Vector Downriggers sit idle

A properly rigged Slide Diver

Captains Corner

One of the biggest advantages of purchasing and refurbishing an older boat is the tremendous differential in cost. There are excellent values to be attained in the used-boat market, particularly with older vessels that have lost their glitz and glitter. For the project minded a vintage boat sporting classic lines can look as good as new. There are a few fundamental points to recognize prior to attempting a restoration project.

The boat you are considering to purchase must be structurally sound. This is one of the most important points that few individuals recognize. It doesn’t matter how good the boat looks if it wasn’t manufactured to be structurally solid. My current project vessel is an ’89 Tiara Open that when purchased, looked like it had little or no TLC. However, aside from other various problems, the hull was rock-solid.

Next, if you cannot see the big picture, do not challenge a restoration. My family and friends laughed at my notion of purchasing my current venture. Yes, it had many problems including engine oil leaks, sub-floor rot, faded dash paneling and deprived upholstery. The best investment I made was hiring a knowledgeable marine surveyor.

Finding a restoration project that is affordable does not exist. Contrary to popular belief, yachting is an expensive sport and don’t let the term ‘recreational boating’ fool you. I stated earlier that there is a differential in the cost of purchasing a used boat; however, expect to spend money on refurbishing. In my own experiences, I can fix and upgrade just about everything except that important building material called fiberglass. I hire a professional fiberglass guru to re-glass the areas I deem important. At sixty dollars per hour that can really add up.

Finally, formulate a plan which outlines how much money and time each project will take. The progression of projects should be laid out in order of importance. Making sure thru-hull fittings and bilge pumps are seaworthy is most important.

After three years in progress, when my vessel comes to the dock people are in awe that the boat is 15 years old.

Deep Water Trolling Tactic

Custom Slide Diver Colors

Ever wish you could have any color Slide Diver imaginable? A little modification to a clear Slide Diver can yield amazing results. Simply remove the screw holding the diver together and insert a custom colored insert. Reassemble the diver and presto, a new custom colored Slide Diver. These inserts are available at the Wharf in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (http://www.thewharf.biz/). Changing colors now takes less than a minute, no more re-rigging an entire Slide Diver setup to the hot color of the day. We like the chartreuse and glow-cracked ice inserts.

Stay on the troll for continued success.

Boats targeting king salmon using standard trolling methods usually like to target a specific area. Typically when a school of kings is located we tend to troll that specific area in short, back-and-forth sweeps or attack it from various angles. However, when conditions are not ideal, i.e. wind, waves and current, the straight line troll can be more effective. When you targeted a school of kings using the back-and-forth sweep method, how many instances did the bites only happen going one direction? Typically the one direction bite occurs when conditions are not ideal.

This is the time when the straight line troll shines. The diagram above conceptually displays the straight line troll concept. The concept revolves around the theory that there are additional schools of kings that exist along a macro trolling path. Instead of turning around and targeting the school of kings that you recently had success with, continue a straight line troll to another school of kings. Be very cognize of the direction and speed that was previously producing bites. In our experience, Team Untouchable has caught many limits by executing just one long straight line troll.