|
|
Posts: 228
Location: Tinley Park, IL | Just curious what boat options you have added on when ordering a boat. Anything you got that you wouldn't in hindsight? Anything you wish you would have gotten?
For me the obvious upgrades are a keel guard and an auto bilge. I can see getting nicer rims and a Hot Foot later on. Any thoughts are appreciated. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | keel guards can be a double edged sword based on 1. which one it is and 2. who and how it was installed. if the answer to one of those questions it not correct, it can become an expensive nightmare. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | When I got my boat I put in 31 series batteries for my trolling motor, but then later on installed a Minn Kota MK-2-DC Alternator. I got it for <$100 off Amazon and installed it myself. (It was relatively easy to install but I did have to get creative.) That Alternator is amazing as it takes the extra juice from my big motor and dumps it into the TM batteries after the starting battery is topped off. Long story short my TM batteries are always charged even after a day on the water. Yes, I still charge them over night but when my 31 series batteries fail, I am going to save some money and weight and down size my TM batteries. My point is (install the Alternator right away and go with a smaller battery for your TM)
I will also agree with Sled on the keel guard, skip the kinds that go on with 3m adhesive and install a Hamby right away.
Have a good day.  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 410
Location: one foot over the line | A hydraulic jack plate is a very nice option to have. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 483
| beerforthemuskygods - 1/24/2016 9:11 AM
A hydraulic jack plate is a very nice option to have.[/QUOTE
can you explain all the benefits for a deep V .
thanks |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1209
| Benefits would be the same as a bass boat I would assume, glass water raise up some to reduce drag, either for higher speeds or for better economy, rough water lower down for added control plus keeps the boat planted better and preventing cavitation the can over rev or starve water for cooling. To me anchors are a must have may not use them while fishing but every day at the ramp especially when alone. So far a single Minnkota talon has made me think that there better than power pole blades, I have two blades now but I am rather confident that two talons would be superior. Now as far as other options I would say tandem trailer if not standard and make sure your electrics are what you want. I just got a loaded boat that came with hds 9's on it and currently I had to add my hb 959 to the bow and am hevily considering adding my 999 to the console. The rest would be a radio and what makes the boat perform better for your needs I wouldn't spend extra to make the trailer pretty that doesn't have functional benefits |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1000
| I'd say good electronics and batteries have probably the biggest impact on how productive you are on the water. Good organization can free up a ton of floor space and make a boat fish bigger than it seems.
Personally I' save the money on rims and allocate it towards better equipment/electronics. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 228
Location: Tinley Park, IL | tolle141 - 1/24/2016 12:33 PM
I'd say good electronics and batteries have probably the biggest impact on how productive you are on the water. Good organization can free up a ton of floor space and make a boat fish bigger than it seems.
Personally I' save the money on rims and allocate it towards better equipment/electronics.
I have excellent electronics (HBirds) and a Talon from my current boat and am getting a Xi5 and AGMs so I am just wondering if there was something I was overlooking concerning the boat itself. And rims are just a couple hundred dollars so I don't mind doing that down the road.
Edited by Paul S 1/24/2016 3:48 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN |
I have excellent electronics (HBirds) and a Talon from my current boat and am getting a Xi5 and AGMs so I am just wondering if there was something I was overlooking concerning the boat itself. And rims are just a couple hundred dollars so I don't mind doing that down the road.
If you have Humminbird's why not get a terrova or ulterra with I pilot link to get the most out of your electronics. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 410
Location: one foot over the line | Paul S - 1/24/2016 3:45 PM
tolle141 - 1/24/2016 12:33 PM
I'd say good electronics and batteries have probably the biggest impact on how productive you are on the water. Good organization can free up a ton of floor space and make a boat fish bigger than it seems.
Personally I' save the money on rims and allocate it towards better equipment/electronics.
I have excellent electronics (HBirds ) and a Talon from my current boat and am getting a Xi5 and AGMs so I am just wondering if there was something I was overlooking concerning the boat itself. And rims are just a couple hundred dollars so I don't mind doing that down the road.
What kind of boat are you looking at? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 228
Location: Tinley Park, IL | btfish - 1/24/2016 9:03 AM
When I got my boat I put in 31 series batteries for my trolling motor, but then later on installed a Minn Kota MK-2-DC Alternator. I got it for <$100 off Amazon and installed it myself. (It was relatively easy to install but I did have to get creative.) That Alternator is amazing as it takes the extra juice from my big motor and dumps it into the TM batteries after the starting battery is topped off. Long story short my TM batteries are always charged even after a day on the water. Yes, I still charge them over night but when my 31 series batteries fail, I am going to save some money and weight and down size my TM batteries. My point is (install the Alternator right away and go with a smaller battery for your TM)
I will also agree with Sled on the keel guard, skip the kinds that go on with 3m adhesive and install a Hamby right away.
Have a good day. :)
Thanks bt. Wasn't familiar with those at all. Something to look at. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | I would also ABSOLUTELY install a master shutoff switch for the starting battery so you can kill the big motor 100% when unattended. Because even with the key off and the master on the console the trim is still live. You need to get a good switch that is rated for enough amps. Most marine switches are rated for 300 amps which is plenty.
IMO every boat should have this. Because eventually the trim switch on the throttle will go bad or the seal protecting it will. I had this happen to me and when it rained my motor would trim on its own and keep going up until I wiggled the switch. We caught when we were sitting on the dock on LOTW. So we disconnected the battery every night and put a plastic bag over the throttle. But if I had not been there when it happened the first time my whole rig likely would have burned up.
So for me, this switch really helps me sleep at night. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 897
| Same thing happened to me. Trim switch on motor went bad. Motor went up while driving down the gravel in the angle. Had to disconnect the battery every night. Luckily the guys behind me flagged me down so I caught it before the trim motor fried. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 743
| so cool
Edited by tomcat 1/26/2016 11:02 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | tomcat - 1/25/2016 1:57 PM
anchoring light mounted to the top of my cowling (top of the motor). it's legal because ...
Not quite - the stern light must be at least 3.3 ft (1 meter) above the reg/green sidelights. This is for WI and, I'd assume, is pretty standard in other states as well:
http://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/le/le0301.pdf (pg 10)
Edited by scmuskies 1/25/2016 2:24 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 743
| $
Edited by tomcat 1/26/2016 11:02 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | Well, color me surprised. In my experiences with CG inspections, I didn't think that would fly. It's even in the CG handbook - http://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF Depends how the inspectors are feeling that day, I guess.
Edited by scmuskies 1/26/2016 8:23 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 153
| Buy and install Smooth Move Seat Bases. Absolutely worth the investment! |
|
| |
Boat Option Upgrades