March Specials on Boating Gear at SavvyBoater.com

Boat Ladder Sale

If you've been thinking of replacing the ladder on your boat, now is the time with an additional 10% off our already low prices.  Use coupon code MARCHLADDERSAVINGS and take 10% off of any of the boat ladders in our broad ladder selection.  Whether you are looking for a value priced Boater Sports ladder, a reliable standby like the Detmar or Garelick designs, or one of the innovative stainless steel  ladders by DiveNDog, we've got what you need.

Polyform Buoy and Fender Event

We offer the full range of Polyform buoys and fenders, from the popular G fenders and HTM Series boat fenders to the commercial grade F Series fenders.  Find any of the round inflatable A Series buoys from the 11.5" A-1 buoy to the massive 42" A-7 Buoy, or the low drag LD Series buoys at unbeatable prices.
Use Coupon Code SAVEONPOLYFORM to save 5% off any Polyform Fenders or Buoys.

Trolling Plates at Unbeatable Prices in March

We've rolled back prices on the popular Happy Troller Trolling Plate and the EasyTroller Trolling metal trolling plates to $99.95.  Or get the automatic nylon Trol-A-Matic trolling plate for only $79.95.  Compare those prices anywhere and you'll know why we are the savvy angler's choice for trolling plates.

Engel Portable Fridge Freezers

We are currently offering FREE SHIPPING on most of Engel's legendary line of portable electric fridge freezers.  Make sure you check out the MR040 40 qt. Marine Cooler Freezer and the newly redesigned MD14F 14 Quart Electric Travel Cooler.  the new 14 quart cooler now features the latest generation compressor for improved efficiency and quieter operations.

Boat Covers and Bimini Tops by Carver

We are offering a FREE SHIPPING Special on Semi-custom and Custom Boat Covers by Carver.  Made in the USA of US manufactured materials, these covers are the tops in fit and quality.  Order in March for free shipping on any Bimini Top or Custom Boat Cover over $100.

Solas Boat Propellers

In the world of boat propellers, the Solas brand stands out for the depth of their offering and the quality of their props.  SavvyBoater offers over 300 Solas Props in stainless and aluminum, and through our connections with Solas, we can find  you any Solas prop that is currently in stock anywhere in the United States.  Shop our extensive selection of Solas Props and get FREE SHIPPING on any boat prop over $100.

You can View all of our boating gear sales by visiting our Current Specials page.

Spring Trolling Plate Sale

If you are looking to add or replace a trolling plate, now is a great time to be shopping. As we've mentioned before, SavvyBoater has a great selection of the top trolling plates on the market, adn the experience to assist you in getting the right plate.

In addition to great prices, like an EasyTroller by Ironwood Pacific for only $104.95 or a Happy Troller by Davis Marine for only $109.95, we are also offering Free Shipping on these trolling plates during the month of March!

Shop SavvyBoater.com for service, selection and very competitive prices.

Picking it up in the New Year

I hope you are all having a great start to 2008 this year. Its been awhile since our last post, mainly chocked up to the holidays and brisk business during the past couple months.

I attribute the brisk weather for part of that. Demand for dock de-icers is at a peak this time of year, and many customers have discovered that SavvyBoater.com has the broadest selection of dock de-icers you'll find, featuring the full catalog of PowerHouse Ice Eaters, including de-icers, parts ands accessories, the line of popular Kasco Marine De-icers as well as the new Oil-free Pyramid D-icer line. In addition, our prices for Dock De-icers are very competitive. Compare them to the competitions' "Sale" prices and see for yourself.

Despite the weather, we're getting a lot of visitors preparing for the upcoming boating season, however distant that may seem at the moment. One customer from the Great Lakes area picked up and EasyTroller Trolling Plate, and noted wistfully that now he had to wait for the ice to melt before he could use it. I feel his pain. Now that the year has turned, I'm getting restless to get outside. A look out the window looks inviting with blue skies and sun, but we are at uncommonly cold temperatures for our area and a stiff east wind means its still time for indoor activities.

