Spring Upgrades to your Skeeter?

for those of us who didn’t buy a new boat this year, did you make any upgrades to your Skeeter in the off-season?

let’s see ’em!

i’m not one to leave well enough alone. i think i now have the ultimate muskie boat…at least until next year!

WX2000T with F150 tiller

upgrades this year:

– added 9.9hp four-stroke kicker with connection to big motor and Thrustmaster throttle controls.
this will help keep the hours down on the big motor while trolling and also provide added safety in case something happens to the main motor when fishing big waters.
(installed by SBC)

– added hydrofoil for improved bowlift at mid-range speeds and ability to stay on plane at slower speeds/rpms
(installed myself)

– added a “bridge” deck extension: gives person casting in the back a place to step back off the side tanks for easier balance when it’s wavy and also allows them to switch sides of the boat without stepping down into cockpit; easily removable when needed.
(installed myself)

Slick looking ride lambeau….where do I sign up for a ride along??

How do you like the Tiller Power Steering? I assume it’s the one made by Enginesteer Corp? Should make that F150 a two finger unit. I had it put on my new F75 and it’s the frosting on the cake…can’t imagine running a big tiller without it even after just a few hours in the boat.

A few picx of the Tiller Power Steering on the F75

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How do you like the Tiller Power Steering? I assume it’s the one made by Enginesteer Corp? Should make that F150 a two finger unit.

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it’s an awesome unit…2 fingers is exactly right, plus no worries about a sudden hard turn if your hand ever slips off the handle!

I dont think I am adding anything this year to the boat but tackle on the other hand I am kicking around adding structure scan but undecided. I just installed it in my dad’s 2100 this past weekend. See how it works and how much we use it before I pull the trigger.

I did add an external high speed transducer. I was not happy with the glassed in transducer. Other than that it is standard maintenance and go fishing.

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I did add an external high speed transducer. I was not happy with the glassed in transducer. Other than that it is standard maintenance and go fishing.

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I don’t care for my glassed in transducer either. I rigged an external one right away and the thru hull is just at the dash for back up. I ran them both to see the difference and the thru hull would loose bottom all the time compared to the external.

Went threw everything last weekend and gave it a good bath and shine. Next week doing some prop testing and I am all set for the season

I installed a hydrofoil, went with the SE Sport 300. I haven’t tested it yet, though.

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I installed a hydrofoil, went with the SE Sport 300. I haven’t tested it yet, though.

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You will be very happy with that addition.

Spring upgrades to my 1850 include 9.9 kicker with electric start, power tilt and tiller handle control. Wave Wackers! Hamby’s! Third Humminbird installed in the back for use while back trolling. All from SBC!

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Spring upgrades to my 1850 include 9.9 kicker with electric start, power tilt and tiller handle control. Wave Wackers! Hamby’s! Third Humminbird installed in the back for use while back trolling. All from SBC!

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Bob…could you post a picture of your third Humminbird mounted in the boat? I’m considering doing the same thing.

Do you have separate transducers for each one running on different frequencies or are you dedicating one to mapping and not connecting it to a transducer?

lambuea if you decide to sell that boat in the next year or two let me know i have a 620 ranger i want a tiller skeeter with the f150

This is my first console boat after years of tiller boats, so of course trying to set it up like a tiller! I have an 8″ screen H-bird on the console, and that runs off the glassed in transducer. The 5″ screen H-bird in the back is going on a RAM swing mount. Original plan was to install a transducer switch and run it off the existing. Scott in the H-bird booth convinced me that would be frustrating when the bigger screen would no longer have a bottom image (especially for the other people fishing in the cockpit). His suggestion was to install a separate transducer for the transom unit on the starboard side high enough so it reads great when trolling (forward or backward) but high enough up that it is out of the water at high speed as it won’t be needed.

Boat is in storage still, hoping to get all this wrapped up in the next two weeks. Son still at home is a hockey player, and we go right from the regular season to AAA spring hockey so no fishing time for me yet.

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I installed a hydrofoil, went with the SE Sport 300. I haven’t tested it yet, though.

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You will be very happy with that addition.

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You were right, I am happy with it.

Although I wasn’t disappointed with the performance before the installation, I did get some porpoising when slowing down from full throttle. With the SE Sport installed, there is no more porpoising.

So as a retirement gift to himself my dad made some major updates to his 2003 1790T. He added a 80lb terrova with 60 in shaft with all the options, I-pilot, US2. He also went with a HDS 10 Gen 2 with LSS-2 as well. He is upgrading from no bow mount trolling motor and had an X15 and Global Map 5000c. I think he will be impressed with the speed of the processing of the HDS 10, he will enjoy anchor lock on the terrova as on Rainy River this spring he found it was a huge advantage to holding in the current. I think the side imaging and down scan will be fun to play around with.
He also went with a Stabil Mount vs. ram to hold the HDS 10 that is one solid unit and shouldn’t move while pounding the waves. I guess this summer will be the test.

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So as a retirement gift to himself my dad made some major updates to his 2003 1790T. He added a 80lb terrova with 60 in shaft with all the options, I-pilot, US2. He also went with a HDS 10 Gen 2 with LSS-2 as well. He is upgrading from no bow mount trolling motor and had an X15 and Global Map 5000c. I think he will be impressed with the speed of the processing of the HDS 10, he will enjoy anchor lock on the terrova as on Rainy River this spring he found it was a huge advantage to holding in the current. I think the side imaging and down scan will be fun to play around with.
He also went with a Stabil Mount vs. ram to hold the HDS 10 that is one solid unit and shouldn’t move while pounding the waves. I guess this summer will be the test.

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Looks like he did a good job with his upgrades. I have my HD-8 mounted on a Ram on the same place and it seems to be solid, but the 10 would need the better mount. Sure like my 05 1790t, bought it new and have not thought about a different boat yet!