No question how much I have loved fishing from a Lund tiller the past eight years. Anyone reading the odd story or following along has probably seen “The Bomber” a time or two. There has been no doubt in mind how awesome an all around multi-species boat I feel it has been. That black 1625 Rebel XL has screamed east to west 1000 miles across the Province on many a long haul Ottawa to Thunder Bay tours, and trailered north to south Montreal or Windsor plenty a times too. Floating on big Lake Ontario, Nipigon, the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers or launching into backyard mud puddles, it has done it all and done it perfectly. Camping out for a week, hauling gear and riding with angling friends, my Rebel has been a boat that has taken myself and others to many happy places, created great memories and hoisted countless incredible fish over it’s gunnels. No shitting anyone, I will never forget my “Lund experience” in The Bomber.

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“What boat do you see yourself in next Bunk” a friend, and my boat and motor mechanic Bruce asked? “A Pro Guide! The 18 or maybe 17 footer,” I answered. Despite this conversation happening nearly a year and half ago now, it was around the beginning of my letting go. With absolutely nothing wrong with the Rebel, not a leaky rivet, not a blown fuse and one super trusty Yamaha outboard taken care of through some 1600+ hours, The Bomber was still so much all I needed it to be. One foot, two foot-itis wasn’t something that affected me much merely because the fishing and boating I was doing was well suited to the boat I always had.

The catch to this was just two things. The boat and motor were aging. A 2010 coming into 2018, eight seasons on the water Bruce reminded me that in the now, the boat was in great shape and had worth. I knew that trailer tires would need replacing and I’d be redoing the bunks soon enough but, other than that The Bomber was still very much alive and, Bruce was right. The other thing that had initially taken the mind wandering elsewhere was the Rebel’s capacity. Two of my more recent, offshore, week long camping trips I was shy of getting all necessary gear and fuel in the boat on one run out to distant island campsites. Both times thinking how another similar but bigger tiller would eliminate two trips plus add some extra big water security. Not a hugely necessary reason to go boat shopping though, for the Rebel had been good enough all years before.

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Much humming and hawing until the research began. Three companies in my opinion make suitable big tiller options in that 18 foot range, Lund, Alumacraft and Crestliner. From the onset the Cresty was eliminated leaving just Lund’s Pro Guide 1875 and Alumacraft’s Competitor 185. Online specs breaking things down these two rigs are very similar, both champions really! Where the Pro Guide is a little longer, the Competitor is wider and higher, and from there on out each boat is closely similar in weight, speed, capacity, build, fuel tank and nearly everything else. The Lund came first for me though, it is just what I know, love and trust. This is a company in the aluminum boat world that has stood out as the best for as long as aluminum boats have been around.

At home on paper I sized up my Rebel 1625 to the Pro Guide 1875 and looked more closely at exactly what going bigger was going to mean….

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More horsepower for slightly more speed, a thicker hull, two and half more feet in length and ten inches width, three hundred pounds more capacity, three inches height and five on the transom, a console and obviously more space and storage; especially so with the flooring raised 4 3/4 inches higher than the Rebel. I started calling the Pro Guide, the “Rebel on steroids.”

Unfortunately there aren’t that many around these parts to view. On the water averaging about three days a week May through November, in eight years I had only ever seen one Pro Guide up close and personal. More common in northwestern Ontario and through the prairies, big tiller boats just aren’t as popular in eastern and southern Ontario, and frankly I have few ideas why? For the hardcore control freak anglers out there, nothing can rival a tiller. There’s no more immediate a response and greater connection with a boat than having your arm connect hand in handle with its motor, and everything else all there in front of you. Not only that, tiller drivers get to freeze their faces off and eat more waves, and cold waves are good for the soul because they keep you in the game, alert, off your cell phone and catching way more awesome fish than the console nappers.

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But again, to make the intended point, I could not locally view a new Pro Guide ahead of time at any nearby marina. But the one which had been spotted launching into the Ottawa River last year, I remember it threw me into a tailspin, leaving me salivating for more.

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“I want to build this boat for you,” Bruce commented. “Your Rebel is my favorite boat on the water, I’m with you on the tiller all the way.” That is easier for him to say while I’m guiding him to gar like this for his first time, but yet I did believe him still.

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… That was last summer. Months and months went by until finally in late autumn I had more time to get serious about taking quotes. Three of five Lund dealers were initially emailed for pricing; and to further see where I was going with this boat, those chosen were all Yamaha outboard dealers as well. At the time still interested in the Alumacraft too, I emailed two dealerships for pricing on same features and packages for the Competitor. After a couple weeks I received either quotes or return emails from all three Lund dealers but heard nothing back for Alumacraft.

