Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon...

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Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods on my left side bag as I cast right handed. Be sure to put the rods in with the reel up so that the Velcro strap can hold the rod securely in the bag. (I have a Sage One rod at the bottom of the Deschutes River as testament to not securing the rod properly). Additional Rods When I lake fish, I take an arsenal of six rods. The four additional rods are placed in my milk crate. Dave Scadden made the rod holder on the left from PVC pipe using a band saw or a table saw. Not having that equipment available, I made the other three out of polypropylene flanged tail pipe used in sinks. I was able to cut the slots using a hacksaw. Be sure to cut the slot wide enough. I painted the rod holders using Black Fusion for Plastic spray paint. I screwed them into the milk crate securing them with self-tightening nuts so I wouldn’t cut my fingers on the protruding bolts as I reach into the crate. I put a piece of foam behind the rod so it doesn’t bang around in the waves.

Transcript of Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon...

Page 1: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

TipsandTricksforOutfittingaPontoonBoatLeeAnnRoss,BendOR

Rods

Thesidebagseasilyholdtworods.IputtherodsonmyleftsidebagasIcastrighthanded.BesuretoputtherodsinwiththereelupsothattheVelcrostrapcanholdtherodsecurelyinthebag.(IhaveaSageOnerodatthebottomoftheDeschutesRiverastestamenttonotsecuringtherodproperly).

AdditionalRods

WhenIlakefish,Itakeanarsenalofsixrods.Thefouradditionalrodsareplacedinmymilkcrate.DaveScaddenmadetherodholderontheleftfromPVCpipeusingabandsaworatablesaw.Nothavingthatequipmentavailable,Imadetheotherthreeoutofpolypropyleneflangedtailpipeusedinsinks.Iwasabletocuttheslotsusingahacksaw.Besuretocuttheslotwideenough.IpaintedtherodholdersusingBlackFusionforPlasticspraypaint.Iscrewedthemintothemilkcratesecuringthemwithself-tighteningnutssoIwouldn’tcutmyfingersontheprotrudingboltsasIreachintothecrate.Iputapieceoffoambehindtherodsoitdoesn’tbangaroundinthewaves.

Page 2: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods
Page 3: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods
Page 4: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

EmergencyRodHolder

Whenyouneedtoputyourroddownyoucanwedgeitintotheseatstrap.Thisholdstherodsecurelywhileyoufiddlewithtackleoreatlunch.

Anchor

IuseaScottyanchormountsystem.Youcangettheadaptertostrapitaroundapontoonoryoucanmountitonthemotormount.Thereisarightandwrongwaytoattachthemount.Astheanchortrolleydropsintothemount,youneedtospinit180degreessothatitdropsdownandsecuresitselfsoitwon’tpullout.Figurethatoutbeforeyoumountthebracket.

Aftermanyfalsestarts,Iuse3/8inch,50footlengthofropethatIpurchasedatAceHardwareformyanchorrope.Itispolypropylene,itfloatsanditissupple.3/8inchisaboutthickestdiameterthatIcangetthroughtheScottyanchortrolley.Thelargerdiameteriseasieronone’shandswhenretrievingtherope.

Page 5: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

IhaveusedboththepyramidanchorandthespikyanchorandIvastlypreferthespikyanchor.Itholdswellandreleasesfromthebottomeasily.Ifindthatthepyramidanchorimpalesitselfintoalakebottomandcanbeextremelyhardtodislodge.Ihavealsohadtocutoffapyramidanchorthatgotwedgedintotherocksonariver.Ifindthata12poundspikyanchorsholdswellevenonextremelywindydaysonalake.

Ikeeptheropeinaboxthatisusedtoholdacarbattery.Thatwaytheropedoesn’tallfallinthewaterofftheflatdeckoftheFuzion.Idrilledholesinthebottomoftheboxtodrainthewater.

Page 6: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods
Page 7: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

IfIforgetmyanchor,IjustputarockinthestrapbelowandIhaveanemergencyanchorfortheday.Thegizmoisinmysidepocket.

Page 8: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Battery

Abatteryforatrollingmotorneedstobeadeepcyclebatteryasonepullspowerfromitcontinuallyasopposedtoastartingmotorforacar.Withinthedeepcyclecategory,therearebasicallytwochoices.Thelargesizemarinedeepcyclelookslikeacarbatteryandweighs50poundsormore.Thealternativeisthetypeofdeepcyclebatterythatwouldbeusedforanelectricwheelchair.Thesebatteriesareabouthalfthesizeandweighabout23pounds.IuseaMightyMax12volt35ahSLAbatterythatIgotonAmazon.IhavetwoofthemsothatonecanberechargingduringthedaywhenIamcamping.IputbothofthemontheboatifIwanttogoreallyfar.

