Author: Lenny Rudow

Do you want even more horsepower? Okay – you’ve got it, with the new Mercury Racing 450R and BD’s Lenny Rudow offers up all of the juicy details.

The SmokerCraft Adventurer 188 DC proves that metallic fishing machines can make the grade in a number of different environments and Lenny Rudow gives us the tour.

Fishing from a PWC may not be the first thing you think of when good weather and a hot bite are on the horizon, but if you’re looking for a thrill it might just fit the bill.

The Valhalla V41 may be the ultimate weapon to carry into a bluewater battle and Lenny Rudow brings us the scoop in his latest boat review.

Most people don’t give much thought to plastic fishing boats, but they can actually be interesting little fishing machines and Lenny Rudow has the facts to prove it.

The NauticStar 2602 center console will draw plenty of eyeballs – and plenty of blood. (fish that is!) Lenny Rudow takes us on a tour in his latest boat review.

All livewells are not created equal, so Lenny Rudow offers 5 critical factors to consider on a boat you’re looking to buy.

The Viking Billfish evolves, with the new 38 and Lenny Rudow explores the latest evolution of a Viking classic in his latest BD boat review.

If you enjoy close-quarters combat when you attack the fish, the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 360 belongs in your arsenal and BD’s Lenny Rudow tells us all about it.

BD’s Lenny Rudow takes a close look at the Steiger Craft 28 DV Miami and how it fits into the plans of serious fishermen around the country.

Do you have your boat properly prepared for an off-season slumber? Lenny Rudow offers some quick tips to winterize your boat for a sudden freeze.

Boats are commonly depreciating assets, but there are many measures you can take to not only slow that depreciation but in some cases possibly even reverse it. You’re getting ready to list your boat in the BDOutdoors Fishing Boats Classifieds, but you’re depressed at how much it seems to have depreciated over the years? The last time I sold a boat, I got $200 more than what I had paid for it – six years after purchasing it new. Impossible, you say? Boats devalue quicker than trailer homes parked in Tornado Alley? Maybe that’s the norm, but it doesn’t always…

Are digital controls really better than the old cable systems, and if so, are they worth the extra expense? Look at a brand-new outboard in the V6 or V8 size range like the Mercury Verado 400, an Evinrude G2 or a Yamaha F425, and you’ll notice that they all come with digital controls. Most manufacturers have migrated digital shift and throttle all the way down into the 150-horse range and in some cases even to smaller powerplants. But boaters tend to dislike change, and many people still want their old cable systems. When re-powering a boat or buying a relatively…

Fish are quaking in their boots. If you watched Local Knowledge S04 E03, there’s a good chance you were left drooling over the SeaVee 340Z. When it comes to hard-core fishing machines it’s easy to make the argument that few boats are as well-armed and well-designed as a SeaVee. A recent afternoon of fishing aboard a new 320 reinforced that notion, and even though it’s a hair smaller, the 32-footer is just as impressive as its larger sibling – whether you’re standing on the deck of a 320 (traditional deep-V) or the 322Z (the stepped-hull version). The 320 and the…

Will non-gasoline powerplants change the way we power our fishing boats? Not anytime soon – but there are some interesting prospects on the horizon. With fuel forever a concern thanks to economic and environmental concerns, plus those lovely ethanol issues, considering one of the new diesel outboard engine options hitting the market may make sense. But while the enhanced efficiency of diesels certainly is attractive, one can hardly argue that they solve all of the issues related to burning dinosaurs as we fuel our fun. So, what about electric and/or hybrid boats? And, are there any other attractive options out…

This little cat has the ability to deliver. If you love the ride of power catamarans and you want a boat small enough for easy trailering and shoal-water capabilities, there aren’t a ton of options on the market for you to choose from. In fact, there are just a handful of builders making small cats these days. One you’ll almost certainly end up considering is the World Cat 230CC. The number-one stand-out feature of the 230CC is the very same trait all cat-lovers invariably point out: A smooth ride in the chop. Two knife-like entries have a lot less impact…

