By Skip Hollis

The most frequently asked question these days, in my line of work, is "how do I know that my tournament-loaded bass rig is set up right?" The 1990's brought about a new generation of bass boats and bass boat power capabilities. Tournament fishermen are obsessed with power as far as getting to the fish first and first back to the weigh-in. Along with improvements in motors, bass boats have also improved dramatically in hull design, hull materials, paint jobs, as well as basic ergonomics. This article will basically explain what is involved with having the highest performance outboard motor as well as knowing exactly how your boat should perform when and where.

• There are six basic guidelines to determine whether your bass boat is performing at its fullest potential.
• The rpm's should be able to max out at normal trim.
• The prop should lift the boat so that the spray is off the rear of the hull, not the sides.
Your boat should smooth out at low speed so there will not be any porpoising on cold or foggy mornings.
• A good smooth acceleration for a good hole shot in about four seconds.
• Now it is very common for bass boats to have a jack plate on the stearn. The correct jack plate height will make a big difference and the right width will help pull the nose of the longer boats up to help stabilize the hull at higher speeds.
• Ask your boat mechanic to determine which propeller is right for your motor.

Your marine dealer will charge one to three hours to completely set up your boat. Generally, a few hours is all that it takes for the technician to set up the boat for everything including, the size of load, hull type, rpm's, trim, water conditions, and style of propeller. With this combination, you should be able to have your rig performing perfectly for your conditions

.If you have any questions, give Skip a call at Airport Marine, 205-664-0407.