My FF 1st FF Install, Just giving back to the site.....

Started my install, finally, and IM posting my experience and pics thus far..

So far pretty basic... i decided to go with the pool noodle and water technique. The vaseline looks nasty

The hardest part so far was finding the larger pool noodle, Big 5 finally had them, well they had ONE! I got it, and i searched everywhere. My transducer is sorta big, so i cut the screw mounting tabs off, hope this doesn't ruin the transducer!

Anyway, i cut up the noodle, and fit the transducer into it, fits nice and SNUG, easy! I had to cut pretty close to the side walls of the noodle, so after i placed the transducer into the noodle, i ran some black duct tape on the out side of the noodle to make it strownger and prevent it from ripping, PERFECT!

Next i sanded my yak inside, applied some goop to the noodle contact points, set the unit in place and pressed down, then i grabbed a brick to rest top of the pool noodle to keep it in contact with the yak as it dries (3-4 days), so far so good. next, i'm gonna wire it up... ill re-post when i get there... first yak, first FF install, so far it was basic.

the brick i used for weight is off center in the pic, i fixed that for even weight distribution.

Not the cleanest, most pimp job, but im sure it will work great, and that's all i ask!

UPDATE 6/29/09

OK, so I finished my install and tested it out, WORKS PERFECTLY!!!

I used those sticky anchors to mount my dry box and keep the wires clean... But, after they heated up in the sun, they popped off, no prob, I used a hot glue fun, and a dab of hot glue aloing with the sticky tabs, and its bullet proof now, then i welded the edge of the anchors with a little hot glue, Sh!t is dialed....

Pretty happy with it... the high light is got to be how clean my batt box came out, very happy with it, and even more happy with this battery i have, its tiny, its light and its a lipo battery, big power, no fade!! i lasted all day yesterday, and I left it on over night and its still running, I love lipos, and its rechargeable, and did i say SMALL!!

anyway, enjoy, I just wanted to give back...

Thanks to all the members who made this happen!!!!!

the last pic shows a great CHEAP way to seal electronics if you have a save a meal machine, most of you who smoke fish prolly have one...

I used water in my transducer noodle, NO LEAKS!!!

OH, and it works forward or backwards, doesnt matter...

Nice clean install Porky!!

Now you just need to move to a place that has fish!!

Rich

 NICE!!!!!!

Seems everyone one else has fish when i return to the beach or piers....

or i guess i have to paddle out to a reef in 80fow like the party boats!

FF works great!

Thats only a mile paddle, so go for it...

can i borrow your paddle

Looks good man. So, what's the deal with lipo batteries?
Sure, I could actually look it up and figure it out for myself. But it sounds like you know a bit about them. I'm installing a FF in the next couple weeks and I like the idea of less weight!

well, you will need a lipo charger, which you can prolly get for cheap now a days for a basic one.... They come in a million different shapes and sizes to fit anything, they have a much higher capacity and are much lighter, theres no fade in the power as it draws down. Mines pretty tiny, and performed perfectly and I would have no doubt that it would run a full weekend off one charge, although Ill be charging it after every use... They also hold a charge very well, for months after you charge, it can sit on the shelf with no fade. If yo u have ever used those rechargeable nimh batteries you can get at any store (energizer or what ever) thewn you prolly know they work and recharge for a little bit, then they are  crap and a waste of money. They just wont take the charge like they did the first one....

* Have nearly double the capacity with half the weight of NiCad or NiMH battery packs
* Retain charge significantly longer than NiCad or NiMH batteries when not being used
* Do not develop a "memory" as NiCad batteries do
* With LiPo cells in combination of series and parallel, LiPo packs can be built to power most anything

Draw back is, you dont want to run it till there absolutely dead... it will kill the battery, but this is not really a problem, charge it after every use.

And dont force charge it at higher amps then needed, it can smoke then explode, never had this issue either, Ive been using them for years in my toy race cars. There amazing! The power delivery is amazing too in the cars, there equal too or more powerful then the toy race cars with the gas motors, no real battery maintenance either.... To power the fish finder, mine works perfect, its fit in that small box, and I had to add foam cause its much smaller then the box, it was swimming in there.

Hobby shops sell them, www.teamassociated.com is the brand of mine, i might be able to get you one, i have a friend over there, ill check it out if you want.

busted paddle and no fish....but on the up side you FF install works like a champ!

YES, this is true and i felt relieved about that, was sure if the noodle/ducer would hold water and it did, perfect seal!

It so much nicer know your depths and floor contours.

Nice clean job porky.

Jedmo

LiPo? is that a brand name for a type of Li-Ion (Lithium) battery

its a Lithium Polymer (LiPo)

Reedy...
http://67.199.85.166/main/maincategory.php?category=5101.xxxxx&brand=reedy

or the reedy i have.... Still haven't charged it, works like a champ, amazing little batteries!

i use the 11.1volts, but its actually holding at like 12.9 or so... hasnt dropped yet, great batteries

YES, this is true and i felt relieved about that, was sure if the noodle/ducer would hold water and it did, perfect seal!

It so much nicer know your depths and floor contours.

the noodle doughnut really works well. I am sure its a bit more hassle vs direct goop. But I've had no issues.

Nice work there Porky!!!  Great details on the install, glad you shared it!