I opened my email this morning and found a notice for the SuperYacht Cup Transatlantic Challenge slated for April of 2008. they are trying to add a little fun to the annual slog of crossing the Atlantic when the Caribbean yachting season ends and the Mediterranean Season begins. I'm glad someone is seeing to this, because it is certainly a misery no one should have to suffer. - ;?)

It is the stuff of day-dreams, running from Antigua to the Azores for a stop over, then on to the finish line at Vigo, Spain. Oh well, I don't suppose my 17' "SuperYacht" would be competitive anyway. They have a pdf SuperYacht Cup Newsletter that is image intensive and will warm you up on a cold, dreary, January morning.

Whether you are boating, or just dreaming about it, we look forward to seeing you drop by SavvyBoater.com to see what's new.

Note, the image of Antigua Harbor above is from TheSuperyachtCup.com.

The SavvyBoater.com Trolling Plate Category Has Expanded

If you fish for Walleye, Salmon, big Lake Trout or a variety of marine species, you are probably aware of the importance of slow trolling. Getting your boat down to that perfect speed can be a challenge, which means that anglers usually have to turn to some specialized gear to help them out.

Many anglers add a small electric or gas trolling motor to push them along with a little less force. However that brings with it the challenges of buying, maintaining and mounting two motors, plus they may need an separate steering system for their trolling motor.
The other alternative is to run their regular outboard or stern drive at an idle, but in many cases, even that isn't slow enough. That is where trolling plates and drift socks come in.

A drift sock is basically small sea anchors - sort of a windsock for the water. They work by creating drag opposite the boats direction of travel. When trolling, this can be enough to slow you down and it can aid in maintaining steering control at slow speeds. Drift socks are also used when anchoring in a current to help stabilize the boat from swinging in the current. This is a favored tactic for catfish anglers who are working the big rivers and need to stay steady while drifting bait through deep holes and flow convergences. The challenge with a drift sock is to make sure you keep it our of your prop. we offer two sizes of the popular Minnkota Nylon Drift Sock and the drift sock harness designed for each.

Trolling Plates are pretty simple in theory. When in use they present a plate (metal or plastic) that drops behind the prop, deflecting the engines thrust. When not in use, the trolling plate swings up out of the way so that it has little or no impact on normal engine performance. Where it gets trickier is designing the plates to raise and lower reliably under pressure, and to survive accidentally being hit with the engines full thrust. It is inevitable that an angler with a trolling plate will forget to lift the plate before hitting the throttle to set up for the next track or head home. In the original models, that would almost guarantee that the trolling plate would bend or break. You don't do that to too many of trolling plates before you wonder if there isn't a better way. The most recent generation of trolling plates have come up with some pretty innovative ways to address this issue.

In heavy duty metal trolling plates, the Ironwood Pacific Easy Troller Trolling Plate is one of our favorites. It provides good positive up and down locks and works smoothly even under some pressure. The Easy Troller also includes a patented hinge design that allows the plate to flex and disperse the energy if the engine is throttled up while the plate is locked in the down position. You won't go anywhere fast, but you won't ruin your Easy Troller either.

The Davis Marine Happy Troller Trolling Plate is another of the heavy duty metal trolling plates. The Happy Troller trollng plate has been used by thousands of anglers over the years and it is one of the best known names in trolling plates. Our only complaint about it is that Davis still relies on their tried and true "original" style. That means if I forget and hit the gas with the plate down, I'm liable to break or bend my Happy Troller and I won't be happy.

The T & L Trol-a-Matic Trolling Plate is a unique design that uses fiberglass filled nylon to make a light weight trolling plate. The Trol-a-Matic is spring loaded so that when engine speeds drop to a certain level, it will drop to the down position. It doesn't lock, but still disrupts the thrust enough to slow the boat to trolling speeds. If you apply power, the thrust overcomes the spring and automatically pushes the trolling plate to the "up" position. No bent plates and no worrying about raising and lowering it. The manufacturer notes that since it is always on, Trol-a-Matic can also aid in slow speed maneuvers like docking and it sits out of the way in the down position when the boat is moored.

If you are looking to get your boat's trolling speed down, stop by the SavvyBoater Trolling Plate and Brake Section and check out our great prices and the most popular brands of trolling plates and drift socks.