Is Your Boat Ready?
Got to thinking the other day, I had not checked on the boat. And better make sure
everything is ready for Spring. I know it is still a ways off but on the first week of warm weather I will be
ready.
Boy, am I glad I checked. The front end of the boat is where I store my
tackle and this year decided to keep the boat at home and keep the lures on board. That way all I have to do
is load life jackets, rods, maps...etc.
Well, when I opened the front end, I saw about three inches of ice and my lure
boxes sealed in ice. Had a self blow up life jacket and it does work, the little co2 blew and filled the life
jacket. It was bought awhile back and Bass Pro no longer carries it.
We did have some super low temps but I had no idea there might be water in the
front end of the boat. Bought a brand new tarp in hopes to keep rain out and with the compartment I thought it
would be o.k. to keep the lures in the boat.
Got most of the boxes out, but still have to look to see what I am going to have
to replace...I already know a ton of hooks and most of the hard bait hooks. Will attempt to get ice out with
camping heater do not want to mix any electric stuff until the water is out. Maybe that will melt the ice where I
can get a dry vac to suck out the water with just the hose onboard.
I think I have said this before; don't forget your batteries in the boat. You
don't want to hit the water and have dead batteries. Cold weather does draw the batteries down and I found my
batteries down about half way.
A lot of anglers keep the onboard charger hooked up, but with my Gas tank that
close I do not think that is a wise choice. {replaced my Batteries with gel} You can fish three days hard before
recharging them......I know you're saying they cost so much but believe me that they pay for themselves the first
time you use them either in a tournament or pleasure fishing. I use them on my trolling motor and still use the
acid battery for big motor that takes a burst of juice to start.
I think the only thing that I need to do after I remove the ice is (get this) put
some DAWN DISH WASHING
LIQUID in the bottom of your boat at
the back end will help keep the grease/oil/dirt from building up and keep it nice and clean.
Got to go and start working on the ice.
Keep The Hooks Wet!
Steve McGoldrick
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