The Ins and Outs of Rigging a Boat

PartVu Xchange Talks Boating host Jason Bradstreet spoke with Sean Clayton, a rigging specialist in the boating industry. Sean is a seasoned angler with four years of experience on the Clemson Bass Fishing team. Sean is preparing to hit the professional tournament scene in the upcoming year while concurrently working at Palmetto Boat Center as a rigging Specialist. Palmetto Boat Center is recognized as one of the largest stand-alone dealers in the United States and is widely regarded as one of the country’s top repair and rigging companies.

On today’s episode, Sean discusses the ins and outs of rigging and outfitting a boat with goodies, gadgets, and necessities that can take your fishing and boating experience to the next level.

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Can you tell us about your fishing and boating experience?

Sean: I started fishing tournaments when I was fourteen years old for my high school team in Clover, South Carolina. After high school, I went on to fish for Clemson on their team, where I competed on a local, regional, and national level. During college, I was active on the Palmetto Boat Center Trail, so I had the opportunity to get to know the owner pretty well. During my sophomore year, I received a phone call from him with a job offer which has evolved into the full-time position I hold today.

Next year, I plan to continue at Palmetto while simultaneously fishing the Bassmaster Opens. I’ll be able to pursue a dream I’ve had since I was eleven years old. I’m very fortunate to have a position with the largest single-shop boat dealership in the country, which will work hand in hand with me to afford the opportunity to fish on a professional level.

What’s your role at Palmetto Boat Center?

Sean: Currently, I’m a tech assistant, so I do quite a bit of work rigging boats. Most new boats that come to us are usually seaworthy and ready to go but don’t have all the bells and whistles. They lack things like graphs and trolling motors and occasionally need outboards as well.

Our job is to outfit the boats with accessories, including things like necessary wiring, jack plates, shallow water anchors, and anything else important to the buyer. So we’re basically building a boat that comes straight from the factory with nothing on it.

What are the top priorities for someone looking to rig their boat?

Sean: First and foremost, graphing with the best mapping capabilities is of utmost importance. We see many people who come in and prioritize forward-facing sonar, side scan, or other map technology, only to miss the forest for the trees. Mapping should be the first consideration when rigging a boat. With the right graph and mapping tools, you’ll be safer running down the lake at any speed because you’ll be more aware of things like shoals, rock piles, and other hazards.

For example, I fish a lot on Lake Hartwell. I have a sixteen-inch graph at the console set up exclusively for mapping while I’m running. My graph is an indispensable tool for safe navigation on any lake, but the detail I get from my mapping functions on Hartwell is unbelievable. It’s accurate to the foot.

What are your thoughts on shallow water anchors?

Sean: My first boat was a Triton TR 186, and I fished for three years without any type of shallow water anchor system. I received a power pole for the boat as a graduation present during my senior year of high school. At that point, I didn’t really understand how effective they could be.

Once I had it installed, I realized it was useful for many more reasons than I first assumed. I used it for more than fishing purposes. For example, I find shallow water anchors very useful for docking purposes. I also discovered that power poles could serve an essential purpose when I’m close to rocks or other hazards. I like to deploy them slightly below my skeg as a buffer to protect my engine from the dangers of underwater rocks, stumps, and other things. It’s particularly effective when I’m in an area subject to a large amount of boat wake that can suddenly move me to places I’d rather not be.

Many people think that shallow water anchors are unnecessary in deepwater lakes. However, I’ve found them helpful in some of the deepest lakes in the country, like Lake Fontana, which is a couple of hours away from me.

How has the evolution of graph technology changed the fishing game?

Sean: Forward-facing sonar has revolutionized the game. On a personal level, it helps me catch fish, but I think there are added benefits that are sometimes missed when people discuss this amazing technology.

I appreciate the ability to analyze how fish set up and move under different conditions. For example, I may shine underneath docks in the morning to see if fish are holding under cover. If not, I’ll move on to other areas, like points, to check for fish activity there. If I find fish on points but notice less activity as the sun moves higher in the sky, I can return to dock cover, scan and check to see if fish have moved to the shade. The technology helps me to better understand fish behavior.

Knowing when to turn graphs off is one of the most important things to understand when using live sonar or any other imaging function. Sometimes, it’s important to be able to return to grassroots fishing. Targeting things like laydowns, grass, or additional cover you can see with your eyes can be very effective. However, if you live on your forward-facing sonar, you may miss what’s right in front of you without even knowing it.

