Captain’s Corner: Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

Dave Zalewski 460-9893

Strong winds and high seas have kept us in port for some time so we turned our attention to boat and tackle maintenance keeping in mind that it is only six weeks until St Patrick’s Day ( March 17) which typically signifies the start of trolling season. We started with safety items, checking the required flare kit for expiration dates and condition. Next came life Type 1 life jackets which were checked for any signs of wear or corrosion on the buckles. For hire vessels are required to have a Type 1 PFD for every person onboard and it is strongly recommended that every vessel has type 1’s. This type of jacket, although bulky, will float a person, even unconscious , with their head out of water. Bilge and bait well pumps were checked for any signs of corrosion or discoloration at the wire connectors. If found, it is a relatively easy task to replace them with marine shrink fit butt connectors. We use a heat gun as opposed to a direct flame when using this type of connector as it is much safer when working in a bilge area.
Turning to tackle each reels drag was checked for smooth operation by tying the line to a fixed object and walking away. If any sticking or jerking is encountered, now is the time to have the reel serviced at a local tackle shop because now is a slow time and repairs can be quickly done. Reels have lubrication points specified in the manual that comes with them and they should be attended to. Rod guides should be checked for any burrs or cracking that will weaken line that passes over them. A visual inspection will reveal any major defects. Passing a piece of nylon stocking through them will insure that none are missed. The nylon should pass through evenly and will hang up on even the smallest burr