Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1153508
www.pdbmagazine.com Pontoon & Deck Boat September 2019 44 Departments | Tackle Box A s I get older I have learned to appreciate certain creature comforts at any cost. That includes those luxuries that allow me to enjoy my limited time on the water boating and fishing. I added several accessories to my boat that helped me get into fish this season – or at least be more comfortable attempting to. POWER OF SIGHT I also added a welcome accessory to my face, in the form of a pair of high quality sunglasses fitted with corrective lens inserts. As with most premium products, Costa Del Mar sunglasses don't come cheap, but the comfort and convenience of having a pair of sunglasses that combine polarized and reading lenses for tying knots, seeing gauge readouts and checking charts has been more than worth the out-of-pocket I paid. That said, my Costa C-Mates Readers are never on my head without a Cablz Zipz tethering them there. The Adjustable Zipz model allows you to change the length of the thin wire cables for optimal comfort and hold. BOW POWER One of my favorite boat upgrades was to a Minn Kota bow-mounted motor with i-Pilot Link wireless control. The Terrova actually salvaged much of my spring fishing season when my primary outboard was out of commission and the only propulsion I had was the bow-mounted electric trolling motor. It was during that time of need that I really mastered its use and that of the remote control. Linked to a Humminbird Helix fishfinder, I could automatically follow the particular depth break where I found the post-spawn 'slabs' suspended and side-scan the drop-off at the same time. With the wireless control on a lanyard around my neck for quick access, I would 'push' vertically presented baits off the bow (see my April 2013 column for details on that technique) until I hooked-up, saw significant crappie-holding structure or actual schools of fish below. By putting the Terrova into Spot-Lock mode, I could vertically jig the area without spooking the fish below by dropping an anchor while the GPS-linked motor automatically Powerful Angling Upgrades By Dan Armitage Hardly your granddad's hot rod's "suicide knob," the Power Knob from Edson Marine is designed specifically for use on powerboats and makes wheel control a breeze with practically any appendage. This portable Digital 400 charger from Optima has proven to be valuable for maintaining, trouble- shooting and charging batteries of all types. Humminbird's Helix fishfinder was a significant upgrade from the 700 series I have used on the Harris pontoon for the past several seasons, especially when linked to the Terrova.