Texas Boating

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

Sprucing Up Your Old Boat

THEY SAY THE TWO HAPPIest days in a boater’s life are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it. However, selling your boat can feel like you’re sawing your leg o .

One way you can make that day happier than it might otherwise be, is to get top dollar for that old boat. To do that, the key to resale value is a well-maintained boat.

In fact, there are a few speci c measures you can take that will have a disproportionate impact on just how good your boat looks, how much your boat sells for, and how big your smile is as you head for the bank.

1. GIVE YOUR OUTBOARD engine cowl a never-ending beauty treatment. is starts o with two thick, protective coats of paste wax at the beginning of the season. en, a er each trip, give it a wash with a so mi and gentle soap. Never ever, under any circumstances let a scrub brush touch the cowl. Brushes can make micro-scratches in the nish that give it a hazy or cloudy look.

If your boat is stored outdoors and you don’t use it for a couple of weeks, give the outboard a quick wash-down anyway. Bird droppings, pollen, and other contaminants will se le on the nish and can cause staining or discoloration if allowed to sit there for weeks on end.

Midway through the season, give the outboard a more substantial wash and then give it another coat of wax. Over time waxes break down. Reapplying it eery six months should be considered the bare minimum.

Follow this regimen, and a decade later that outboard will still be gleaming — and any buyer who comes to look at your boat will be wowed from the start.

2. PREVENT MOLD and/or mildew from infecting your vinyl seat cushions, padding, and coaming bolsters. Once those li le black dots begin to appear, you can bet they’ll rapidly multiply. is is true even a er you clean them o the exterior surfaces because mold and mildew can se le into the foam cushion underneath the vinyl. en, it’ll repopulate from the inside out. e very best way to prevent mold and mildew growth is simply to keep your vinyl clean. ose microbes don’t actually start out by growing on the vinyl itself. New vinyl usually is coated with some form of anti-microbial at the factory.

Rather, the microbes a ach to bits of dirt, dried liquid spills, or bird droppings. en as they grow and reproduce, work their way into the material.

Fighting against mold and mildew growth is sort of a never-ending ba le, which you’ll never completely win. Yet, by washing down the boat’s vinyl with a gentle soap as o en as possible, you can hold those microbes at bay.

3. PROTECT THE PLASTICS. Almost all boats have a plastic piece or part here or there, and while today’s plastics are much more UV resistant than those of the past, they can still take a beating from the elements. Eventually they become bri le and then break, and nothing looks shabbier than a cracked hatch or a broken plastic knob.

Lots of plastic cleaner/protectants are available. ey seal the pores in plastics and create a clear barrier coat. is defends against yellowing, becoming bri le, and discoloration from oils or other contaminants. At least once a month hit all the plastic parts of you boat with this stu , and it’ll improve the plastic’s looks and longevity.

4. REGULARLY WAX the sides of the hull and all smooth topside gel-coated surfaces. Like most other glossy nishes, gel coat is to some degree porous. Waxing with a paste wax as a base coat, followed by wash-downs with a boat soap containing carnauba wax will ll those pores and prevent oxidation. Like that outboard cowl the berglass should get protective paste wax at least a couple of times a season. Otherwise, it will wear away a er months on end in the sun and weather.

An added bonus of keeping the topsides thoroughly waxed is that sh blood and chum stains will be a lot easier to scrub away. Remember that aggressive scrub-downs can remove the wax coating even as they remove the mess. If you have a few particularly messy trips in a row that require lots of scrubbing at the end of the day, consider hi ing the topsides with an extra coat of paste wax in addition to your bi-annual wax jobs.

5. ONCE A YEAR, treat any unpainted surface that can corrode with a corrosion inhibitor. Which you choose is important because there are some snake oils out there. Make sure to get one that meets MIL-PRF (military performance specs) for naval and aviation use. ese products can radically slow corrosion and in some cases displace corrosion from the metal at a molecular level, keeping items looking like new for years on end, even when they’re used in the saltwater environment. at said, don’t just spray corrosion inhibitors willy-nilly all over your boat. Many can stain berglass and discolor so goods. Instead, get a rag and soak down small sections with this stu . en dab or wipe it on the metal surfaces. Keep a second clean rag handy, and when you accidentally swipe some of the inhibitor on berglass (which is bound to happen) immediately wipe it away. e good news? Use all ve of these maintenance tips and your boat will look great when you go to sell it. e bad news? Not only will a great-looking boat bring a higher price, it’ll also sell faster. is means you won’t have a boat to go shing in anymore.

