Buying a Fishing Rig- Part 2

by Kevin Patton

In "Buying a Fishing Rig," I outlined some of the major considerations when purchasing a fishing boat. This article will deal with some of the less obvious issues that can arise when getting a new rig.

There are lots of things to consider when buying a fishing boat, for instance the size of the waters you will fish, horsepower limitations, whether the boat needs to be "tournament ready," the layout, storage, and much more.

There are also things you may take for granted that can cause real headaches.

Front Decks and Trolling Motors

One question that I never thought to ask myself was, "Is there enough room to comfortably run a foot-controlled trolling motor?"

Believe it or not, not all models have ample room in front to operate a foot pedal from a sit-down seat.

Replacing the sit-down seat with a butt seat may improve the situation, but you must be sure that you always want to stand when fishing. If you eliminate seats entirely and operate the motor free of any support, you should not have a problem with space, but your back and joints may pay for that decision.

Remember that not all foot pedals are created equal. MotorGuide and Minn Kota foot pedals are not identical, so be aware of the differences and note where the control switches are located.

I would strongly recommend that you buy the motor that is closest to the foot pedal you have always operated. It is quite an adjustment to change to a pedal that is shaped differently or that has the on/off switch on the opposite side of the pedal.

Also, check where the "authorized" service centers are located. Although my boat dealer was able to obtain and sell me the motor of my choice, he isn't allowed to service them. So, to get warranty service I had to find the closest service center.

Another potential problem is that you cannot use a clamp-on transducer on all trolling motors. Once I realized that my front deck was not roomy enough for a foot-controlled motor, I opted for a remote control model. However, due to the unusual design of this motor, there is no easy way to run a transducer cable down the shaft.

I did find online forums that discuss how to get around this problem. You can also buy this model with a built-in transducer, so that no external cables are necessary. However, my dealer and his mechanic recommended against buying one due to the number they have seen fail.

I did mount a depth finder on my bow, but the wires run to the back of the boat where the transducer is mounted on the transom. Doing this means that the unit shows me what is under the back of the boat rather than under the bow, which partially defeats the purpose of having a bow unit.

Another problem involved the trolling motor wiring in the boat. My particular boat model was designed for a 12-volt motor, but I decided that I wanted the extra thrust and battery longevity of a 24-volt system.

The manufacturer pre-wired every model "above" mine with the necessary six-gauge trolling motor wire. One model that even utilizes the exact same hull as my boat, with only differences in interior layout, had the heavier wire. I had to pay to have the boat re-wired to accommodate the 24-volt system. Otherwise, the wiring may have overheated and I could have warranty problems for not using the recommended wire.

Be sure that the battery storage area can accommodate any changes that you choose to make. Is there room for more batteries if you choose to switch to a 24 or 36-volt system? Is there room to mount an onboard charger where you can conveniently see the operating lights from outside the boat?

Hull Weight

Consider the weight of your boat and the horsepower of the motor you are buying. Since many lakes that I fish in Central Illinois have 25-horsepower limitations, I was concerned about choosing a model that was too heavy to perform well with that engine.

Instead of buying a heavier boat with a built-in rear fishing deck, I chose a model that had the same hull dimensions, but a different interior layout. I fabricated an adequate, but lighter removable back deck and saved more than 100 pounds of weight in the back of the boat. As a result, I am very pleased with how the motor performs.

Livewells

Another issue that I had not considered is whether the livewell re-circulates the water. My previous boat did not have a re-circulating livewell, thus when you left the water fish could die due to lack of oxygen. After nearly losing two limits of fish in a tournament, I installed a bilge bump in the bottom of the livewell with the necessary hoses. If you have to trailer your boat from one location to another for a weigh-in, you could have a problem.

Some anglers may also want a re-circulating livewell to keep their fish alive longer to ensure they are in good shape when they get home to clean them.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer didn't offer this feature as an option, so I had to pay the dealer to install a re-circulator.

Outboard Engine

Where are the trim/tilt switches located for the outboard motor?

I didn't realize that not all manufactures build a trim/tilt switch into the motor itself for every model. My motor doesn't have one, so holding the motor tote in place by yourself without somebody to press the switch at the console can be a chore.

Trailer

There are also issues to consider with the trailer, such as the width of the rig. I have a single-car garage that was a close fit with my previous trailer, but my new one is wider. I have about 8 inches on each side for clearance, so backing in must be slow and very straight.

A trailer with a swing-away tongue is a nice space saver and if it has a swing-away third-wheel jack, you will give your arm a break. It took more than 60 cranks to get my old trailer off the car each time that I unhooked, but a few cranks with the new one and I'm done.

It might also surprise you to learn that spare tires are an option and not standard equipment according to many manufacturers. Don't forget to ask.

The main thing to remember is that manufactures will not always give boat buyers as many options as possible, so check carefully before buying.

I'm sure there are more issues to consider before purchasing a new rig, but hopefully this has given you some food for thought before you invest money in your next home on the water.