A Boat Rigged Right Is A Joy Forever

Batteries and Charging

Batteries supply your boat’s lifeblood. Trolling motors with 24-volt systems require two large-capacity deep-cycle batteries, plus a cranking battery, while 36-volt systems must have an added deep cycle. In bigger bass boats that might warrant a 36-volt motor, an additional 60 to 75 pounds for a battery makes little difference, and the bilge area should be large enough.

Deep-cycle batteries have thicker lead plates and denser lead-oxide chemical mixtures in their cells, along with alloys that provide longer life under regular charge-discharge cycles. Deep-cycles batteries also provide power over longer periods, but offer less initial power than cranking batteries, due to denser composition of the lead oxide and resulting electrical resistance.

While battery manufacturers claim ever better batteries, most anglers know otherwise. Short-lived batteries are a plague that’s especially prevalent in the North Country where boats are stored for extended periods. In general, you get what you pay for, since the manufacturing process and lead content affect cost.

In some top-line products like Rolls batteries from Southeast Marine Services, new plate designs contribute extra weight but are built to withstand over 800 recharging cycles. But no matter the brand, leaving a battery discharged in a cold climate is asking for cell failure. Attach a trickle charger to your charging system to keep batteries topped off all winter, admittedly at some cost in electricity.

Or remove the batteries and store them inside, recharging every month or so when charge levels fall. Be sure to carefully mark all wires for reattachment in spring. In lead-acid batteries, check the fluid level before installing, adding distilled water if needed.

Also check that battery cases and straps are intact and firmly attached. A loose battery can cause incredible damage to interior fixtures and also is a fire hazard.

Chargers mounted in the bilge area make charging a breeze, as you need only attach an extension cord to a Marinco plug, with a neat cap to ward off dampness, mounted near the stern or by the console. These units can charge two or three batteries simultaneously, using electronic sensors to reduce the charging level as the batteries near full charge to prevent excess sulfation or “boiling.” This type of charger has been labeled the “smart” charger and you’re dumb not to get one. Check with Guest Company, Professional Mariner, Dual Pro, and Deltona for information on their models.

To check battery charge levels, mount Goldeneye gauges that monitor one, two, or three batteries with the flick of a switch. A portable tester is available to test batteries on smaller boats.

Accessories

The more you fish, the more you need extra items. Traveling around the country, I see how folks in various regions fish differently and need different equipment for bass fishing. When you frequently fish for species other than black bass, you may need more accessories.

Rod Holders: Rod holders are handy, even essential when fishing for catfish and sturgeon, and nearly necessary for trolling for walleyes, striped bass, crappies, and muskies. Four Mermaid offers holders that can be mounted quickly and removed from the transom rail found on most fiberglass bass rigs. For aluminum rigs, Down-East and Tite-Lok offer models that can be clamped on the gunnels or transom with clamps. Many others are available for permanent mounting, but most avid bassers don’t want obstacles to get in the way of bassin’ applications.

Night Lights: All anglers should have portable spotlights on board that fit 12-volt systems, since flashlights with batteries are prone to failure in moist environments. Optronics and Lectro Science, Inc. offer a range of styles and powers in lights that plug into cigarette-lighter outlets, connect to a battery, or can be recharged. Lectro Science has unveled a 2 million candle power spotlight. In addition to required navigation lights, interior courtesy lights or illuminated rod lockers and storage boxes are nice. For serious night fishing, blacklights are needed as they as they allow night-time line watching.

Optronics, Bass Pro Shops, and Zorro Bait offer several models of black lights that mount along gunnels with clamps or suction cups, or fit into sockets. In addition to the black light that makes fluorescent line glow, most lights offer a white light.

Anchors: Anchoring is at the core of several bass techniques not often used by today’s bassers. But an anchor can be a great aid in rivers or for targeting a small structure with worms or livebait. In that case, double-anchoring can provide the most precise boat placement, allowing for the best presentations.