Only one Lund dealership had actually given a quote, and it was quite a good one I thought. It took some time for other numbers to actually come in, and finally one day just dying to know how and what Alumacraft could add to all this I took a drive to visit the closest dealership to home… By late February all the cards were on the table and it couldn’t have worked out any better. Blake at Carleton Place Marine came through in a huge way, actually crushing the quotes from the two other Lund and sole Alumacraft dealers as well. Happily, Bruce and I would get to rig up a new Pro Guide together and, better yet I would stick with the marina that sold me the Rebel and for the past eight years has provided me with incredibly friendly, reliable and understanding service.

The order was put in and the boat would arrive in 6 to 8 weeks. Talking with my friend Steve about it that weekend, within days he helped line up a buyer willing to pay the asking price for the Rebel. All that was left to do was wait…

Mid May the boat arrived at C.P. Marine and I was there quick to take a first peek. I fell instantly in love. She is magnificent to me, everything I could want, the “Rebel on roids.” Bruce and I would set up a time early the following week to get together and begin rigging many of the extras going into it.

Coffees in hand when that morning arrived, throughout the remainder of the day Bruce read my mind over every detail yet added so much more extra attention to ensuring things were done right and with a good looking finish. Around him I would fumble just using a screwdriver, feeling inadequate aside someone with quick expertise in the job. That year before when he said he wanted to build this boat for me, he wasn’t kidding. He worked at it like it was his own.

The following day I took the Rebel out for one last solo tour. A bit bittersweet saying goodbye to The Bomber, I kinda wanted to keep it, but the bankbook wouldn’t allow that. It was an exceptional day of gar fishing, taking me back a times to 2010 when one of the first days fishing in that boat was for the same fish. On this day after catching a number of good toothies, the final gar to end my Rebel years with was one seriously thick 53-incher.

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On Friday the 18th the Lund would come home. Some finishing touches in the morning, Bruce was satisfied and so too was Blake, while I myself had a perma-grin from ear to ear all day long.

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During a mixed bag of weekend weather I got to work on the last few things that the boat needed. My friend Shayne over the winter had passed along a solid 1-inch thick, white piece of hard plastic to use for transducer mounting. Cut to a size of 15 inches long by 4 inches wide, outside edges sanded smooth, I was able to make myself a better than average plate which would accept longer 3/4 inch stainless screws. This was important because the structure scan transducer for Lowrance is a big beast, so I wanted it super secure. As well, the bracket for that transducer is one ugly shit, basically just all aluminum it looks cheap and unfinished. To improve that some, I cut a fitted piece of thin, black plastic from a busted up kids sleigh then glued and screwed it atop of the bracket. It looked better. Finally the standard 83/200 transducer for regular sonar was mounted beside the LSS2 structure scan ducer. The two are recommended to be within 12-inches of each other, mine midline to midline are about ten. Lowrance does make an all-in-one total scan but, at high speeds it tends to lose bottom easily, it can on hot day cause some overheating of the main unit and, it’s placement will cause some extra rooster tailing. Going the LSS2 and 83/200 separately, the bigger LSS2 does not need to protrude below the bottom of the boat, eliminating the rooster tail and, the 83/200 can do it’s job at high speed reading bottom.

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Inside, the newer HDS9 Gen3 was mounted beside my older HDS7 Gen2 placed on a 5-inch RAM mount. The two units communicate with one another via an Ethernet cable. The Gen3 will receive all info from the LSS2 and 83/200 ducers while the Gen2 for now will run the Navionics. Quick RAM disconnect of the Gen2 and it can be taken forward to the bow and used with the MinnKota’s US2 for sonar options off the trolling motor. It is not something I do much though, the nice thing about MinnKotas is having the remote and not needing to leave the pilots chair for much of anything. The tiller does the quick moving, the remote controlled MinnKota the finer details, the electronics all in arms reach but not in your face like a consoled boat, the work station is about as cozy as the downstairs den, minus the fireplace.

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Next order of business was a carpeted casting deck to be up high as much as possible for certain seasonal sight fishing opportunities. I also like the deck for camping as it makes moving and lifting items from the boat easier and, it’s carpet collects much of the mud and dirt from people getting in and out of the boat. Included in some of the extras with the boat deal was just one extra fixed seat post. Because Lund raised the flooring, this post had to have nearly 5-inches shaved from it’s length. At two inches diameter, the fella machine cutting it at Home Depot wasn’t sure how it’d work out. The post cut flawlessly and, for free I might add.

Next was the floor. Left over carpet glue at home, at Rona I found an 8’x6′ sheet of outdoor carpet on sale to apply overtop of 3/4-inch ply. Placed atop the gunnels, the contour of the boat was traced onto the ply before cutting to shape with the jigsaw. After sanding all edges, the top side of the ply was coated with glue then placed down onto the carpet and further tacked with the staple gun. Easy stuff.

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To protect the gunnels I had to first watch where the staples were going then secondly carpet the cleats that would help keep the deck from moving. Beyond this, a fitted wood bracket and extra carpeted support foot were secured with some serious hardware to the deck. A little paint was added to simply please the eyes.