Of course, that isn’t really bad news, because we’re pre y darn sure that you’ll take all the money you just pocketed and use it as a downpayment on your brand-new shing machine.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fi shgame.com

ISHING GEAR IS NOT ALL CREATED equal. There are so many fish species, techniques, and strategies that demand different kinds of gear to accomplish the task of simply catching a fish. Soaking a pound hunk of cut stingray on a widegapped circle hook for sharks in the surf for example is radically different from drifting a tiny “midge” fly that is as small as a grain of rice to catch a brown trout.

But at the end of the day, it’s all fishing.

The great dividing lines in tackle stores are between salt and freshwater equipment. But in reality, blurring that line can have real advantages for fishermen, especially freshwater fishermen.

Gear that is made to survive salty water, sand, rough seas, and toothy predators can easily sustain the pressures of bass or crappie fishing. Also, by its more durable nature, it outlasts much of the equipment designed for freshwater applications.

We have broken down some of the myriad tackle choices available at Calcu aoutdoors.com and made some suggestions for the opportunity to crossover from salt to fresh.

EXPLORER TACKLE BAG

Organize your tackle e ciently and securely with the Explorer Tackle Bags. e main storage compartment includes four tackle trays. External pockets provide additional storage. Exterior pliers holster is located on a side pocket for easy tool access. Easy-grip zipper pulls are provided for e ortless opening, even with wet hands. It also has a padded, adjustable shoulder strap for hands-free transport. Dimensions: 13.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 10inches. ere is plenty of room for worms, weights, beads, spinners, and swimbaits here.

BAIT BINDER e Explorer Bait Binder keeps your tackle organized and easily accessible, and it’s perfect for organizing so plastic worms and jig trailers. Durable 420D ripstop nylon construction holds up under extreme conditions. Includes ve removable plastic sleeves. e locking ring system allows you to quickly add or remove sleeves. It comes with eight internal semi-transparent zipper pockets for additional storage. WATERPROOF TACKLE TRAYS ese waterproof 4-Latch tackle trays are built to handle all your tackle storage needs, including crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. e tackle trays are designed to be secure and waterproof. Every box features a secure four latch system, a watertight seal to keep water and moisture out, and a gray tint to help protect lures from fading. is is important for bass shermen as they o en lay their trays on the deck for easy access while trying to gure out exactly what the sh wants. ey are customizable from six to 21 compartments for the 3700 and ve to 13 compartments for the 3600. ere are two trays per pack. ROD WRAPS

Squall Rod Wraps are built with a so foam backing to protect your rods. Hook and loop closure allows for easy adjustability. Wraps are made of durable 420-denier rip-stop fabric with Mossy Oak® Coastal Shoreline pa ern. With these wraps, you can secure up to ve rods for storage and transport. Whether you’re on a pontoon boat crappie trip with the family or you’re a solo and jig trailers. Durable 420D ripstop nylon construction holds up under extreme conditions. Includes ve removable plastic sleeves. e locking ring system allows you to quickly add or bass angler with more rod choices than your local tackle shop, these are a great option to save that important investment in tackle.

ROUND HANDLE DE-HOOKERS ese can help you save the life of the bass you catch or help you get that deep-hooked cat sh o without you getting nned. e dual-density round handle allows for a rm, non-slip tool. Sha s are made from heavy-duty stainless steel. “S” sharper head is designed to allow you to push or pull out hooks. Lanyard included.

waterproof. Every box features a secure four latch system, a watertight seal to keep water is is important for bass shermen as they o en lay their trays on the deck for easy access while trying to gure

Shoreline pa ern. With these wraps, you can secure up to ve rods for storage and transport. Whether you’re on

Saltwater Proven Shades

CALCUTTA BIMINI: THESE SHADES ARE designed with the sportsman in mind. Fade-resistant fi nishes are tough Fade-resistant fi nishes are tough enough to handle all kinds of weather and conditions. Calcutta has designed its rugged sunglasses to allow a wider its rugged sunglasses to allow a wider fi eld of vision while providing superior optics with a retail price of Polarized lenses that virtually eliminate blinding refl ected glare

One year limited warranty.

under $30.

