Fishing
New PLBs can be real lifesavers
Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) have long been required equipment on commercial vessels and a smart addition for all larger boats.[…]
Marine Electronics
Fishing
First electronics rule: Do no harm
Every now and then, I’ll hear someone at a tackle shop or out at a launch ramp give advice on caring for electronics that stands my hair on end.[…]
Fishing
Track plotters don’t get respect
Early GPS units were pretty clunky by today’s standards — and approximately 30 times more expensive. Today’s units are faster, more accurate, and most importantly, have a lot more memory.[…]
Fishing
Time to consider changing to LEDs
The lights on your trailer are your boat’s first line of defense against collisions. Running lights show other drivers that you have a boat behind you when towing in the dark.[…]
Fishing
Is that on-screen fish really a fish?
Fish I.D. features that display cartoon-like fish symbols have been around since fish finders became computerized and incorporated LCD screens, and the controversy about whether the feature helps or hurts your fishing has been around just as long.[…]
Fishing
Get value from your deep-cycle battery
I confess; I hate messing with batteries. Cleaning and watering them is messy work that can put holes in your clothes, but swapping them out is worse — it can actually hurt you.[…]
Fishing
Trouble-free batteries not always best
Full-maintenance marine batteries are usually less expensive and lighter than maintenance-free models with the same amount of cranking power and reserve capacity.[…]
Fishing
Magic ‘reset’ button a time-saver
A friend called the other day and asked if I would help him change the sonar transducer clamped to the bottom of his trolling motor. He thought he could handle the job but wasn’t sure, and since I live a short distance away, he asked for help.[…]
Fishing
Cell phone booster really works
Leaving stress and aggravation at home is standard practice for many of us when we head outdoors, and the last thing we want to hear is a ringing telephone.[…]
Fishing
Marine electronics starting to network
When navigating with a GPS chart plotter, it’s handy to have a water surface temperature reading on the screen so you can track changes in temperature as you move, and a depth reading to keep you from running aground.[…]
Fishing
GPS makes traveling so much easier
Why would the driver of a car spend hundreds of dollars for a GPS navigation device just to do something that nearly anybody can do with a $10 road atlas? After using a Lowrance iWAY 500c for a couple of years, I think I know.[…]
Fishing
Avoid spring cleaning for electronics
The whole idea of spring cleaning is impractical in a climate where we can boat all year so it behooves us to knock down those electrical gremlins each time they stick their heads up.[…]
Fishing
Be sure to use right battery for job
Marine batteries come in three types, and they are not interchangeable. Each is designed to do a particular job, and while some can be used in cross-over applications, doing so can result in a reduction of battery performance and life.[…]
Fishing
Many problems originate with fuses
A discussion on the Internet reminded me of a problem that has been around for about as long as marine electronics. A fisherman asked for help with his sonar unit’s erratic behavior, and a predictable series of responses appeared.[…]
Fishing
What do those arches really mean?
I’ve heard everyone from fishing guides to marine electronics salesmen talk about what sonar can and can’t see in the underwater world, and the ratio of good information to bad has been about 50-50.[…]
Fishing
Be smart when installing transducer
It is no coincidence that transducers designed to be mounted on a boat’s transom are the type most often packed in the box with new sonar units. They are the easiest type for the average person to install, and they work well on just about any transom design with a place to mount them.[…]