Jim Maier

Question: Do I need trim tabs for my boat? Neil P

Answer:  Trim tabs are a welcome addition to nearly any boat.  They serve some basics needs that apply to any planing hull boat. First, they can help you level  boat with uneven weight distribution.  So if you are in a small boat, and only one person onboard, it may list or lean to the side the person is on. With trim tabs you can adjust the tabs to make the boat run level.  Another good use is for boats to get on plane easier. When the trim tabs are down it will help hold the bow of the boat down to get on plane easier and ride on plane at slower speeds. Trim tabs can also help a boat run at a more efficient attitude saving fuel.  A final benefot is that you can adjust the bow so it cuts through the waves in a head sea, or stays above the troug

Question:  What is the best trolling motor? - Mike M.  

Answer:  There are two types of trolling motors for boats.  Stern mount, and bow mount. Stern mount motors are generally just used for propelling the boat through th ewater slowly and quietly.  Bow mount are used for positioning the boat, holding station, or moving around in any direction. Bow mount are the most common.  They are offered in a variety of configurations to suit any boat.  The questions you need to ask yourself are:

• How much voltage do I need for my trolling motor? - The higher the voltage the more power or thrust they can create.  But you need a suitable battery bank with an onboard charger to create the right amount of volts.  Options include 1

Question: What is the best marine stereo? - Lynn S

Answer: Marine stereos come in 2 basic levels of quality.  There are automotive stereos with coated circuit boards to help them live longer in th emarine environment.  Then there are dedicated marine stereos with waterproof housings. We only recommend going with dedicated marine stereos.  Fusion is th ebest brand for a number of reasons. First is because of how resistent to water and moisture they are.  They'll simply last longer in the marine environment. Next is how they integrate well with other boat systems because they have wireless functionality and NMEA2000.  This means you can incorporate them into a larger network on your boat.  For example, you can mount the stereo in the cabin, but use your Garmin chartpplotter at the helm as a remot

Question: What are the top 5 chartplotters - Paul T

Answer: Here are our Top 5 Chartplotters based on popularity.  The Garmin 942XS is the best value.  Easy to use charting on a beautiful 9" colors touchscreen.  The 2nd best is the Simrad NSS12 Evo3S. Their newest, it has eaasy tpo use touchscreen navigation and a very capable sonar with side imaging. 3rd is the Furuno GP1871F with it's robust construction and bulletproof software. 4th is the Raymarine Axiom which has endless capabilities on an elegant 9" touchscreen.  5th is the Lowrance Elite 7 Ti2 offering charting detail and performance that is well beyond the budget price. - Jim Maier

Question: What is the best chartplotter - John A.

Answer: The best marine chartplotter is the one that most closely fills your needs.  You will need to determine how much you want to spend.  What size screen you can fit.  If you want touchscreen or buttons.  If you need wireless connectivity. If you ever want to add radar. If you want a sonar built in. If you need freshwater maps, coastal maps or both. If you want NMEA 2000 integration.  Once you answer all of those questions you will really narrow down your choices. What most people find is that Garmin has the easiest to use chartplotters if your needs are simply limited to having a chartplotter.  They offer auto-guidance and have color screens. Their touchscreens make things even easier with naming waypoints and creating routes.  Chartplotters range