Skeeter SL 190 Fishing Problems

[mightyjosephpaul]

Hi, I own a Skeeter SL190 and use it more for bass fishing than anything else. I find it to be a big problem with not having a very big front deck. Specifically there is no place to put my rods and reels. No matter what I do, they get in the way. Does anyone have the same problem with their boat? The biggest problem is the windshield. Is there any way to work around this problem. Has anyone come up with some workable solutions? Can the boat be modified? Can the deck be made bigger? Help!! I can't afford to buy a real bass boat!!
Joe

[NKySkeeterguy]

I too have the Skeeter SL190 with the carb Vmax 150. I have experienced the same problems as you. I have almost broken several rods. There is no good place to put them. The ski storage area is not a convenient place to store them either. I also have almost fallen off the small front casting deck several times, but I have 4 kids and it seems to me that it would be very unfair of me to own a boat that I could not take the whole family out in. I have not come up with any solution to the problem. I have resigned myself to just living with it. It still beats fishing from the bank (which I did for years). Someday when the kids are grown I will trade it for real bass boat. Until then, I will live with it and enjoy the time with the kids. a few years ago after a day on the boat my wife changed the 2 year old's diaper and found a piece of a chartruese rubber lizard in the bowl movement. We were very thankful that it did not have a hook in it. It is a better ski/pleasure boat than it is a bassboat, but it's not like I am pro or anything. the boat does what it was designed to do. I am happy with it, but I do look forward to the day that I can trade it for a pure bassboat. By the way, my wife looks forward to that day also. Her father was a very good tournament fishing and he taught her a lot. Yep, she's a keeper. I hope that you find a solution or otherwise to learn to live with the fishing shortcomings of the SL 190. The Vmax 150 pushes it down the water pretty quickly. I would'nt want to go much faster. Good luck to you.

[mightyjosephpaul]

Thanks for the feedback. You are probably right. I will just have to live with it. Not a bad problem to have, is it??

Sincerely,

Joe

[PSM207]

You can make a deck extension which fills the front deck area between the consoles. This is common for even bass boats. Another SL190 owner here on BBC has done this, and this is also in my plans, but other mods are being completed first. I've modified my floor door from a single removable door to dual hinged doors. My plan is to store long rods on one side of the floor storage hole. Typically when using long rods, I lay them on the floor between the front seats and the side pocket panels, as access is acceptable, and they are safely out of the way. The wife and I spend most of our time in the SL190 fishing.

[mightyjosephpaul]

Great suggestions! I will probably do both. I especially like the idea about modifying the floor door.

Joe

[Tomd27858]

I agree with PSM.... We use our boat 70% skiing and 30% fishing. When we go on a full fishing trip...I store the extra rods in the floor in between the consoles and the ones we will be primarily using with the reel end in the side panel pockets. The main floor compartment stays full of skis and a wake board. One thing that will help a lot....facilitate rod storage in the forward floor compartment...is using 6'-0 rods in lieu of 6'6 or 7'0. A 6' rod with a sock slips in easy in mine. I bought some 5-6 ugly sticks for the kids to use.....safer and easier to get out of the way of.....and they slip in with ease. Been out skiing and pull out the rods to fish many of times....hold on....I think it was got tired of fishing (read not catching) and played on the water.

The SL series is a compromise....but for a family boat for the kids that has good fishing and skiing qualities...is does it a good job.

The deck extension helps if you stand fishing. Can't replace adding square footage of deck that is for sure. I sit while I fish...no debate... I bought an offset seat post so it positions the chair further back. The 6 inches does help a lot. Makes it a lot easier to sit behind a 4 or 8 year old and coach them on the finer art of catching.

[PSM207]

The SL isn't a great fishing machine, nor is it a great skiing machine, but rather a compromise of both. However, it does perform both of these activities well, which makes it a great boat.


Modified by PSM207 at 10:34 AM 3/9/2008

[Olddawg]

Back in the late 80's I owned a ProCraft Fish-n-Ski. I had the same problems but forgot about them every time I made a WOT run in the late fall when the temps were low or fished Erie in the middle of the summer. I had my convertible top to give me some shade and when others were coming in sick I was just fine. It's a trade off, one thing for another.

[mark Z21]

I put a grey w/ velcro rodsaver (just one) at the back of the passenger side on the box lid edge, and point the rods to the bow, they sit right next to the troling motor when stowed and I positioned the cables to litely hold them in place while under way. They stay as much out of the way as you can get, and I haven't had any breaking problems, If I can figure out how to post a pic, I will

[mark Z21]

also note the deck extention

[mightyjosephpaul]

Looks great. I will give it a shot. I love the deck extension!!

[mark Z21]

my extension is made out of a 2x12 and i cut large notches so that I could access the side compartment latches, make them REAL BIG! I had to remake mine as I couldn't lift the latch all the way up....just a heads up

[mightyjosephpaul]

Thanks for the tip.

[skeeter1264]

SL210
Great job on the deck extension! What/were did you get the carpet to wrap the 2x12. I have a SL190 and will definitely look into doing this.
Is the velcro attached to the carpet or just wrapped around the rods?

[mark Z21]

bought the rod saver at our achademy, screwed threw the grey rubber, then through the black velcro strap to the deck lid. One tug of the strap and the rods are free. Note that I had to point the trolling motor head so the cables didn't crush the rods. The carpet came from a car stereo shop, it a little different, but its also cheap and disposable, could build about 6 extensions for $30

[SkeeterJeff]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mark sl210 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bought the rod saver at our achademy, screwed threw the grey rubber, then through the black velcro strap to the deck lid. One tug of the strap and the rods are free. Note that I had to point the trolling motor head so the cables didn't crush the rods. The carpet came from a car stereo shop, it a little different, but its also cheap and disposable, could build about 6 extensions for $30</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mark,

Any interest in making one of those deck extensions for me? I have a SL210, so the size might be different, I would have to check.

Thanks,
Jeff

[PSM207]

SkeeterJeff - Mark is also running an SL210.

My next modification is a deck extension that continues back to the end of the consoles. I plan on enclosing the end at the consoles with an access door, as this will be another storage area. I may also blow a hole in the front and install some additional rod tubes.

[mark Z21]

I've thought of doing that too, but making the top/floor open and cutting tubes into the front fiberglass, but I don't know where to get the tubes, any Ideas, PVC would look unperfessional. And it would cost more to sent you an insert that it build one, just need a jigsaw, 3m spray glue, and carpet

[PSM207]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mark sl210 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've thought of doing that too, but making the top/floor open and cutting tubes into the front fiberglass, but I don't know where to get the tubes, any Ideas, PVC would look unperfessional. And it would cost more to sent you an insert that it build one, just need a jigsaw, 3m spray glue, and carpet</TD></TR></TABLE>


I too, plan on the top opening, with it hinging at the front deck. Rod tubes are too bad to get.





Modified by PSM207 at 7:21 PM 3/9/2008