Gear

Boat tour: Hamilton’s aluminum rig

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Fishing for smallmouth in the swift, cool waters flowing through the Great Smoky Mountains foothills is a popular pursuit for East Tennessee anglers. Getting to the fish is part of the fun. Just ask Skylar Hamilton.
Fishing for smallmouth in the swift, cool waters flowing through the Great Smoky Mountains foothills is a popular pursuit for East Tennessee anglers. Getting to the fish is part of the fun. Just ask Skylar Hamilton.
Hamilton, of Dandridge, Tenn., goes there using this modified Grizzly 1860SC. You’ll find a similar rig parked down the road in the garage of Ott DeFoe. Both Tennesseans credited aluminum rigs for wins in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens series. When fishing skinny water on the tournament trail is a given, they bring the aluminum rigs.
Hamilton, of Dandridge, Tenn., goes there using this modified Grizzly 1860SC. You’ll find a similar rig parked down the road in the garage of Ott DeFoe. Both Tennesseans credited aluminum rigs for wins in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens series. When fishing skinny water on the tournament trail is a given, they bring the aluminum rigs.
In 2014, DeFoe won an Open near their homes on Douglas Lake. Hamilton did farther away, in eastern Oklahoma on the Arkansas River, winning the Central Open in June 2016. “You can’t beat ‘em for getting into places where fiberglass rigs can’t go,” Hamilton said.
In 2014, DeFoe won an Open near their homes on Douglas Lake. Hamilton did farther away, in eastern Oklahoma on the Arkansas River, winning the Central Open in June 2016. “You can’t beat ‘em for getting into places where fiberglass rigs can’t go,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton proved the point in a remote backwater not much wider than the length of his 18-foot rig. He ran over, across and around logs and limbs in water inches deep. The key is a modified tunnel hull.
Hamilton proved the point in a remote backwater not much wider than the length of his 18-foot rig. He ran over, across and around logs and limbs in water inches deep. The key is a modified tunnel hull.
Hamilton and DeFoe shared the same metal fabricator to trick their rigs. He is Mike Watson, who operates a welding business in Bluff City, Tenn. Fabricating and fine tuning tunnel hulls is a special skill.
Hamilton and DeFoe shared the same metal fabricator to trick their rigs. He is Mike Watson, who operates a welding business in Bluff City, Tenn. Fabricating and fine tuning tunnel hulls is a special skill.
Watson modified the tunnel to add more lift to the hulls of their boats. Hamilton’s rig runs on plane in water about 4 inches deep. Lift is created when water moves through the tunnel, instead of turned outward by the strakes of a traditional hull.
Watson modified the tunnel to add more lift to the hulls of their boats. Hamilton’s rig runs on plane in water about 4 inches deep. Lift is created when water moves through the tunnel, instead of turned outward by the strakes of a traditional hull.
Double jack plates? Yep, and they perform different functions. The Hydro-Jacker raises and lowers the tunnel to control lift. The Atlas does the same for the outboard. Both plates are made by T-H Marine.
Double jack plates? Yep, and they perform different functions. The Hydro-Jacker raises and lowers the tunnel to control lift. The Atlas does the same for the outboard. Both plates are made by T-H Marine.
The boat is rigged to run shallow with a performance edge. A 70-horsepower Yamaha weighing around 257 pounds powers the rig. That’s substantially lighter than a comparable 90 horsepower motor for which the boat is rated.
The boat is rigged to run shallow with a performance edge. A 70-horsepower Yamaha weighing around 257 pounds powers the rig. That’s substantially lighter than a comparable 90 horsepower motor for which the boat is rated.
“The motor is the heaviest accessory so losing 20 horsepower cuts out a lot of weight,” noted Hamilton. Indeed. The benefit is lighter weight and even shallower access.
“The motor is the heaviest accessory so losing 20 horsepower cuts out a lot of weight,” noted Hamilton. Indeed. The benefit is lighter weight and even shallower access.
Watson added a 14-inch plate above the deck line for even more outboard lift. The setup basically enables the prop to run flush with the tunnel, or bottom of the hull, just like a jet drive. Those are prohibited in B.A.S.S. competition. Hamilton gets the benefits of the jet drive while staying legal with a propped outboard.
Watson added a 14-inch plate above the deck line for even more outboard lift. The setup basically enables the prop to run flush with the tunnel, or bottom of the hull, just like a jet drive. Those are prohibited in B.A.S.S. competition. Hamilton gets the benefits of the jet drive while staying legal with a propped outboard.
