the progress with my rig.
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