HPBB

I agree with Way2slow, get the onboard charger. It wis a better choice. just plug it in and forget about it. I have 2 of the BPS XPS charger 3 bank 15 amp ( made by Pro Mariner) its a great charger charges the batteries fast and keeps the in top shape. If you worried about the starting batt going dead, keep a pair of jumper cabel on board this way if it does you can use you TM battery to start the motor. I have done this alot in the past, when I only had 2 batteries. If your thinking about getting a 24 volt TM in the future I would say go for the 3 bank charger now. Its only $30-$50 more than the 2 bank and you can hook 2 leads up to one battery now till you get another battery. BP prices XPS 2 bank 8 amp is $99.99 XPS 2 bank 10amp is $119.99 XPS 3 bank 15amp is $149.99 Look on line and in the mags, if there is a BPS or Cabela's by you check it out. You might find them onsale. I got one of my 15amp 3 bank charger on sale in the store for $119.99 2 years ago. and bought my Dad the 2 bank cahrger for $69

have a great time. I was at the 2005 Classic. Was right in my back yard. I will never forget it and am going to try to make a few others, maybe fish in one if I am lucky. Was on the water in my boat for the first day and last day from take off till trailer. Second day went to launch and then the expo, weigh in and back to the expo. try to go sat eveing to the expo that seemed to be the evening that the most pros where at. Have fun. your son will never forget it.

It depends on what type of water you are fishing. If your in water with trees, like you where you did it right. Keep the motor up so it doesn't hit. I try to keep it as shallow as I can without it sucking in air at the speed I am running. If I hit it on high I will suck air, but at the speed I am moving around it doesn't suck air, that that is good for me. If I am fish rough water and the motor is coming out of the water, I'll put it as deep as I can. If I am fishing shallow I'll run it as shallow as I can. If I am fishing weeds, I'll keep it up shallow too. don't want it digging in the weeds.

If you can run a gas motor on your boat get it. a gas motor will out run, last any electric motor. You will be able to cover more water faster, easier, with more weight than with 2 or 3 TMs. Get a good TM first the save for a small outboard. This way you can fish the TM only lakes and the ones you can use a gas motor on. You can pick up a small 9.9-25 for under $1500 and a smaller 6-8hp for around $500-$600. You will never worry if you have enought power left to get back with a Gas. As long as there is gas in the tank & 3 gal of gas last a long time in a small boat with a small outboard. Check out http://www.smalloutboards.com/ they have some nice motors at good prices. Gas motor all the way if you can use it.

If you want reliable speedo get a unit with GPS. I have a humminbird Matrix 87c (newer model 787c) that has one transduser. the transduer has temp on it. the speed is from the GPS in the unit. I have speedo on the boat. It has been broken since I bought it. fixed once, lasted about 4 trips. I know very few people whos speedo in the dash works right. everyone uses GPS for speed readings

Have tried alot of Knock off and they were the waist of $$. Its a real senko or nothing

Yes BPS & Cabela's sell the kits. they are $30 -$40 and work good. Just drop it in the cooler, use the suckion cups to hold the spray head on and hook the wires up to the battery. Add water and power and you have a nice livewell

I fish Erie alot and take a different aproach to dranggin a tube. This what i use and most of the guys I fish around do also. Something in the 6-6 to 7 foot Med to med/light spinning, I drag 1/8oz and 1/4oz tubes. I do used 1/2oz jig head with gobies, then I use a 6'6" M/H BC All my spinning rods are Gander Mountain Guide serie rods

I used to bring everything and my boat did not have enough space anymore. So I leaned down, Bringing a good verity of lure but not everything. And leaving things home that I know I will not use at the lake/River I will be fishing. Example: If I am going to Lake Erie to fish SM, I know its tube jigs 99.99% maybe a senko, spinnerbaits, or crankbait. but everything else stays home In my tackle storage locker I have 5-3600 plano and 5 of the falcon boxes. But Last year I got one 3700 box I marked as my "GOTO BOX" and put the lures I use most of the time in that. I use that box 99% of the time. Its usually stays ondeck, then If I need any of the others I look for them

T_DOt , your talking about putting two 109# motorguides on one small jon boat. That would fly, and would be fun. I would love to try that. But have you priced a 109# yet? Your looking at $1,000 and over per motor. thats over $2,000 in just motors. You have also asked about floatation, and keeping it to 3 batteries to keep wieght down. If your up to spending money that amount of money on motors, maybe you should look into getting abigger boat that can handle more weight and gear, or if the water you fish are not TM only lakes you might want to look into a small outboard. You can pick up a 9.9-25hp used for under $1,500 get a nice 24volt TM for $500 and you at the same price as two 36volts and can run faster and longer with the outboards. And if you get one that is electric start, it can help to charge your battieres while your out on the water. I run a 36 volt motorguide tour, I love the motor best I have ever used, and I would not want to pay anothet $1000 for another motor. that is why I take it off of one boat to use on the other.

