From The Helm: 1910 NauticBay

After many years of searching, I selected the 19-foot Nautic- Star bay boat to fit my unique needs when fishing fresh water and inshore saltwater environments. The main features that led me to select this model was the fact that the hull is light, weighing in at only 1,350 pounds, yet it still has a maximum horsepower rating of 150. There is also a large front deck, which provides a comfortable platform to fish from and also includes enough area to mount a trolling motor and a large-display fishfinder. Also, it only drafts about 11 inches of water. The hull design handles very nicely, with minimal slap in rough water.

I have a two-stroke 150 horsepower Mecury OptiMax outboard that I have matched with a 19-pitch Temptes Plus stainless steel propeller for maximum performance. Many people do not put time into prop selection, which is a mistake. Remember, only the propeller moves the boat, and there are different pitches that should be matched to fit your setup and fishing style. The motor sits on a 6-inch manual jack plate that allows it to be positioned higher than the back of the transom, which increases the boat’s top-end speed and ability to go in shallow water. There is also the added bonus that comes from setting the motor back from the transom by 6 inches, which places the propeller in less turbulent water.
 
Mounted to this jack plate is a 10-foot Power Pole Blade, which is a shallowwater anchor that, at the push of a button, hydraulically drives a pole into the bottom to hold the boat in place. This can be used in water less than 10 feet deep to hold the boat silently in place, even if there is current or wind. Another use for this is as a launching aid; since the system is wireless, I can push the boat off the trailer and, as I pull it in toward shore, activate the Power Pole to hold the boat in place. This is a great feature, especially early in the season when there are no docks in place at the launches.

A 27-gallon livewell and two cushion seats fold down to maximize the back deck space. Under these seats are storage areas that I use for lifejackets as well as the main cranking battery and the oil reserve for the motor.

The center console is a standard setup, with the storage area taken up by the three batteries for the trolling motor and four-bank charger. There is also a freshwater wash-down kit and a radio, which were added options. On the top of the center console, I have a mount for a compass that is good to have as a back-up, just in case. I also have the large 1197c SI Humminbird fishfinder/GPS combo with side-imaging mounted here. The transducer is located just below the jack plate so it is protected and centered in the boat. The front-cushioned seat has a 20-gallon livewell located underneath; its oval shape prevents fish from getting stuck in the corners.

The front deck has three storage areas and an anchor locker. Off to the side, I have an additional 1100 series 1198c SI Humminbird fishfinder/GPS unit with a side-imaging transducer mounted at the trolling motor. This allows me to see what is directly under the bow of the boat, which is important for drop-shot fishing.

I also have it linked with the unit at the console, so all of the waypoints are shared. At the bow is a 101-pound-thrust Minnkota Riptide trolling motor that really makes boat control easy. Also, being a 36v system, I can run it all day and not have any power loss at the end of the trip. At the end of the day, I plug in the charger and it handles sending power to the batteries that need it, so that I am ready to go the next day. The trolling motor comes with a wireless remote, which means I can be at the stern and still control the direction of the boat. There is also a feature called “spot lock” that, at the push of a button, uses the trolling motor to keep the boat within a 5-foot radius ofa unique GPS location. Typically I use this in water depths greater than 10 feet, and in shallower depths the Power Pole gets the job. There is also the optional foot pedal, which I use for freshwater bass fishing since it allows me to keep both hands on my fishing rod at all times and use my foot to steer the boat.

What makes this boat the ultimate setup for me is the fact that I can simply wash it down at the end of the day without having to worry about carpeting or other difficult-to-clean surfaces. I also enjoy the performance hull, which gives me the ability to quickly get to the next spot without sacrificing rough-water ride, as it cuts through waves very well. While no boat can be expected to do it all, the NauticStar bay boat does everything I want to do quite well. Whether I’m freshwater bass fishing, chasing stripers in the Connecticut River, or venturing out into Long Island Sound, this boat has me covered.