Johnson Outdoors Bass Hound 9.4 User manual

JOHNSON OUTDOORS
WATERCRAFT
SPORT & LEISURE GROUP®
FISHING BOAT
OWNER’S MANUAL
Bass Houndtm 9.4
Bass Houndtm 10.2
Water Quest Brand
Bass Tendertm 9.4
Bass Tendertm 10.2
Bass Tendertm 10.2 C*
Bass Tendertm 10.6
Bass Tendertm 11.3
Watertender 9.4
Utility 9.4*
* with Advantage®Camouflage tm
Johnson Outdoors Watercraft –Sport & Leisure®
4855 Broadmoor SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5360
1-800-552-6287
www.jowatercraft.com January 2004

1
Thank you for purchasing this boat from
Johnson Outdoors Watercraft-Sport & Leisure.
Our fishing boats are very durable, versatile and
have features found on fishing boats costing
thousands more. These boats also get you on the
water conveniently; most fit in the back of a pick-
up, no trailer needed.
This Owner’s Manual provides the key information
on its use and care. If you have additional questions,
or would like to learn about fishing boat
accessories, pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, dinghies,
electric deck boats and the other fine products we
offer, please contact us:
Johnson Outdoors Watercraft-Sport & Leisure
Customer Service
4855 Broadmoor S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5360
1-800-552-6287 www.jowatercraft.com
At JOW-Sport & Leisure, we hope you enjoy this
fishing boat for many years to come, and use it to
make a lifetime of memories.
Happy boating,
Sandra L. Spielmaker
President, JOW-Sport & Leisure
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Warranty
JOW-Sport & Leisure warrants its manufactured products to
be free of material defects subject to the following time
limitations and use exclusions.
JOW-Sport & Leisure warrants the hull and deck of each new
fishing boat to be free of material and manufacturing defects
for a period of two (2) years from the date of retail sale. All
other component parts and accessories are warranted for a
period of one (1) year or are warranted for the period specified
by their original manufacturer, whichever is less.
Under this warranty, JOW-Sport & Leisure is limited to the
repair or replacement of the components as defined above.
Transportation to and from an authorized repair facility is the
responsibility of the purchaser. JOW-Sport & Leisure shall
not be held liable for incidental, consequential costs such as
registration fees, or other damages resulting from defects in
warranted components.
This warranty does not extend to or apply to any product that
is used for rental or other commercial use, nor products that
are damaged from abuse, neglect, accident, normal wear or
repairs made by unauthorized repair facilities or individuals.
There are no warranties either expressed or implied which
extend beyond those defined in this statement.
This warranty only applies to the original purchaser and is
nontransferable.
To verify date of purchase, please return the product
registration card within 30 days. Also please retain your
original purchase receipt.
JOW-Sport & Leisure
January 2004
4267 Rev E

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Table of Contents
Material Checklist Page 3
Illustrations of Models Page 4-8
About Your Fishing Boat Page 9
•Hull Material
•Capacity and Flotation
Setting Up Your Boat -Basics Page 10-12
Installing a Trolling Motor Page 12
Electrical Systems Overview Page 13-14
Installing Accessories
Model 10.2, 11.3 Page 14-15
Model 9.4 Page 16
Model 10.6 Page 17-18
Pre-Launch Check Page 19-20
Operating the Boat Page 21-25
Towing 9.4 Page 25
Transporting Page 26
Maintenance Page 27-28
Storage Page 28-29
Optional Accessories Page 30
Warranty Page 31

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OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Boat Covers
Custom designed boat covers are available. They
are made from a long lasting vinyl.
Trailers
Trailers designed for use with the JOW-Sport &
Leisure fishing boats can be purchased through a
local marine or trailer dealer.
For rowing
Oar locking Horn kits
Oar lock socket kits
Oars
OTHER BOATS FROM JOW-SPORT &
LEISURE
JOW-Sport & Leisure also offers several other
excellent watercraft including:
Escape Cruz Electric Deck Boats
Escape Jazz and Glide Pedal Boats
Escape Water Wheeler Pedal Boats
Rogue River AquaToy Pedal Boats
Water Quest and Rogue River Canoes
Water Quest and Rogue River Kayaks
Contact JOW-Sport & Leisure Customer
Service 1-800-552-6287, or visit the Web Site
www.jowatercraft.com

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STORAGE (continued)
Close the cap on the bow and stern light socket
(all but 9.4)
Remove all drain plugs
Position the boat so the bow is slightly higher
than the stern to help with drainage
Remove all fuel tanks, batteries and other
accessories.
Cover the boat to prevent water and dirt from
accumulating in the deck. Custom fit boat covers
are available from JOW-Sport & Leisure. See the
enclosed accessory list, or contact Customer Service
1-800-552-6287.
3
MATERIAL CHECKLIST
Upon delivery of your fishing boat you should
receive:
1. Warranty registration card. Please read and
complete the registration card and mail it to
JOW-Sport & Leisure, 4855 Broadmoor SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49512.
2. Owner’s Manual and Statement of Warranty
(back page)
3. Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. This is
the ownership title for your boat. Complete
it and take it to the appropriate state agency
to register your boat.
Decal Application
To apply registration decals, wipe down the surface
with a damp cloth, let dry, peel, and apply the
decals, taking care to smooth out any bubbles and
raised edges.
Make a permanent record of the following
information for future reference. Know your serial
number when contacting JOW-Sport & Leisure or
your dealer with service questions.
Serial Number: ________________
Date of Purchase: ______________
Purchased from:________________