The bottom line is that forward-facing sonar is here to stay. And I’m sure that companies will not only improve that technology but also release new graphs with the ability to do things we haven’t even thought about.

What are your thoughts on different charging systems for boats?

Sean: I currently use a Minn kota four-bank charger. It’s a simple system, but it meets my needs just fine.

Another great system is the Power Pole Charge, a relatively new way to charge batteries while on the go. Although there’s a little more to it, in a nutshell, a power pole charge allows you to share power between all of the batteries in your boat.

When you’re a pro or serious angler, running four or five graphs all day long in conjunction with livewells and other accessories, your batteries will take a beating. You simply can’t make it all day most of the time.

With the Charge system, when your cranking battery gets low, it will take power from your trolling motor batteries and push it to the cranking side. Once you fire up your big motor, the alternator pushes amperage to your cranking battery. If your trolling motor batteries get low, they’ll share power from the cranking battery. It alleviates the concern associated with running batteries down or losing power.

I’ve had the opportunity to fish out of several boats with the Power Pole Charge system, and it’s pretty amazing. It works very well to balance power throughout the day.

What are your views on lithium versus lead batteries?

Sean: I operate my boat with four lead batteries without a Charge system, so I risk running my batteries down. I’ve done that once or twice, but it’s been my fault. The type of boat affects which battery might be optimal. Boats react differently to battery weight. For example, my boat is a Phoenix 920 Elite, and it likes more weight toward the back to run faster and more efficiently. Since my boat likes tail end weight, I put lead batteries in so my boat runs faster. However, a boat like a Nitro or Skeeter does not run as well with more weight in the back. Those boats may perform better with lithium batteries.

Lithium and lead batteries also react differently when they’re going to die. Lead batteries give a warning when they are getting low because trolling motors start to slow down. With lithium batteries, when they die, there’s no warning. They just cut off and stop working. Pairing lithiums with a Power Pole Charge system is a powerful way to go and should prevent any dead battery surprises on the water.

How does a jack plate affect performance on a boat?

Sean: Jack plates are great for skinny water navigation but also help with hole shot no matter what depth you’re in. If used properly, jack plates can significantly help with performance.

I adjust my jack plate to reflect the conditions. For example, if I’m trying to get out of the hole faster, I run mine at twelve, whereas if I’m running in rough water, I’ll drop it down to six or eight. The boat handles differently depending on the setting. You’ll get better handling and stability with more of your motor in the water. I notice a huge difference in big water when I drop my settings from twelve to eight.

However, if I’m trying to get everything out of the boat in terms of speed, I’ll adjust to a fourteen or fifteen, but anything more than that seems detrimental to my cause. In fact, just after I bought my boat, I was learning how to best utilize the jack plate. When you have the setting too high, you can sling a blade on your prop, and that’s precisely what I did. So, you have to be careful.

Jack plates are also beneficial in shallow water. Florida is a great place to put a jack plate to use since most bodies of water are relatively shallow. Sometimes, getting on a plane can be very challenging if it’s not deep enough. Jack plates are extremely helpful in those situations.

What are your thoughts on SeaDek versus carpet?

Sean: Most boats come to us with factory-installed carpet, but we have outfitted some boats with SeaDek pre-delivery or after the fact as a modification. SeaDek has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s a little more challenging to clean and may wear a little more than carpet. However, it’s very easy to replace when needed. I also think it stays cooler in hot weather. One of the most significant benefits is that it dries quickly during the rainy season. It can sometimes take days to dry with carpet, whereas SeaDek can dry in a matter of hours. So overall, it comes down to preference.

What’s next for your career as a professional and in the industry?

Sean: I’ve been fishing for a relatively short time, and I enjoy the process of maturing as an angler. It’s an ongoing process of learning and gaining experience.

I’ve enjoyed some success, but I look forward to taking it to the next level. To this point, I’ve won about fourteen events and finished high in some of the anglers of the year races. In addition, my college partner and I finished twelfth in points during our first year on the Bassmaster College Series. I also recently qualified for the Bassmaster Team Championship last year. So, I’m excited about the prospect of continuing and will be competing in Bassmaster Opens next year.

For more information on boat rigging and accessories, reach out to Sean at palmettoboatcenter.com. You can also follow Sean on Instagram to check out his progress in the pro ranks or ask him any questions about rigging or fishing.