| My Bass boat may up there in years, but like her | | | | have any choice, as I did, in leaving it vulnerable to |
| owner, she is not old! We don't feel old! We are | | | | the outside. But with a good cover you can keep |
| always ready to get out on the water again and | | | | the damage at a bare minimum. When I |
| again! Maybe that's why I purchased the old | | | | purchased my Bass boat it was definitely |
| Adventure. Looking at her long sleek hull, | | | | weathered. I know darn well that it sat in the sun |
| something caught my eye. It was the registry | | | | and rain. One way to tell is when the clear coat |
| numbers! Something was familiar in the numbers. | | | | starts to flake. All metallic paints have clear coat |
| Her birth registry numbers were the same as my | | | | to make it shine. When hairline cracks occur in the |
| own! | | | | clear coat water gets in underneath giving it a |
| You might say that there was something special | | | | hazy, cloudy look, then eventually flaking off. We |
| in the air that day. Even though I was more than | | | | can't clear coat the whole boat again, unless you |
| twice her age this Bass rig was love at first site. | | | | are Howard Hughes, but what we can do is stop |
| She is 19 years old, but she still has heart . Come | | | | the process. The best way to do that is by |
| tournament time she still moves quickly when | | | | purchasing a spray can of clear coat at your local |
| needed! The Johnson engine is old too but I see it | | | | paint shop and spraying the edges of the |
| as 8 years young and still performing like a | | | | damaged area. Just scrape off the 'cloudy' areas |
| youngster! Plain Jane two-stroke technology is still | | | | and after cleaning it thoroughly, like a wound, |
| going strong. Just add oil, and gas of course, and | | | | spray on the clear coat. What this will do is stop |
| go! The big 'John' definitely has enough horse to | | | | the water form getting in and keep the clear coat |
| push my rig! | | | | from flaking any further. |
| When purchasing an old Bass boat don't let the | | | | There are a lot of awesome Bass boats out |
| years in service bring you down. Every Bass rig | | | | there with engines getting bigger and bigger! But |
| has potential of lasting many years when properly | | | | when you think about it; in order to make a |
| maintained. They are built to last! | | | | stronger product, weight is always a factor. So in |
| If you are unsure of the boat's structural | | | | order to push that big beautiful heavy machine |
| integrity, do as I did. Hire a 'glass pro' to check it | | | | you need power, hence the 300 horses to keep |
| out for you. Yes, that's right, a 'glass pro'. I paid a | | | | up with the lighter, more stealth rigs. |
| few dollars for a local known fiberglass expert to | | | | I am not a boat 'racist' by any means. There are |
| pay me a visit. He did all the testing throughout | | | | incredible rigs out there that are superb Bass |
| the boat. During the process I was a little nervous | | | | fishing machines. Ranger, Bass Cat, Triton, |
| because you never know, but I felt confident t he | | | | Skeeter, Champion, and Pro Craft, to name a |
| would be pleased with my purchase. He told me | | | | few, are great examples of solid Bass boats. |
| that it was hand woven! Now, I must say, I | | | | Unfortunately, they get old too! So why forget |
| looked at him in a daze and asked, "What the | | | | about them. Why not keep their luster and |
| heck does 'hand woven' mean"? "Basically", he | | | | beauty for years to come by taking care of |
| said, "It's built with light weight in mind combined | | | | them. Keep them looking their best! An old Bass |
| with structural integrity!" Well, he was right there | | | | rig, what ever the make, is a proven rig in |
| because I know the boat is definitely built for | | | | keeping up with the vigorous Bass fishing |
| speed! And structurally she has his confidence and | | | | adventures on the water. You never know, that |
| in turn mine. The old 'sea bird' has proven it over | | | | old rig can teach us a few things about Bass |
| and over again! | | | | fishing. If only some of them could talk! |
| An old Bass boats worst enemy is the weather. | | | | Bottom line; be proud of your old rig! Look at it |
| The best way to stop the sun and rain from | | | | this way. When pulling your old and 'mature' Bass |
| aging our prize is with wax, of course and having | | | | boat into a boat launch parking lot picture your rig |
| a cover for our rigs is good practice too. Keeping | | | | as the well kept sparkling old Cadillac pulling into a |
| it in a garage or covered area away from Mother | | | | BMW parking lot. You can't help but get stares! |
| Nature will ultimately prolong its life. Some don't | | | | |