Lightening the load didn’t stop with the engine. Hamilton lightened up even more with Power-Pole Micro Anchors weighing 7 1/2 pounds. Those are much lighter than the standard Power-Poles used in full-size fiberglass rigs. The anchors stow flush with the deck, a benefit around low-hanging branches.
Lightening the load didn’t stop with the engine. Hamilton lightened up even more with Power-Pole Micro Anchors weighing 7 1/2 pounds. Those are much lighter than the standard Power-Poles used in full-size fiberglass rigs. The anchors stow flush with the deck, a benefit around low-hanging branches.
Swift water calls for muscle power to keep a lightweight aluminum rig in position. A Minn Kota Fortrex with 112 pounds of thrust holds the boat in place. “It might seem like overkill for so much thrust on an aluminum boat,” he said. “But you need it when the current is going three, four miles or more per hour.”
Swift water calls for muscle power to keep a lightweight aluminum rig in position. A Minn Kota Fortrex with 112 pounds of thrust holds the boat in place. “It might seem like overkill for so much thrust on an aluminum boat,” he said. “But you need it when the current is going three, four miles or more per hour.”
Hamilton adapted full-size boat features to his aluminum rig. Those include this trolling motor pedal recess. “It’s a must for boat control and especially when I’m fishing fast current.” The safety and control benefits are keeping both feet flush on the deck, for better footing.
Hamilton adapted full-size boat features to his aluminum rig. Those include this trolling motor pedal recess. “It’s a must for boat control and especially when I’m fishing fast current.” The safety and control benefits are keeping both feet flush on the deck, for better footing.
On the console is another full-size feature. It’s this Raymarine eS98 with HybridTouch. Hamilton gets the benefit of all the features with a 9-inch screen.
On the console is another full-size feature. It’s this Raymarine eS98 with HybridTouch. Hamilton gets the benefit of all the features with a 9-inch screen.
A Hydrowave and Raymarine Dragonfly 7 PRO with GPS Chartplotter and CHIRP DownVision add bigger rig features to the bow.
A Hydrowave and Raymarine Dragonfly 7 PRO with GPS Chartplotter and CHIRP DownVision add bigger rig features to the bow.
“All I wanted for Christmas was a rod box,” he said. Hamilton’s parents Larry and Tammy obliged with the gift. The rod box holds about 20 combos, just like the big rigs.
“All I wanted for Christmas was a rod box,” he said. Hamilton’s parents Larry and Tammy obliged with the gift. The rod box holds about 20 combos, just like the big rigs.
The Grizzly 1860SC comes standard with a livewell. Sometimes one isn’t enough with a tournament partner. At the ready is this K2 Cooler with portable plumbing.
The Grizzly 1860SC comes standard with a livewell. Sometimes one isn’t enough with a tournament partner. At the ready is this K2 Cooler with portable plumbing.
Aeration for the portable cooler comes from this Power Bubbles 12-Volt Air Pump. The pump is mounted beneath the console for keeping it dry.
Aeration for the portable cooler comes from this Power Bubbles 12-Volt Air Pump. The pump is mounted beneath the console for keeping it dry.
A water pressure gauge is essential when running an outboard in extremely shallow water. Hamilton also added an hour gauge for maintenance monitoring.
A water pressure gauge is essential when running an outboard in extremely shallow water. Hamilton also added an hour gauge for maintenance monitoring.
Behind this add-on compartment lid is a battery that stays busy. The juice powers the outboard ignition, Power-Poles, jack plates and other accessories.
Behind this add-on compartment lid is a battery that stays busy. The juice powers the outboard ignition, Power-Poles, jack plates and other accessories.
The tradeoff for using a small aluminum rig is less storage space. The workaround is this plastic storage container used for storing lures.
The tradeoff for using a small aluminum rig is less storage space. The workaround is this plastic storage container used for storing lures.
Below the front deck are batteries providing juice to the powerful trolling motor and electronics mounted on the front deck.
Below the front deck are batteries providing juice to the powerful trolling motor and electronics mounted on the front deck.
The origin of the plush toy alligator is traced back to Lake Toho in Florida. “I basically got attacked by a gator nearly long as the boat,” he said. “I used a push pole to push it out of the way.” Given to Hamilton by a friend, the mascot rides along with him as a reminder of just how shallow his boat will run.
The origin of the plush toy alligator is traced back to Lake Toho in Florida. “I basically got attacked by a gator nearly long as the boat,” he said. “I used a push pole to push it out of the way.” Given to Hamilton by a friend, the mascot rides along with him as a reminder of just how shallow his boat will run.

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