Hey Gutz, it's important to make sure your boat is not putting off a voltage that is either too high, or too low. It's a long and complicated thing, but the Scotty web site has a good explaination of it. Basically, you want between 0.4V+ and 0.8V+ when measured between the negative terminal on your battery (- probe) and your downrigger wire (+ probe). If you have any other questions, email me.

That said, even with a "tuned" aluminum boat (0.62V+ without the box) AND a black box (to fine-tune and pulse the voltage), if the fish aren't there, you're not likely to catch them. I proved that on Sunday, fished out of John Wayne Marina, didn't touch a fish all day, didn't see any bait. The view was nice though.

-N.