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Boats with Laminates – BassHoundtm 10.2,
WaterQuesttm 9.4 Utility and 10.2 Camouflage
Boat Laminate
The boats with laminates or camouflage are very
durable. They have been tested for scratch
resistance, UV fading, and adhesion using the
standards in the automotive and siding industries.
However, if the boat contacts rocks, gravel or other
sharp objects, the camouflage can be scratched.
The laminate will not peel away and the scratch will
visually blend in.
STORAGE
Remove the boat from the water. Leaving the
boat in the water for any longer than a few days will
promote algae growth on the hull.
Store on a trailer, or other supports under the
hull. Supports must run along the length of the
hull, not across it. Do not store on the ground.
If on a trailer, make sure to loosen tie down
straps so the hull does not distort over time
If stored on other supports, there should be at
least one under each side of the hull, placed
along the length of the hull. Make sure each
support is at least 3 ½” wide and 5’ long. Note: A
2” x 4” on end is too narrow, and will dent the
hull.

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MAINTENANCE
General Cleaning
Wash with a mild detergent and water. If necessary,
use a very soft bristle brush. Do not use Armour-
Allor other plastic conditioner products. They
can discolor, and even weaken, the plastic. Do not
use abrasive cleaning products.
Salt Water Maintenance
Barnacles and other marine life will form on the
hull surface if the boat is left in salt or brackish
water for extended periods of time. Carefully
scrape off the hull surface periodically with a putty
knife or stiff brush. They’ll be easier to remove if
you keep the surface wet. Painting the hull with
antifouling bottom preservative will help minimize
barnacle and algae buildup.
Aerator Pump (10.2 & 10.6 Only)
The pump is mounted to a divider that helps keep
minnows and other debris from clogging the pump
and spray nozzle. However, periodically check to
make sure the intake slots on the pump are clean.
Twist the body of the pump counterclockwise to
remove the pump from the mounting base.
Flush the intake slots with water.
Reverse the steps to reinstall. When reinstalling,
be sure the wire connectors from the pump to the
power circuit are above the water in the livewell.
4
MODEL
Bass Tender 9.4
Bass Hound 9.4

5
MODEL
Watertender 9.4/ 9.4 Utility *
Exceptionally tough,
impact-resistant
colorfast polyethylene
hull and deck Oar lock sockets
Transom eyes
Stainless steel
bow eye Drink holders Optional 6-1/2’ oars
Foam flotation
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the boat will climb and descend over waves with the
towing craft.
TRANSPORTING
Transporting by Pick Up Truck
All models (except for the 11.3) can be
conveniently transported in the back of a full size
pick up truck.
Be sure to tie the boat down snugly using several tie
down straps. Do not over tighten the straps. This
will distort the deck and hull.
Trailering
All of the models can be trailored if desired.
Rest the weight of the boat on the support bunks.
The support bunks on the trailer should be at
least 3½” wide and 5’ long.
Do not rest the boat on the keel rollers. This may
dent the hull.
Be sure to tie the boat snugly with two or three
tie down straps. Do not over tighten the straps.
This will distort the deck and hull.
Custom trailers are available through local Marine
Dealers. Contact JOW-Sport & Leisure Customer
Service for more information.

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OPERATING THE BOAT (continued)
The weight load must be distributed appropriately
across the deck.
Planing may require a bit of experimentation to get
exactly the right combination of trim and weight
distribution.
* The boat will plane with a lower horsepower
motor if the weight load is much lower than
capacity.
Towing the 9.4 (behind a yacht or larger boat)
The Watertender 9.4 is designed to be used as a
yacht tender. They can be mounted on the swim
platform right side up in a cradle or towed behind
the boat. If the boat is to be towed, a few
precautions should be followed.
The Watertender 9.4 does not have a transom drain
plug. It may collect water while towing. If the boat
is likely to take on water while towing due to speed
and/or water conditions, it should be secured to the
swim platform in a cradle or deck for transporting.
To rig the Watertender properly for towing, fasten
the tow line to the Watertender’s bow eye and tie
the line to a higher point on the towing craft so the
pulling force will be in modest upward angle. This
will help keep the bow of the Watertender high and
will help minimize water splashing into the boat.
The length of the tow line should be minimized so
6
MODEL
Bass Hound 10.2
Bass Tender 10.2

Stern light
socket
Twin padded
swivel chairs
Trolling motor
socket
Dry storage
Aerated Livewell
with Drain
Fused electrical control
panel and fish finder
mounting console
Reinforced planing hull
for superior handling
and speed
Ribbed deck for superior
stiffness and durability
Navigation
lights
Stainless steel
bow eye
Built-in trolling
motor mount
Mooring
cleats
7
MODEL
Bass Tender 10.6
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OPERATING THE BOAT (continued)
When the prop is angled too close to the
transom, it will tend to push the bow down when
power is applied.
Adjusting the weight distribution in the boat will
also help the boat travel smoothly.
If the bow lifts too much, shift more of the
weight forward.
If the bow tends to plow down in the water,
shift weight toward the stern.
Trim / Planing 10.6 model
The 10.6 model is designed to move efficiently
through the water on “plane”. When the boat is on
plane, the boat is moving across the water
efficiently because only the rear portion of the hull
has full contact with the water.
To plane with the 10.6:
The motor size must be at least 10 HP*.
The motor must be properly “trimmed” (see
previous section).
The total load must not exceed the limits on the
capacity plate.