Page 9: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

BatteryCase

Tocarrythebattery,IputitinalunchboxthatIfoundatWalmart.Ithasaplasticinserttheperfectlyfitsthebattery.ItisanOzarkTraillunchbox.Ifounditinthesportinggoodssection.

Page 10: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Motor

TherearetwotypesofMinnkotamotorsappropriateforpontoonboat,theEnduraC2andtheEnduraMax.TheEnduraC2hasfivepresetspeeds,theEnduraMaxallowsforvariablespeedcontrol.AccordingtotheMinnkotawebsite,“motorswithdigitalmaximizersprovideuptofivetimelongerruntimeonasinglechargebydrawingonlyasmuchpowerasneededsotheydon’twasteanyenergy.”ThesmallestEnduraMaxisa40poundthrustmodelwhilethesmallestEncduraC2is30.TheMaxstartat$220andtheC2startsat$110.

Icutofftheendconnectorsandputonalligatorclipsthatmakeitmucheasiertoattachthemotortothebattery.Ialsoputalligatorclipsonthefishfindercabletoattachthatcabletothebattery.

Page 11: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

MotorMount

WhenyouputthemotormountonthePredator,Escape,Renegade,Rampageorsimilarboats,youhavetoattachittoaDring.Bystrappingonadogleashclip,youdon’thavetostrapthemotormounttotheDringseachtime.Justclipitin.

Page 12: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

OutlawXPulleys

IhadareallyhardtimebringuptheanchoronmyOutlawX5soIincreasedthesizeofthepulleysandrantheanchorlineoutsideoftheframe.Iusedthreepulleys.

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Seat

Onwindydays,thewavescancrashintotheseatareaontheFuzion.Onhotsummerdays,thisisnotanissue.InNovember,itgetsreallycold.Ihavetakenaboatfloatcushionandputitinadrybagandslippeditundertheseattoraisetheseatafewinches.

Page 14: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

AttachingtheSideBags

IttakesawhiletoattachthesidebagsthroughthefourDrings.IjustaddedanothercliptotheextrastrappingfromtheseatandIjustattachthebagtothatclip,thusnotneedingtorunthestrapsthroughtheDringsatall.

Page 15: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

HitchPinsfortheFootBar

Ifindthatthehitchpinsattractmyflylineandthatthelinekeepsgettinghunguponthehitchpins.IreplacedthemwiththekeyringsandIgethungupfarlessoften.Ineedtofindastainlesssteelone.

Binoculars

Icarryasmallpairofbinocularstoseewhattheotherboatsaredoingonthelakes,tofindmybuddiesacrossthelakeandtocheckouttheinsects.

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FlyPatch

IgluedasmallflypatchontheboattoholdthefliesasIchangethemthroughouttheday.

Page 17: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Nets

AttachyourlandingnettooneoftheDringssoitwon’tfloataway.

Carryasmallaquariumnetsoyoucanscoopupthebugsonthewaterandseewhattheyare.

Page 18: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

BoatNumbers

InOregonyouhavetoregisteryourpontoonboatifyouuseamotornomatterwhatsizetheboatis.IputmynumbersonapieceofplasticthatIhadcutatalocalplasticcompany.TheyaresizedsothattheyfitinmysidepocketswhenIamnotusingthem.Inordertohangthemoffthesidebags,IusedanailtopunchacoupleofholesinthetopofthesidebagsataseamandIinsertedaziptietomakealooptohangthelicenseboardfrom.

Page 19: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

FishFinder

IuseaHumminbirdPiranhamax4withdownimaging.Thereareamillionfishfinderstochoosefrom.Insteadofplacingthemountthatcamewiththefishfinderontheboat,Ijustslipthefishfinderintothecupholderonthesidebag.Itworksanditisonelessitemmountedonthedeckoftheboatforthelinetocatchon.Iputalligatorclipsonthewirethatgoestothebatterytomakeiteasiertoattach.OnceIattachedthetransducertothebottomofthemotor,Itapedthewiresontheshaft.

Page 20: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Steering

Steeringtheboatwiththeelectricmotorrunningcanbefrustratingbutthereareafewtricks.Iputoneofthefins(skeg)onthebottomofmyboatfortracking.Ialsoleavetheoarsinthewaterasthatassistswithtracking.Onecansteertheboatbymovingone’sfinsleftorrightasyoumotoralong.

