In observance, something special… Twas the Night Before Christmas, Boater Style Twas the night before Christmas and all through the boat, nothing was stirring, not even a bilge pump float. The stockings were hung from the flybridge with care, in hopes that the fishing rods would soon be placed there. The crew was … Continue reading
Help – Why Does My VHF Radio Do This?
Recently, a friend described a problem he was having with his VHF radio and asked me if I could give him some help fixing it. Luckily, I didn’t have to lift a finger. I’ve seen this problem a dozen or more times through the years, especially on small open boats like trailered … Continue reading
Can You Make Your Marine Electronics Work Better? YES!
Marine electronics like GPS chartplotters, VHF radios, and fishfinders can be finicky, but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. The real question is, are your units working up the their full potential? Chances are, the answer is no. Use these three ways, to give yourself a serious … Continue reading
3 Fishing Boats that are (Still) Priced Reasonably
The price of fishing boats has gone through the roof, and today, it’s easy to spend more on a boat than you spend on your home – without even looking at those gigantic convertible sportfishers or quad-engine powerhouses. In fact, few builders have been able to keep their pricing down … Continue reading
5 Tips for Kayak Fishing
There are a lot of reasons why kayak fishing has become so popular in recent years: it’s relatively inexpensive, it’s effective and in some cases even more effective than fishing from other types of boats, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun. As a result of its popularity, … Continue reading
Leaves, Twigs, Scuppers, and Sinking your Boat
Last Saturday I hitched up my boat, hauled it to the ramp, and set out in the pre-dawn hours with a weather forecast of sunny skies and calm winds. As usual, the forecast was off. Way off. In fact, as we cleared the river and hit the bay, the alleged five-knot … Continue reading
Duck Boat Blues
I recently prepped my duck boat for the season, and got several surprises. Unfortunately, none of them were good. In fact, the entire experience reminded me that I should have inspected the boat at least once a month through the summer, to make sure none of these things happened. In … Continue reading
Hot New Boats from the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show: Edgewater, Scout, Sea Ray, and More!
I’ve been in Ft. Lauderdale a lot lately, to check out new introductions at the boat show – one of the biggest in the country. And this year’s show was no disappointment. There were new models galore, in everything from fishing boats to cruisers to runabouts. Here are some of … Continue reading
Gage Storm Runner: Stay Dry, Not Hot!
The biggest problem with most heavy-duty rain jackets and bibs is that they’re heavy – and staying dry means staying hot, unless you find foul weather gear like the new Gage Storm Runner. To understand how these jackets and pants can be light but still offer full protection, you have … Continue reading