They are not ment to be used for a fast charge, and they only charge 12volt setups, not 24 or 36 set ups. they are good on boat that sit out . We use them on our pontoon boats. We don't have power down to our dock so the onboard chargers can't be used. they sit all week long on the docks and the solar chargers keep the batteries up. Since we have been using them, about 2 years. we have seen far less jump starts after the boats have sat. If your boat is going to be home or somewhere you can plug it in , an onboard charger can not be beat. If you have 3 batteries, BPSs sell a nice 15amp 3 bank charger for around $150, less when on sale. It can be hooked up anywhere and it can charge 1, 2 or 3 batteries in any 12, 12-24, 24, or 36 volt setups. Just plug it in when you get home and forget about it till your off again.

If you like the Shimano rods then stay with that, and that take that out of the equation. On reels The one that I like the best for Flippin/Pitchin is a Team Daiwa 103SDL. now that is a left handed reel. I am right handed, but I F/P using a left handed reel. I know you can get them in right handed to, but I have seen a lot more lefty one than right. They are older so you would be looking at used. I have seen a few on ebay in the past month going for $50-$70. I have been looking because I would like to get another one or two. They have a very low profile and I like where the thumb bail release is.

I think almost any BC can be a good finess reel. yes some are better than others, but when you learn your reels good and know how to adjust it right you should be able to use any lure. I know with my flippin sticks and reels I can use a 1oz jig then switch right over to a 1/8oz with out any problem, just some adjustments. I have used 10lb on almost all of my reels with out any problem. Rods well that is a different story. I would suggest a TD sol & TD Viento, but both are well over the $100 mark. I use a TD SOL & Viento with light 8 & 10lb line, but I also have a Pinnacle Solene($55) and Inertia($80).They handel light line good. If you go on Ebay you can find some really nice Used reels at good prices. I know last week there were some used TD Vientos going for $100, and those Pinnacle reels I go on ebay new, $40 for the Inertia nd $30 for the solene

T_Dot I answered all those questions in my second post. I carry the same gear eighter way. the 36volt is better, in my opion I guess you could hook up two 36volt tm to 3 batteries, but that would be a big draw on those batteries

In my big boat they stay in the rod locker, but in my small boat they stay ondeck; however, I travel with a cover on my boats always so dirt and dust is not an issue. Security? well if I am spending the night I take things out of both. My rod locker doesn't lock. If I am stopping somewhere, I keep a close eye on it. With the covers on the boat people seem to leave it alone. I have had no problems with the covers on. I have had stuff taken from a boat before. I was going Bow hunting on an island in the Alleghey River. My buddy and I stopped for lunch and the boat was not covered because the tree stands were to high for the cover. Lost sight for a minute and both bows and tree stands were gone.

A buddy at work just bought a used fishing boat. It came with everything. Boat, motor, TMs, Trailer, GPS and rods, reels and tackle. There was a BC reel in the boat, He doesn't use BC and wanted to know if I wanted to buy it. He told me It was a Quantum Tournament. I thought a Tour Edition, but its not. Its a Quatum Tournament Grade BC, It's blue and has "Tournament Grade" on the side of the reel. It looks somewhat like a Tour edition though. This reel looks brand new, I don't think it has had line on it, but no box or papers. I can't find any info on this reel. Can anybody shed some light on these? How old are they? Quality? Price new? Etc. any info would be great. Thank you

I have never had a polomar knot fail. I use them all the time and use them with Yozuri Hybrid when flipping ( I use it as a leader on braid) and have never had it fail.

I have batteries from Auto Zone (duralast) and have them in both boats. The cost about $55 and I have had them 4 years in one boat and 3 in the other. With no problem. I alwas put them on charge as soon as I get home and check the water level in them.

I fish Humminbird units, but will say that the color units of all the companies are great. I would not buy a B/W unit again. color is the way to go.

Since I have sealed and LED lights I never unplug

I would check Auto Parts stores. But there are alot of guys on this site that have painted their boats. Ask what they used.

I would say a 2 battery 24volt set up. Get a nice 70# or so 24volt TM. even if you don't get an outboard yet . get one 24volt TM instead of 2 12 volt TM. The 24volt TM will run faster and longer. That would be the set up I would go for either way. one bow TM, 24 volt set up

$8500 can get you a nice used boat. have to ask yourself a few question. What am I towing with? Big truck/SUV, little truck/SUV, car? How much can I tow? where am I storeing the boat, how much room do I have? do I want glass or metal? how big do I go? what brand/ size outboard do i want? do I want it to have all the extras? Or am i going to add a new TM, GPS, Fishfinders? What waters do i fish? is it limited HP or unlimited? Do I want a "BASS BOAT" or a V-hull set up like a bass boat? How old is to old? for $8500 you can buy used 20foot bass boats with 200HP + on them or 15footers with 25HP. You need to answere those question before you know what boat.

Also get your own lif jacket. Most boat owners carry extras, but in all the tournaments I have fished the rider is required to have there own. To save room I don't carry extras in the boat at tournaments. i will have some in my truck. also get one that fits you. My extra one fits me. I am a big guy so if a little guy wears it it will slid right off of them.

well, if your only going to have one fishfinder in the boat. is it a TM only boat? or do you have a small outboard? if tm only is it a bow or transom mount? when you run the boat do you sit in the back and fish from the front? do you want to see the screen while driving and fishing? If is a bow only TM them mount it up front so you can see it. all others mount it on the middle seat. This way when your driving the boat from the rear you can look at it, and then turn it around so you can look at it while fishig up front.