1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

[clipper43h]

Good evening everyone from a Newbie!

I just bought a 1985 16 ft. Lowe Bass Catcher and have a few questions. Any advice, comments or thoughts you would share are appreciated.

I think I got a pretty good price for this boat. It has a 40 hp Mariner motor and Mariner trolling motor, livewell under the seat, an Eagle depth finder on the dash and a humminbird fishfinder on the bow. Only paid $1050 for it, I think I got a pretty good deal.

I've researched several articles on this forum and gleaned a lot of information, but still have a few questions.

1) Did Lowe make two versions? I've heard reference to a Lowe Bass Catcher and a Bass Catcher Pro? If they did, does anyone know the differences?

2) My boat has a front fishing deck, but doesn't have a rear fishing deck. How hard is it to build one in?

3) Any favored modifications that you made that you really liked?

and

4) Is this a good boat?

Sorry for so many questions, but I'm a newbie. This is my first fishing boat and I guess the long winter has got me thinking too much about what to do with it instead of getting to put it on the water. Good thing about the middle of winter is that you can find a great price on a boat.....the bad thing is that you can't use it.

Darned cold winter....

Marlin

 

[HondaPower]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

I have an 85 Bass Catcher Pro, with the rear deck. Until I saw your post I did not know they made two different models. Have a 50 Mariner on mine and I love this boat. The rear deck is built much the same as the front deck with aluminum supporting structure and a plywood top.

 

[clipper43h]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

Thanks for the reply.

We've had such a cold winter I've only been able to get my boat on the water once. Motor wasn't running that good. It needed a new fuel pump and new plugs.

How fast is your boat with a 50 on it? I'm guessing mine might be around 30.

I can't find any info on my boat. All I can find are pro versions. Mine only has one live well under the driver. Passenger seat is a pedestal seat. No fishing deck in the rear, best I can tell never had one. That's the only differences from what I can tell.

Marlin.

 

[HondaPower]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

My live well extends under the driver and passenger seats. It will do 36 mph with the motor trimmed out. A re-propping may give a bit more but I am happy with it as is. I installed a CMC tilt and trim unit as my motor did not have tilt and trim. The boat was in very poor condition when I found it. It took me about 3 years of repairing and modifying to get it to the point where I was totally happy with it. I have never seen a non pro Bass Catcher, but Lowe's are few and far between where I live. They are great boats, I hope you enjoy yours, as much as I enjoy mine.

 

[clipper43h]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

I bought mine in December. It wasn't in bad shape, but it was full of leaves. I got the old "we intended to buy a cover for it but never did" speech. I got a really good price for it with a trailer.

I've done some re-wiring, but am having a hard time trying to pull a wire from the bow back to the console. Can't figure how to run it up under the floor. I want to put a power jack on the bow for a spotlight, headlights or whatever, but may have to splice it in to the trolling motor circuit.

I had to replace the prop, fuel pump and about 40 feet of wire so far. When I bought it, there were literally 5 terminals on the Positive side of the battery and 6 on the Negative.

Don't know why people do that.

I'd be happy to shoot you some pictures if you want to compare the differences between our boats.

Thanks again for the reply!

 

[HondaPower]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

I know what you mean about running wire from the bow area. I did a total rewire of mine after it nearly caught fire. When it came time to do the bow area I pulled the front deck and ran Conduit from under the console through the bulkhead. I ran all my wiring through the conduit and then under the deck. It worked out well as once the deck was out I realized that a new deck was needed. At the same time I modified the front deck with two hatches for my trolling motor batteries. This really shortened the battery cable lengths and added some needed weight forward. If you need any pictures or have any questions feel free to PM me.

 

[Rdh605]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

I have a 1984 Bass Catcher Pro. I love it, we got it in 1986 and its only had new carpet once and new seats once as far as repairs. I still fish 4 days a week all year long in it. My dad got it in 1986 and I got it when he was no longer able to maintain it. We have taken good care of it and it's returned the favor.

 

[Rdh605]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

sorry, double post

 

[wahoo411]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

I also have a 85 Bass Catcher, I have had it for a couple years now. Has a 40horse yamaha, I like this boat alot. Im in process of redoing the decks right now, just bought some 3/4 inch marine plywood. I was looking at Max Bond marine epoxy. Has anyone used this brand? I have taken the carpet out and will be spraying Ultra Tuff where the carpet was.
So do i have to use etching primer on the epoxyed wood before spraying? or just the aluminum?
Also, should I epoxy both sides of the wood?
Or do I have to even put epoxy on the wood since Im going to spray it?

Thanks for any info.

Josh

 

[clipper43h]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

Nice looking boat, RDH. I'm guessing from what I can see that you have a Bass Catcher Pro? Do you have two livewells as well as the rear deck?

Mine is the only Bass Catcher (Non Pro) that I've come across. I don't have a rear deck, and only one livewell under the drivers seat. The passenger seat sets on a pedestal.

I've got a 40 HP Mariner on mine. Runs good at higher RPM's, but I'm having trouble with rough idle. The other day, it loaded up on me at idle speeds, and got to where it wouldn't run at low RPM at all. Had gas in the exhaust it loaded up so bad. I played with the idle mixture needles and it seemed to help. I may end up rebuilding the carburetors as well.

One other question: How fast is your boat with the 40 HP Yamaha?

Thanks for the post!!

 

[Rdh605]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

Thanks clipper43h
I have a 50hp Johnson on mine, it runs 30 with 2 people and a load of gear according to my GPS. Yes I have the dual live wells and the rear deck. I had a buddy with the same model you have, we built a rear deck in his and it worked great.
Something to consider on your engine, I have seen a few people have that problem when running fuel with a lot of ethanol in it, running Sta-bill (the blue bottle) cured their issues....worth a try before you build your carbs.

 

[clipper43h]

Re: 1985 Lowe Bass Catcher - Ideas, Tips, Advice Wanted

Oh. 50 horse Johnson. Sorry about that, guess I got the Yamaha off of Wahoo's post.

Thanks for the advice on the Sta-bill. I've been running SeaFoam in it trying to clean them out. I'll try some sta-bil too. When I got gas last Sunday, I don't think I bought premium, but I might have. I know that all gas pretty much has alcohol in it now.

According to my GPS, I got 25 with me, my wife and two kids. I guess that's not bad. I think it'd get a little more in calmer waters.

Wahoo - I don't know what "Ultra Tuff" is. If it's a spray-in bedliner kind of material, no you don't need epoxy or primer. That stuff will stick to anything, and it's waterproof.