KEEP GEAR DRY
SHALLOW DRAFT
John Cox ’ s charger rests on a sliding tray in a rear compartment .
As an alternative , aluminum rigs can easily be “ staked out ” with a fiberglass pole intended for use in kayaks and inshore rigs . these poles are nearly identical to those used in motorized shallow-water anchors , but require the user to push them in ( usually quite easy to do in most bass fishing waters ) and are held to the boat with a small bracket or rope .
If an angler decides to mount shallow-water anchors to an aluminum rig , the best bracket to use is likely a “ sandwich ” style that slides between the boat and motor . this bracket takes the majority of the strain off the transom and places it on the large engine bolts . Most importantly , it prevents the need for any additional holes in the boat ’ s transom .
sandwich bracket
Transducer Installation without question , the greatest mounting concern regarding aluminum boats centers on transducers .
It ’ s rumored that shoot-through-hull transducers are impossible to use on aluminum rigs , and that common external mounts with metal brackets might cause electrolysis and possibly lead to rust . speaking from experience , I can assure you that either mounting system can provide both great results and a handful of headaches . bill Carson , field marketing manager for Johnson outdoors ( parent company of Minn Kota ), puts in thousands of hours each year on the water tweaking electronics . he admits that shooting through aluminum with a transducer can be tricky , and in some cases if a stock transducer is causing issues he recommends a new aftermarket transducer by Airmar , a company that manufactures marine electronic components .
I ’ ve mounted standard transducers several times in the hull of aluminum boats without initial problems by securing them to the interior bottom of the boat with epoxy . recently , however , I experienced a failure when the epoxy cracked ( aluminum rigs are much more prone to this ), and I had to bust out the ’ ducer and remount . this time , per Carson ’ s recommendation , I simply shot a glob of petroleum jelly in my bilge area , pressed in the transducer , wedged it flat to the boat ’ s bottom with my bilge pump hose and secured it with a cable tie . It works great , albeit a bit crude . For a more permanent solution , epoxy ought to last a couple seasons , or an aftermarket external transducer would be a smart choice . regarding transom-mounted transducers , I have personally had a sideimaging transducer on a metal bracket installed on my rt178 for 15 months with absolutley no problems or signs of electrolysis .
It is worth mentioning that I ’ ve found the readings on my side-imaging unit to be far superior to those on most glass boats , at speeds previously unheard of in the bass boat market . Also , mount placement must be considered . the transducer must be directly in line with the bottom of the boat , and it must not be behind any rivets or other obstructions that cause bubbling or turbulence when the boat is moving . when mounting transducers on the transom , standard procedures can be used , but be advised that screw-in
KEEP GEAR DRY
The top decking on most aluminum rigs is all one-piece , which makes it difficult for manufacturers to add raised lips beneath compartments – like those found on glass boats – to deflect water . For that reason , compartments in aluminum boats can get wet in heavy rain .
My answer is to store important gear in Plano waterproof boat boxes and polycarbonate cases . Tools , a spare hub kit , VHF radio – just about everything has a spot below deck . Several boxes have lasted me more than five seasons with absolutely no leaks or concerns .
SHALLOW DRAFT
It ’ s no secret that aluminum rigs ride higher in the water , and allow access to the skinniest bass haunts . But just how much of a difference is there between fiberglass and metal ? To find out , I went below the surface . Note : Each boat was rigged with “ standard ” tournament gear , about a half-tank of gas and one angler . If you ’ re comparing other rigs , the results could vary based on how each boat is loaded .
John Cox ’ s Crestliner PT 20 Angler at bow : 7 3 / 4-inch draft Angler at helm : 10 1 / 2-inch draft Joe Balog ’ s Ranger RT178 Angler at bow : 5 1 / 2-inch draft Angler at helm : 8 1 / 2-inch draft Ranger Z520C Angler at bow : 20-inch draft Angler at helm : 21-inch draft
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FLWFISHING . COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017