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Publisher Brady L. Kay
Executive Editor Brady L. Kay
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By Brady L. Kay
In September 2000, the Odyssey 2101 Millennium obliterated the previous speed record for a pontoon boat by reaching 80.8 mph with a pair of 225hp Evinrude outboards with Ficht Ram Injection. The weight of the outboards had the 21-footer sitting in the water at a steep angle and I remember thinking it was quite odd to see a triple tube pontoon sit like that at rest.
Boat Outfitters, a division of Teak Isle, was recently awarded the Best of Category Award in the new tackle management system section at ICAST for its Pontoon Tackle Center. The new line of fishing tackle and rod storage options – that are available in both standard and custom designs – gives you the versatility to have the best of both worlds. Whether you’re a hardcore fisherman or just want some rods and tackle on the boat for the grandkids, Boat Outfitters offers a variety of storage solutions to fit every need. (www.boatoutfitters.com)
Whether OEM or DIYer, connecting and individually fusing underwater lights to a power source can be a time-consuming wiring nightmare. Shadow-Caster simplifies the installation process with the Digitally Controlled Lighting Switch SCM-PWR6 and 4-Position Power Control Module SCM-PD4CH.
Made in the USA, Shadow-Caster power modules are compatible with 12V or 24V systems. They accommodate up to 10 amps per channel with digital overcurrent fault protection and individual self-healing fuses. The SCM-PWR6 is a six-channel digital switch module that provides the ability to control any six vessel lights or fixtures. The Shadow-Caster Digitally Controlled Lighting Switch SCM-PWR6 has an MSRP of $389; the 4-Position Power Control Module SCM-PD4CH is $249. They come with a three-year warranty. (www.shadow-caster.com)
Mercury Racing flexes its outboard muscle with new V8
To kick off its 50th anniversary, Mercury Racing released its supercharged V8 500R outboard this summer. The 500R introduces a host of new components engineered to complement the raw power produced by this engine and the challenging demands of extreme-performance boating.
If you live up north, you know the cold weather can come without much warning. That’s why we’ve created a short list of products to help extend your boating season just a little bit longer.
Boating in September can be the most beautiful time of year to be out on the water. Not sure where to go? We’ve compiled a list of five beautiful lake options to visit before the season officially ends.
COMES TRUE
When they were younger, Jamie frequently invited Barrett to join his family on their boat. As Jamie recalls, Barrett would always say, “One of these days I’m going to get myself a boat.” Virginia is the ideal place for water sports of all kinds, to which both young men were frequent participants, such as tubing. Jamie ended up owning a boat for well over 20 years and to this day still spends a great deal of time on the rivers and lakes.
These days, hot fishing for big channel cats is in range of just about any interested angler. Their abundance and potential size are just two among many reasons for the popularity of the bottom feeders. Another reason for attempting a late-summer catfish adventure: there are as many ways to catch them as there are cupholders on your current deck or pontoon boat.
I don’t use our kayaks enough to justify needing a permanent roof rack on the top of my truck so this is why the Monkey Bars make so much sense. Available in both circle and oval-shape vacuum mounts to accommodate a variety of roof tops, the rack is easy to assemble and has an impressive hold. While going above the speed limit will violate the SeaSucker warranty, it is nice the manufacturer has speed tested the racks in controlled conditions at over 175 miles per hour!
In the end I went with a Connelly Big/Tall Men’s NEO life jacket with oversized armholes. The Men’s NEO is a value-priced vest ($79.99) ranging from 2XL to 5XL and includes a traditional front zip closure for easy entry/exit with two adjustable belts for fine tuning the fit.
There are a lot of reasons for my early takeout, but the biggest reason is time. The days get shorter and the weather gets cooler. Meaning most of the good boating days for us are on the weekend, but balancing all our different activities gets tough. Something has to give, and cold weather boating is one. I suppose if I was retired it would be better; then I could boat during the week. But who really knows?
