Got my first boat. 16′ with a 40hp tiller.
Just putting the list together of needed items and was wondering if I could get some feedback of items you couldn’t live without in your boat.
Thanks for the replies!
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Got my first boat. 16′ with a 40hp tiller.
Just putting the list together of needed items and was wondering if I could get some feedback of items you couldn’t live without in your boat.
Thanks for the replies!
trolling motor, drift sock, a good gps/locator, throw pad(law), anchor…basics
Canoe paddle, flashlight, red judge tool kit.
Enjoy the new boat!!!
Extra rope. Just take it out fishing and you’ll start to notice little things you want/need. Good rod holders since you fish cats so much.
What type of boat did you get BTW?
Small first aid kit,pliers,fire extinguisher, common sense and a lets have fun attitude.
Quote:
Extra rope. Just take it out fishing and you’ll start to notice little things you want/need. Good rod holders since you fish cats so much.
What type of boat did you get BTW?
I agree ,but one thing take a note book and write thing down. Good luck!!!
Hand me down through the family – got it for Christmas and it just arrived Here is a couple of pictures throughout the cleaning process, last owner had a dog…. Let’s just say I’ve already spent some quality garage time with the new boat hah
I have a 16′ with a 40 as well. One thing I want to add to mine is some LED lights with a switch on the console, so if you are fishing at night, go out before dawn, or get off the water at dark you can see without needing flashlights or headlamps.
Pretty sure we are now required to have some type of horn now as well as the fire extinguisher and throwable pfd. Along with the rope I would say that I end up using my spotlight alot when fishing rivers.
Besides your state laws, check with coast guard requirements for additional things.
Nice rig BTW. That floor layout brought back a lot of memories of my first favorite boat -Lund 18 Alaskan. loved that rig! Foremost, I would invest in the best electronics that you can afford. Everything else comes in time. If your boat doesn’t have a dry locker, I would get a tub for up front to keep stuff dry in.
With that much room I would put a lazy boy in there Congrats on the new boat
One thing your boat needs in it for sure is….me! I’ll bring the bullies. Sweet lookin boat with lotsa room. Nice!
JAKOB – If I could give you any advice I would tell you to just go sit in your boat and picture yourself sitting on your favorite cat water and think about how you would like to anchor up; how you want to deploy your rods; and how you would want to land your fish; and how you would plan to catch, photo and release your fish. If you think through this process it will raise a series of questions:
Anchoring up:
#1: If you anchor from the front are you going to want a Gripper tie down installed on the bow to quickly tie off your anchor rope. I couldn’t live without mine because I use it for the anchor rope, to tie off my brush anchor, just about every anchoring situation. You need to think about a Gripper placement that does not interfere with your bow mount trolling motor if you have one.
#2: Rear anchor – especially needed for sturgeon fishing and those windy days that get the boat swinging. Where are you going to store the anchor and how are you going to deploy it from the back and tie it off in the back.
Deploying your rods:
#1. When catfishing in a good current most of the time you will be anchored up with the bow upstream and you are facing the back of the boat. The issue becomes one of rod placement for at least yourself and one other fisherman with you. I would recommend thinking of rod placement for at least 4 rods for those opportunities of fishing border waters where you can use two rods.
#2: I would also think about rod placement for at least one rod off each side of the boat for sturgeon fishing.
#3: Once you decide where the best locations for your rods are then think through what type of rod holder base will work best for each boat location. I’ve been down this road for a long time and gone through a bunch of different holders. Right now I’m primarily using Driftmasters because they offer a good mix of rod holder bases that can fit just about any situation.
How you want to land your big fish and bring it into the boat:
#1: Think through getting a 50 lb+ fish and how are you going to net it or hand land it and where in the boat are you going to put it while you dehook it, measure it, photo it, and release it.
#2: If you boat is carpeted do you want a big slimy sturgeon or flathead sliming your boat. I have my fish placement area covered with a disposable carpet that gets cleaned after most trips but eventually thrown away at some point when I can’t get it cleaned any longer. My boat carpeting under it meets the wife’s approval.
#2: Accessory power in the boat to deal with fishing issues. If you have a trolling motor, it’s batteries or battery may be a good source of supplemental power to run a power inverter for all kinds of AC power accessories that will make your fishing easier and more organized. Think about these accessories and how you would power them:
a) An aerator for your bullhead bait tank;
b) Additional boat lighting to light up your boat when dealing with tangled fishing line and big fish flopping around in the dark;
c) DC Power socket or AC power source to plug in a spotlight for running at night.
d) Night Lights. I am a big believer in being able to light up my boat when I have a really big fish to deal with. I don’t want to lose a fish of a lifetime because I couldn’t see what was going on. Not everybody wants or likes lights but I do and I light up my boat like a Twins Game when a good fish is on. I run my lights off a power inverter so I can use low wattage AC lights with little power drain.
Catch, Photo, and Release:
If you are going to be fishing alone think through how you are going to photo the fish of a lifetime. I use a tripod and I know exactly where it needs to go so that after the fish is unhooked and measured, I can set the camera timer, walk to ghe spot in the boat and pick up the fish, smile – click – check photo to make sure it turned out – fish goes right back in the water. As silly as this may seem I practiced exactly how I would take a picture, where the tripod goes, where I stand, where the KOTC logo goes to be included in the picture, and a clear spot to the side of the boat to get the fish quickly back into the water.
Well, you asked for input. I guess I’ve done it again. Like my wife always says about me “Whatever can be done, can be overdone.” Good luck with your new boat – I know you will enjoy it.
^^ Pretty sure he has got you covered!! But the main thing I can say is spend the money the first time and buy a NICE troller, and fish finder/gps! Not sure if you mainly just fish cats, but for Ski’s I know I use my troller and HDS 99.4% of the time! ANd I just pulled off a 1 year old troller to get the one that should have gone on first… BEER, must have BEER! Enjoy that boat.
Congrats Jacob!
I don’t know what I could add to the above items…well, there is one thing.
Current 2012 registration stickers might be on the must have list.
1. i-pilot
2.hds10
3.martin water spike ancor
4.100ft. good line minimum
5.air horn
6.flashlight/headlamp
7.spare nav. light bulb (walleye joe)
8.good tool kit
9.good first aid kit
10.knipex hook cutters
that’s the first 10 things i could think of…
More rope cleats! At least one at the bow and one on either side at the turn of the beam. And I’d advocate Richter anchor, much better in the rocks than the spike (have both).
Yeah, I never understood how people have a boat with one cleat on it. It doesn’t work well.
I have had good luck with the light weight, disposable, bendable, wreck anchor. I’m never afraid to throw it in.
Also have a push pole strapped to the gunnel that can come in very handy.
I like nice rod holders.
An empty boat always looks nice but isn’t really reality. Fill it up with livewell, cooler, sleeping bag, pfd’s, pole(s?), net, seats, spotlight, anchors and whatnot and then figure out how to organize all the junk so you can still walk. It can be a challenge.
I’d get a 80 terrova first thing. If it has carpet go to the home improvement store and get some vinyl flooring in 1 foot squares. A locater with gps and a map chip will save your tail night fishing.
Very nice looking rig
The one addition I’d like in my boat is a set of rope lights just bright enough to light things up enough to see the floor and inside of the boat.
For fishing the river a good anchor with a 100′ rope is a must. Very nice rig. Got a feeling you will be putting a lot of fish slime in that boat.
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