Gizmos and Bling

While not fly-fishing specific, we decided to add this section to cover some boating gadgets that will help make you more productive BTB. Do you absolutely need them all? No, of course not. People fished offshore for centuries without motors, much less color sonar, but as we said at the start of this article, why make life harder than it needs to be (other than the fly-fishing part)? We've listed these items in the order that we would purchase them, but you should consult your personal crystal ball about your situation and choose accordingly.

Note that many of these things are electronic in nature. Keep in mind that as you add electronics to your boat, you may need to adjust your batteries and charging systems to keep pace. Modern electronics also talk to each other, and you may need to make settings adjustments to get them to communicate. Hire a qualified marine electronics technician or installer if you have doubts.

Color Digital Sonar

Furuno 620
(Click for larger image)

A good sonar unit is a very useful tool for fishing in the ocean. Whether it’s spotting structure, locating schools of bait, or determining the depth of the thermocline, a good sonar unit will help you find fish. And after years of using monochrome sonar units, we've decided that color displays are definitely a help.

The latest thing are fish finders that feature digital signal processing (DSP). Raymarine was the first company to release a product line using this technology, followed a couple of years later by Furuno. Expect to see DSP units from other manufacturers as well, such as Garmin and Lowrance.

Are they better than a traditional analog finder? Well... we think so now, but we didn’t when we first started using them. The key item to remember is that digital sonar images look different than analog images. The traditional fish “arches” that you see in the old advertising literature aren’t very common, but the noise rejection and gain control seems to be superior. We leave the sonar unit on automatic mode a lot more often now, although we still wind up manually setting a lower depth limit in really deep water.

If you'd some more insights on sonar units, see "Sonar Reflections", an article in our sister website, "Ocean Skiff Journal"

GPS Color Mapping Unit with VHF and Fuel Flow Monitor Interface

Standard Horizon CP180i
Courtesy Standard Horizon
(Click for larger image)

GPS is one of the things that has made fishing offshore practical for smaller boats. It permits accurate navigation out of sight of land, or in fog. Mapping GPS units have added another layer of convenience by combining digital charts with real-time navigation information. They have become the norm in ocean boats, whether they are a part of an all-in-one unit (GPS+Sonar in a single display) or a standalone unit. Like sonars, models with either monochrome and color displays are available.

What’s really trick now is that you can buy GPS mapping units that hook into your DSC radio. When your buddy calls you on the radio using DSC, or there is an emergency broadcast on the DSC channel, you can see exactly where the source of the call is located (if they have their radio hooked to their GPS). If you're buddy-boating with another vessel, this can let you share hot fishing locations without the rest of the fleet listening in.The Standard Horizon CP180 series is a great example of one such device

A Really Good Bait Tank

Offshore Products Oval
42 gallons, Leaning Post
(Click for larger image)

Not for hook baits, but for chum. Sometimes you need lively bait to help coax the fish into a biting mood, which means you need what a good bait tank provides. Offshore Products and Pacific Edge build the de facto industry standard fiberglass tanks, while Kodiak Marine seems to be the leader in the polyethylene tank market. Get one of adequate size, with a good pump, and rest easy.

For more information, see "Small Boat Livewells", an article on our sister site, "Ocean Skiff Journal".

Autopilot

Simrad AP12R Autopilot
(Click for larger image)

Long trips in boats can be tiring. This is especially true in smaller boats, which tend to wander around quite a bit. The solution? Try an autopilot, such as the Simrad AP12 and AP14 series, or the Raymarine S1000 Wireless Autopilots. You will not believe how much of an impact having someone(thing) else holding the boat on course will have on your fatigue level at the end of the day.

Autopilots also save fuel, as they can drive the boat in a much straighter line than most humans. Just be sure you have an engine kill switch lanyard attached when the autopilot is on. If you fall out, the boat is not coming back!

For more information, see "Look Mom! No Hands!", an article on our sister site, "Ocean Skiff Journal".

EPIRB or Spot

ACR Satellite 406
(Click for larger image)

Safety first! (or 5th, in this case). See our article on the Spot Satellite Messenger for more reasons why you might want one of these puppies. Basically, these devices will make sure someone comes to help you, even if you’re out of radio or cell phone range. A bit pricey, but worth it if you are fishing out of sight of land.

Stabilized Binoculars

Fraser-Volpe Stedi-Eye
Mariner Stabilized Binoculars
courtesy Fraser-Volpe
(Click for larger image)

Binoculars are a plus when you fish BTB. They can help you spot kelp paddies, working birds, and fish working near the surface. But the rock-and-roll of the ocean means that it is almost impossible to hand-hold conventional binoculars with a magnification over 7x.

Image- or gyro-stabilized binoculars are usable at much higher magnifications (12 - 16x), but cost considerably more. A pair of image-stabilized Fujinon Techno-Stabis cost around $1,200 on the open market, while Fujinon Stabiscope or Fraser-Volpe Stedi-Eye gyros can cost as much as a used boat: $5,000 or more. But serious marlin fishermen swear by them, and they often have to use them all day long. In contrast, a good pair of armored 7x50 marine binoculars, such as the Fujinon Nautilus can be had in the $300-500 range.

Just remember: any kind of binocular can help, especially if your vision is starting to weaken a bit.

Washdown Hose

HoseCoil
(Click for larger image)

Here's something which is really nice to have, but is clearly a luxury. Why use a bucket when you can wash everything down with your very own raw water washdown hose? We use a unit from Hosecoil, which came with its own spray nozzle and storage rack. We drive it with a Shurflo ProBlaster washdown pump, which can provide 45 psi of pressure.

Foot Cush

FootCush
(courtesy FootCush Products)

Small boats can be a rough ride, best endured while standing up, so you can absorb the shock with your knees. Even then, it can be tiring. The FootCush pad is made from non-absorbent Ensolite foam, and has deck snaps to hold it in place. It reduces fatigue, and makes for a less painful ride.

Radar

Furuno NavNet 1953C
courtesy Furuno
Click for larger image)

Radar allows you to "see" distant solid objects under low visibility conditions - night and fog, or when there is heavy haze. And, if you get an appropriate unit, it can even be used to spot birds and the occasional kelp paddy from distances beyond what you can see, even with binoculars. It’s a very useful tool for making the ocean seem a bit smaller.

Cost is an issue, however, as even the smallest units cost in the neighborhood of $1,500, and a mid-range or larger unit is required in order to spot birds. In addition, proper installation calls for the radome to be located well above the deck, so you need to make sure that you have the proper superstructure (bridge, T-top, or arch, for example) to hold it.