Page 21: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Paddles

Ihavereplacedmystockaluminumoarswithkayakoars.Iorderedtwokayakpaddles.OnceIputthemtogether,Icutoffoneofthepaddlestomakeanoaroutofthepaddle.Usingthestockoarasaguide,Ithendrilledaholefortheoarpinatthesamedistancefromtheendoftheoartotheholeonthestockoar.IhadafriendusehisdrillpresssothatIwouldgetaholethatisexactly180degreetotheoarblade.Makesuretheholeisintherightplace,ifitisoffbyevenalittlebititwillnotrowwell.

Ithinkthekayakoarsrowmoreefficiently.IcarrythestockoarsasspareswhenIfloattherivers.OnmyPredator,Ijustslidtheextraoarinunderthesidepocketstraps.

IhavealsoreinforcedtheoarpinholewithFiberFixasIbrokeoneoftheseoarsonarivertriponceanditwasn’tprettyasIdidn’thaveaspareoar.InowcarryFiberFixinmysidebag.Thewebsiteiswww.fiberfixnow.com.

Ifyoudobreakanoar,youcanunscrewtheotheroneanduseitasakayakpaddle.Thatwillatleastgetyoutothenextboatramp.

Page 22: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods
Page 23: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

OarsandOarGrips

IpurchasedCarlisleMagicMysticPolykayakpaddlesfromAmazonforabout$50buttherearelotsofotherchoices.I’dorderthelongestoneyoucangetasyoucanalwayscutthemdown.Youwillneedoargripsfortheendofthehandlesonceyoucutthekayakpaddle.IfoundsomeatWalmartandWholesaleMarine.

Page 24: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Pumps

Thereareatonofchoices.Mostpontoonboatscomewitheitheradoubleactionhandpumporfootpump.Iuseacoupleofotheroptions.IcarryaK-Pump200withmeontheboatwhenIfloattherivers.Worksgreat,smallandcompact,maderighthereinOregon.Theyhaveseveralmodelstochoosefrom.

PumpingaboatupfromscratchwithaK-pumpcantakesometimesoIamfondoftheBravoHigh-Pressure12voltpump.Youcanblowupapontoonboatinaflashwiththispumpandyoucangetitsupertight.ItisavailablefromNRS.Greatforpumpingupallyourbuddies’boatsattheboatramp.

Page 25: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

MaxPump

IfoundaninterestinglittlepumponIndiegogocalledtheMaxPump.Youcanfinditathttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/max-pump-best-outdoor-tool-enjoy-your-leisure-time-technology/x/14604329#/.ItissmallerthanthesizeofabeercanandisrechargedviaaUSB.Whileitisnotahighpressurepump,itwillpumptheboatuptoabout90%fullmeaningyouonlyhavetohandpumptherest.Youcanalsouseittodeflateitems.ItisavailableonAmazonasFlextailLightPumpforabout$30.Superforbackpacking.

Page 26: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

CarryingtheBoat

Theeasiestwaytocarrytheboatistoputitonyourshoulders.

Page 27: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods
Page 28: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Miscellaneous

Shoes

IcarryapairofwatershoesbigenoughtofitwhenwearingmywaderssothatifIhavetowalksomewhereIamnotruiningmywaderfeet.

Page 29: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

TowRope

Icarryatowropetotowmyfriendswhodon’thavemotorsortoretrievemyownboat.Ididnotanchormyboatproperlyatnightandafterahighwindstorm,Iwokeupthenextdaytofindmyboatfloatinghalfwayacrossthelake.Asuperniceguyinamotorboattookmeouttoretrieveitandtowitback.MyraftingfriendstellmeIreallyshouldbeusinghigherqualitycarabineers.

Page 30: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

Bungee

Iuseabungeetokeepmyseatfromflappinginthewindwhentheboatisonthetopofthecar.

Page 31: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

MiscellaneousBoatItems

Therearealotofmiscellaneousboatitemsthatonecangettomakeone’slifeeasierbuttheycanbehardtofind.IhavehadprettygoodluckfindingsuchitemsviatheChinesewebsitealiexpress.com.Youcanaddthediskintheupperlefttocreatealongerorshorterreachforyourfootbar.Hereisasamplingofitems:

Leaks

Thevalvetendstoloosenovertime.MostofthetimeIhavealeakitisatthevalve.Usethevalvewrenchshownabovetotightenit.Countthenumberofsectionsinyourvalvetoseeifyouneeda6or8sprocketwrench.

Page 32: Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat and... · Tips and Tricks for Outfitting a Pontoon Boat Lee Ann Ross, Bend OR Rods The side bags easily hold two rods. I put the rods

StoringaBoat

Welackstoragespacesowehangourboatsfromtheceiling.WeuseelectriccarwinchesthatwegotfromHarborFreight.Theyareoftenonsaleforabout$50.