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Fishing News Latest Fishing News Gifts to float your boat
Fishing News Latest Fishing News Gifts to float your boat | Gifts to float your boat |
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| Written by Dan Armitage | |
| Sunday, 28 December 2008 | |
 ’Tis the season of giving, and because it’s always more fun for both parties when a little thought goes into the annual exchange of gifts, here are some new or otherwise notable accessories to consider presenting to boaters in your circle of family and friends this holiday season. Answering the call aboard After hearing about a fellow tournament fisherman who was charged with indecent exposure after discreetly relieving himself over the side of his boat, Mesquite bass angler Matt Smith got to work on a discreet alternative. The Bassroom is a portable toilet and enclosure designed specifically for use on bass boats, but adaptable to other watercraft, offering a place to go in private without ever leaving the deck. The spring-loaded Bassroom canopy pops open with a flick of the wrist to cover the cockpit of any bass-style boat with a tent-like enclosure measuring six feet square and offering 48 inches of headroom. The combo toilet seat and stool was built following Smith’s specs to support the huskiest fisherman. The entire ensemble, complete with a dozen zip-close toilet bags, folds to fit flat in a convenient carry bag. ($120 from coveryourbass.com). Docking challenged If someone on your gift-giving list may be “docking impaired,” consider the Landing Loop. The handy, telescoping device extends a helping hand with docking lines to snare mooring cleats, eliminating the need to reach — let alone leap — from deck to dock. The Landing Loop is a boon for single-handed boaters, and may prove to be more help at the line-handling task than the average bubba you’re paired with at your local bass tournament. ($80 from Landingloop.com). Eye see clearly Speaking of impairments, if a boater on your list needs glasses for close work like tying knots and reading charts and sonar screens, a pair of Ono’s fishing sunglasses makes the perfect gift. Ono’s offers small corrective inserts, from 1.50-2.50 power, placed in the bottom of the premium polarized lenses. Several semi-wrap-around fishing styles with high quality CR 39 polarized lenses that allow you to glance down to see well enough to tie knots, read charts and see detailed electronic displays are available. ($150 and up from onostradingcompany.com). Juice alert Many small boats don’t have battery level gauges, and you can find yourself dead on the water if the cell that powers your trolling motor or cranks your outboard lacks the juice to do the job. The Battery Bug is a portable monitor about the size of a stopwatch that attaches directly to your battery to display power data and alert you with an audible tone when the battery needs charging or replacement. There are models for starting and deep-cycle batteries, and the Battery Bug can be used to monitor the condition of batteries stored off the boat during off-season to let you know when a recharge is required. ($40-$300 from argusanalyzers.com). Remote angling Fishing friends whose boats are in storage for the season or in for repairs will especially appreciate the Aviva Fishin’ Buddy, a remote-controlled, electric-powered model boat designed to allow shore-bound anglers to fish beyond casting distance from dock or bank. The Fishin’ Buddy comes complete with line and terminal tackle to allow you to troll or still fish with live bait or lures, and is a great way to fish waters where full-scale boats are not allowed. ($50 from goaviva.com). |
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