FLW Tour pro Vic Vatalaro has been selling and rigging bass boats for as long as he’s been a tournament angler. Those years of experience – on the water and in the shop – have taught him plenty, especially about the mistakes boaters need to avoid if they want maximum performance from their bass rigs.
Vatalaro said the temptation for many buyers is to take a shortcut or two as they ready their boat for competition. He rigs about 300 new and used bass boats a year and his counsel is to plan ahead and invest a few more dollars for benefits that are far more valuable out on the water than many anglers realize.
The Biggest Mistakes
He is particularly puzzled by boat buyers who miss the opportunity to maximize the benefits they can gain from GPS.
“A lot of people decide to put their GPS in the dash instead of on a RAM mount,” he said. “Then, when they get up on the front deck and are trying to pinpoint the rock pile or ledge, they’re lost. They don’t know whether to go left or right.”
He encourages customers to install GPS on the front of their boats. “If you can only afford one, however, definitely put it on a RAM mount where you can spin it whichever way you want.
“And as long as we’re talking electronics, I want to mention that a color fish-finder is a great choice. It’s really worth the little bit of extra money because it pays off in showing the difference between bottom composition, weeds, fish and bait. Once you get good with a color unit, you can learn exactly what a smallmouth looks like down there.”
Long With The Shaft
He also advocates beefing up on the trolling motor.
“If you are a serious tournament fisherman, a 36-volt trolling motor is a must,” he said. “I also think it’s a good idea to get a longer shaft. On big water, it’s a must.
He runs 50- and 52-inch shafts and said they come in handy on Erie, Champlain, Okeechobee and other big lakes when the waves are rolling.
“And a four-bank charger is huge, because a lot of guys tend to focus on their trolling motor batteries at the expense of their cranking battery, which drains quickly with all the electronics and livewells running.”
Save At The Pump
Vatalaro said anglers need to consider fuel economy in selecting their outboard motor. “A 225-hp Yamaha VMAX uses almost double the fuel compared to a 225 HPDI,” he said. “I run Lake Erie a lot, 40 miles one way in big waves with a big boat, and will burn approximately 48 to 50 gallons round trip with an VMAX compared to 23 to 25 gallons with a 225-hp Yamaha HPDI.
“I can practice for three days on big lakes – Okeechobee, Erie, Beaver, no matter where – without filling up. And I’m running a 206 Champion.”
He said another mistake anglers make is to not carry a spare propeller. “You never know when you’ll spin a hub or throw a blade,” he said. “If you’ve got a spare, it’s a quick fix. But if you don’t, you’re in trouble.”
He recommends that big-water boaters try five-blade props. “It’s a night-and-day difference in rough water. I’ve had guys try them and swear I changed their motor height, the difference was so significant.
“The five-blade keeps the keel down on the water. You get lift from three-blade props and you don’t want to create lift in waves. The five-blade will keep you on plane at slow speeds.”
Little Things, Big Difference
Anglers also can avoid a major disappointment by making certain their new boat can accommodate all of their rods.
“Some boats’ rod organizers can’t hold a spinning rod because the big eye, the last one next to the handle, won’t fit inside the tube,” he said. “Champion and Stratos fixed this when they went with oval-shaped tubes.”
He also noted the value of lift-assist as trolling motors get bigger. “The new Minn Kota’s lift assist removes 50 percent of the load when you pull up or set down the trolling motor,” he said.
Notable
> Vatalaro noted the little extras he focused on with his boat in 2005 paid off in his qualification for the FLW Tour Championship at Lake Hamilton in Arkansas.
> He operates Vic’s Sport Center in Kent, Ohio, a dealer for Skeeter, Champion, Stratos and Bullet glass boats, as well as Monark and Starcraft aluminum rigs.
> He has his competitive sights focused on the 2006 FLW Tour and will fish a few Stren Series events on waters close to home, including Lake Erie. He'll also compete in the X Series, which his dealership sponsors.
