Sleeves help protect rods on rough boat rides.
The Console
At the boat’s console, the biggest concern is securely
mounting today’s large-screen electronics. Due to the extra-
heavy weight of 10-inch-plus units, most aftermarket mounts
fail to hold big depth finders upright during extremely rough
rides. If at all possible, flush-mount units in the dash. If flush-
mounting is not an option, or when using multiple units,
choose an aftermarket mount designed specifically for the
bass trade, such as those from Bass Boat Technologies,
rather than a ball-and-socket type.
In addition, consider a HotFoot when rigging for big water.
The ability to adjust throttle continuously while keeping two
hands on the wheel is a big plus.
Mounting electronics in the dash is the most durable option.
38
AVOIDING PITFALLS
Extensive real-world scenarios have led to a list of
potential pitfalls when running big water in bass
boats:
• FIRES It’s said that nothing is deadlier on a boat
than a fire, and I’ve seen two fires onboard. Both
occurred in the rear mechanical area and could be
attributed to items coming in contact with the battery
terminals. Be sure all items in the rear are tightly
secured and tied off, including hoses, wires and
cables.
• BROKEN JACK PLATES Jack plates and outboards
are only as stable as the bolts that secure them. All
bolts and large locknuts should be checked after each
day spent on rough water. No amount of “play” is
acceptable in any mounting components. Where pos-
sible, use two sets of locknuts back-to-back on each
bolt to help prevent the mounts from coming loose.
• CRUSHED MOTOR MOUNTS Sure, jumping
waves looks cool on TV, but what’s not shown is the
damage done from driving too fast in rough water.
Every time the lower unit of an outboard breaches the
water’s surface while running on plane and then re-
enters, the motor mounts undergo tremendous
stress. Just one bad run is enough to crush these
mounts, setting up a potential catastrophic failure,
including the possibility of the outboard separating
from the boat. The best advice for running rough
water: Allow more time, and slow down.
• NO ANCHOR Tournament anglers often skimp on
anchors. But given a breakdown on the open waters
of the Great Lakes, maintaining an anchored position
can often be a matter of life and death. In case of such
emergency situations, secure a large anchor with a 4-
foot length of chain and 100 feet of rope in a rear
compartment.
FLWFISHING.COM I JULY 2017