New Kayak Rigging Article

Sean White of Great White Kayaks show you how to setup a new school rechargeable battery rig for your fish finder.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/content/view/29/42/

Just read Sean's great article on using NIMH battery packs.In my searching I found (www.batteryspace.com) has a smart charger and 20pcs. 2300mAhbatteries for $49.95.Enough for two yaks or backup power for multiple days.

This is a great article Sean.  My approach for all things kayaking has been K.I.S.S. including my fish finder power supply.  I bought a 2-pack of 6 volt, carbon lantern batteries, the cheap kind with the springs on top.  I removed the top of the plastic packaging and used electrical tape to help hold the batteries side by side.  Short lengths of wire were used to join one positive of one battery and one negative terminal of the other battery to get the needed 12 volts. One length was put on each of the 2 remaining terminals with all connections soldered.  This assembly is placed in a gallon zip-up freezer bag where small wire-nuts connect the fish finder wiring harness.  Close the zipper as best you can and enjoy.  

I've used the same two batteries and one freezer bag all summer, probably have about 70-100 hours in the ocean so far without interruption and no recharging.  I do put this inside my hull, wouldn't recommend it for topside use.

Pete

Thanks for this article, Sean

I was able to clean-up, downsize and generally improve my set-up on my prowler and it gave me the nudge to work up a new portable set-up for my little boat.  It will get tested tomorrow........

Pat

Glad to be a help.  Like anything else, there more than one way to get it done, looking at all of the different approaches is one of my favorite things about this activity.

Doh...Jellied again!

I like using the sealed gel cell 12 volt rechargables.  Just substitute that battery into the article and its all good.

MolBasser

He mentions using 10 AA's to get 12 volts, I use 8 because I started off using non-rechargeables and they say they are 1.5 v each, then I switched to rechargeables and didn't notice til just now that they say 1.2 volts but  they work fine, and I've gone 10 or more trips without recharging on my Pirahna 4.  I just pushed the wire thru a hole and sealed it with Plumber's Goop-much simpler and just as watertight. That way all the connections are inside the container.   I put the small container into a small soft lunch cooler to keep it from bashing around - I jam it back under the middle of the cockpit in the Prowler, and it has the added benefit of being big enuf to hold the display unit and my gps in the car.

I just pushed the wire thru a hole and sealed it with Plumber's Goop-much simpler and just as watertight.

Until something pulls on the wire, the seals are also excellent strain reliefs.  However, if you tie a small knot in the wires on the inside and then goop them, they will be more resistant to pulling out.  8 AAs can be enough depending on you brand of ff.  Some need 12 others, like Humminbird units burn off power and actually run on about 9v.

Got pics of your set-up?