Durable 1.0mm Triacetate (TAC) Polarized lenses that virtually eliminate blinding refl ected glare

One year limited warranty.

bass angler with more rod choices than your local tackle shop, these are a great option to save that important investment in tackle.

the bass you catch or help you get that deep-hooked cat sh o without you getting nned. e dual-density round handle allows for a rm, non-slip tool. Sha s are made from push or pull out hooks. Lanyard included.

ALUMINUM SPLIT RING PLIERS

If you’re looking for a tool that provides you with perforyou with performance, mance,

comfort, and durability under the toughest conditions, this is a great choice.

Designed and tested by experienced and demanding anglers, these tools feature aluminum construction with split ring plier tips and crimper. e carbide cu er is great for mono and braid so it will work with both your crankbait and worming setup. A spring-loaded handle makes it easy to open and close. FILLET KNIFE KIT e Calcu a Squall Torque Series sh llet knife kit includes three knives, a nineinch curved knife, a seven-inch llet knife, and a six-inch boning knife. Also included is a sharpener, plastic sheath, and zip-up carrying case. All knives feature a torque comfort grip providing a high level of traction, even when wet.

We have tested this setup and found it to be great for red sh and sheepshead we’ve cleaned. is translates to making easy work of crappie and sand bass.

comfort, and durability under the tough- FIVE-INCH BRAID SCISSORS est conditions, this is a great choice. What bass shermen doesn’t use braid?

Designed and tested by experienced and It has numerous applications that make it demanding anglers, these tools feature standard-edition gear. ese scissors will cut

llet knife kit includes three knives, a nineinch curved knife, a seven-inch llet knife, and a six-inch boning knife. Also included is a sharpener, plastic sheath, and zip-up carrying case. All knives feature a torque comfort grip providing a high level of traction, even when wet.

We have tested this setup and found it to be great for red sh and sheepshead we’ve cleaned. is translates to making

It has numerous applications that make it standard-edition gear. ese scissors will cut

the smallest to the largest diameter braid. And the oversized handles make handling easy. FIGHTING BELT

You might not think of a ghting belt for freshwater. However, with the growing popularity of catch-and-release alligator gar sh and the pursuit of trophy-sized cat sh in Texas, you just might need one. is sh ght belt is available with a 12 ½-inch or 15-inch plate constructed from a specially formulated impact-resistant polymer shell. Foam padded backing keeps the belt from slipping. ere’s also an adjustable heavy-duty mesh belt with a quick-release buckle for a secure t and easy removal. RENEGADE FISH COOLER

Perfect for the crappie and bream shermen, Renegade Fish Cooler bags feature a high-quality waterproof zipper and a wide opening for easy access when loading or unloading ice and sh. ey’re also loaded with open-cell foam insulation for superior insulating properties to keep your catch cool and fresh. Material skin is durable, tough, and lightweight. Strong carry handles and a padded shoulder strap make for easy transport.

Tackle purchases are an investment in the limited recreation time we have. So, why not consider some saltwater-proven gear that can easily get the job done on lakes, rivers, and streams across Texas? diameter braid. And the over- Check out these products and much, sized handles make handling much more at www.calcu aoutdoors.com. easy.

popularity of catch-and-release alligator gar sh and the pursuit of trophy-sized cat sh in Texas, you just might need one. is sh ght belt is available with a 12 ½-inch or 15-inch plate constructed from a specially formulated secure t and easy removal. much more at www.calcu aoutdoors.com.

men, Renegade Fish Cooler bags feature a proof zipper and a wide opening for easy access when loading or unloading ice and sh. ey’re also loaded with open-cell foam insulation for superior insulating properties to keep your catch cool and fresh. Material skin is durable, tough, and lightweight. Strong carry handles and a padded shoulder strap make for easy transport.