It’s time to get serious. The problem with most of the 30-something center console fishing boats out there is that they don’t seem nearly as big as they really ought to. You’ll find 32-footers with less deck space than many 20-something CCs, due to bloated console cabins and a ridiculous amount of seating. You’ll see 34-footers with livewells that have the capacity of a minnow bucket. And you’ll see 30-footers that have four – count ‘em, four – flush-mount rodholders in the gunwales. What gives? Many of these boats are trying to be all things to all people, which rarely works…

Whether you’re rolling it on yourself or paying some marina monkey to get the job done, choosing the right bottom paint is easier said than done. Many anglers have a love-hate relationship with their boat: they love taking it fishing, but they hate all the boat maintenance that goes along with it. And boat maintenance isn’t just time-consuming, sweat-inducing work – it can also be quite confusing figuring out what exactly needs to be done, and when. You’d think that painting the bottom, at least, would be simple. No such luck. It’s actually yet another task that requires know-how and…

The Finseeker 220 represents fresh thought in a fishboat. When a cruising boat manufacturer or a speedboat manufacturer decides to start building center console fishing boats, they often miss a few things. Or, they miss a lot of things. Like, um… livewells. So we approached the new Finseeker 220, created by Crownline, with a wary eye. But with curiosity, too, because Crownline has a well-earned reputation for building exceedingly nice runabouts and small cruisers. So if they lined up their ducks correctly, why not a fishing boat? It’s clear that Crownline did their research, starting out with the inclusion of…

The Mercury 150 FourStroke is one of the most popular powerplants in Mercury’s lineup, and it’s easy to see why. When the new V6 and V8 Mercury FourStroke outboard engines hit the market, they garnered the attention of the marine world. That’s a good thing, but it also overshadowed some of the other recent and arguably just as important developments in Mercury’s lineup. Yes, we’re talking about the 150 FourStroke. Although this powerplant has been around for some time, new models are substantially improved over the original and deserve a closer look. The 150 is based on an inline, four-cylinder,…

Boats, lower units, and electronics are all prime targets for thieves – but you can protect your pride and joy. Thanks to modern technology, these days there are a lot of ways to enjoy remote security and monitoring of your boat regardless of your location. But these systems can cost thousands of dollars, yet won’t necessarily stop some greaseball from un-bolting your lower unit or ripping the MFD out of your helm. And unfortunately, the theft of boats and boat parts is rampant. Almost 4,500 boats were stolen last year (according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau), and while statistics…

The Vanquish 23 BHS proves that one can practice piscatorial pursuits with panache. Sure, everyone likes to make their boat as up-scale as possible by adding stuff like SeaDek, getting a new set of clear canvass, or maybe even bolting a Seakeeper beneath the deck. But some boats are simply born dripping with class, no additions necessary. Case in point: the Vanquish 23 BHS. If the lines of this boat don’t bring out the gentleman in you, nothing will. And if you agree that the boat has rather Bristol-perfect eye-appeal note that it’s no accident. In fact, the boat was…

Earl Bentz is back in action with his newest creation, Camas Boats. At the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) industry breakfast during the International Boatbuilder’s Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) this fall, the NMMA announced that Earl Bentz was a Hall of Fame Award recipient. This came as a shock to no one. Bentz won nine national titles and two world championships during his racing career with Mercury Marine, managed Hydra-Sports Boats in the 1980s, then founded Stratos Boats and after that Triton Boats. A giant in the boatbuilding industry? Heck yes. But after 50-plus years in the world of fishing…

Suzuki has a number of new outboard engine offerings introduced this fall and boaters have good reasons to be excited. It was barely over a month ago that Suzuki introduced their new Watergrip propellers, and not long before that they announced the all-new Suzuki SMD Multi-Function displays. Clearly, Suzuki isn’t a company that plans to rest on their laurels. And now, they’ve announced three more new additions to the stable for 2020: The DF150RSS The DF200RSS And the DF300B DF150RSS and DF200RSS The DF150RSS and DF200 RSS (available in 20- and 25-inch shaft lengths) share Suzuki’s 175-cid in-line-four powerhead and…