One thing I heard was black boxes were more critical with fiberglass boats than with alum boats (provided there's no grounding problem).

Said alum boats had a current that was close to what was needed to attract fish... and a box didn't add that much to it.. Fiberglass boats.... different story. They needed help.

Also one way to counteract an electrical problem is to have your lure about 30 feet back from the downrigger wire.

Also, if you're not using a downrigger... then theres' not much help from a black box. It needs the downrigger wire to get a current down to around the lure.

So.. I partly agree with UM.. but for a different reason. He didn't have much of a problem to start with.. so probably didn't get much of a gain...

Do think black boxes help though...