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Not finished yet I wanted to build a back deck. The reason for this is two fold. Firstly, I often stand on it when fishing and driving. Instead of putting all weight on rear storage compartment doors, potentially wearing on them and even indenting, a back deck protects. Having done this before, I use a thick, black, outdoor mat that’s rubberized on the underside. It lasts forever, can be taken out and blasted clean with the hose and it’s nice and warm on bare feet. A second bonus, you can mount any shit you want to it, drilling into it instead of your boat.

For materials more glue, screws, staples and wood is required. Not needing to be ridiculously thick wood like the casting deck, some half-inch ply or even 5/8ths is fine. For this deck I used half, plus a 2×4 at the front and a couple 2×2 leg post scraps at the back. Fit to form, watching out for opening compartments, wiring or anything you don’t want to obstruct, the ply will be cut with some front and back overhang in mind in order to fit and screw the 2×4 and/or 2×2’s. End of all this, what I got is a deck that will give an extra 3+ inches of width to stand and work upon, it is easily removable but so far has not budged flying down the highway, and as well it gives piece of mind that the compartments are safe from being crushed when any husky buddies are standing back there casting.

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Never had any real need for splash guards mounted to the transom. Don’t back troll and have only ever taken a mild soaking over the transom reversing a little too quick into some waves. Found online, splash guards are a stupid price for what they are, and not only that, the mounts have to be drilled into the transom. Regardless, having a little wood, carpet and glue remaining, plus a scrap, solid steel elbow bracket and different hardware kicking about, I figured on making a small, quick and easily attachable guard for the starboard side that might block some water and wind if need be. Never would I personally want a guard on the port side

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The ply again carefully cut as to not affect tiller steering at any angle and then sanded to a nice finish, the scrap carpet pieces had to be placed on the ply in two parts. Already built into the back casting deck, the bracket to attach this guard received the end product with a suitable appearance. Again, it’s there if need be.

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Mounted the rigger bases and three permanent Scotty rod holder bases too and that pretty much finished most of what was necessary to get fishing ASAP. Had leftover glue, most screws, staples and other hardware at home so cost of wood and carpet to build everything came up about $160. Plenty extra materials left over for a couple other projects.

Come that Monday the boat slid into the water for the first time.

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To break the engine is simple. First and one hour at 1500rpms. A couple hours up on plane at about 3000rpms then keep drive to the remaining ten hours never at WOT. So, I did the 1500 and 3000rpms pretty well continuous, then an hour or so up to 4000 followed by an hour or so at 5000rpms. Will probably keep it there to 20 hours then as advised, get the oils changed.

First thing I noticed about the Pro Guide was how much like the Rebel it handled. Honestly, it drives so much the same if felt like not having changed boats. While breaking it in at 1500rpms for that first hour, in pretty much autopilot I was able to dance around, feel out the space, test the new MinnKota and play with the settings on the Lowrance units. After a short time with the electronics I wondered to myself why some people find these units unfriendly? For plug in and play they are quite simple for learning the basics. More time ahead, and surely some advanced features will fall inline too.

That afternoon with a little time to spare it was decided to officially slime the boat. The initial scratch was already in the splash well after slipping with a socket wrench. The first little stain on the carpet was caused by a chocolate chip which escaped a granola bar finding the bottom of my shoe. And after shaking free two, high forty inch long gar off at boatside, when hooking into a slender 52-incher I decided it worthy to be fish number one to come over the gunnel and slime the floor. Unaware beforehand, it would come to shit on it too, then thrash and leave two tooth mark scratches on the gunnel after jumping out of my hands. Arsehole gar!

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Few days later an old highschool friend was the first guest aboard. Driving to the launch a brief discussion about naming the boat came up. I had posted online for ideas but kinda liked BlackOut and Dark Matter most. Some other different ones like Black Whole, Deep Space, Ace of Played, Evolution and Eclipse had come and gone. My buddy Wayne called out Black Betty on Facebook which was good but, then another friend Dan followed up with Bam-ba-lam. Just days later and as much a sign as this could be, the boat was cruising out to a fishing spot and once coming off plane I turned on and blasted the radio. Black Betty right on cue from its beginning started playing on Kingston’s KROC. “She really gets me high – BAMBALAM! You know that’s no lie – BAMBALAM! She’s so rock steady – BAMBALAM! She’s always ready – BAMBALAM… And the question of the boat name was answered.

So far so good on the fishing front. Guests aboard over the first couple weeks nothing has changed. This boat will catch fish!

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At the end of the month I said goodbye to The Bomber. Don’t know where, how long and to what level of love Bambalam and I are going to take our new relationship but, can tell right now I am pretty stoked we finally got together to write some new chapters.

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Old Lund experiences becoming new. Fish and adventure await.

Thanks for reading.

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