Mounting 12v7ah battery in hull...what is best?

I haven't seen too much on the battery mounting for fishfinder. The 7ah batteries are slightly heavy and I want something that can survive the yak getting tipped, etc.

Any ideas? I'm getting a small battery box, which should fit between foot wells inside yak...but how to fix somewhat permanently?

A couple of ideas...

1.  Goop some velcro to both the battery box and the inside of your hull.  I've tried using just the adhesive on the velcro but it doesn't hold over time with moisture, etc.  I'd say it would call for some goop.

2.  Mount some plastic eyelets (plastic pipe brackets with a flat mounting surface... found in the plumbing section of the hardware store) to the inside of the hull and run elastic straps over the box (this is what I did).

3.  Read Sean's article on the new age power supply and copy that... probably the lightest weight option going.

Erik

I used to put the battery in a Pelican (or similar box) and then put a pad eye on each end of the box.  I would than use a mini bungee on each end.  Crimp one end of the mini bungee closed.  Put the box between two scupper tubes and then wrap the bungee on each end around the adjacent scupper.  Hook theend back to the pad eye. Work pretty good, ez to get in and out and very secure.

Bungies sound good...but I know scupper tubes are notorious weak point on many yaks.

KzReelRods...I searched for posts by sean and terms "new age power supply" and am coming up with zip. Got url?

mklein, the article is called new school power supply, and, its on the home page of this site, second column, second topic down, I did it for my yak and it worked great, I was using a motorcycle battery before and no matter where I placed it, it seemed to unbalance my kayak.  For the weight of that battery you can substitute alot of tackle or snacks.  Best rigging article yet, thanks Sean!

Link - http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=42

Scupper tubes are a weak point but they are unaffected by the mojo generated by two mini bungees.  I too am a AA batery guy for life now, its just so much lighter and easier to deal with, glad you liked the article JTF

What the heck is it you guys are carrying that weighs so much?

I'm thinking 2 rods/reels, gaff, billy, net, pliers, pump, milk crate, DRINKING WATER!!!, vhf, gps, sonar, tackle, paddle, stringer, lip gripper and first aid kit.

Am I missing something big here? Live bait well?

I weigh 220lbs and can't imagine 6lbs extra for SLA affecting things that much.

Plus...10 AAAs only gives you like 2.8ah at best...why not get a 12v2.8ah SLA battery then? I would have to imagine recharging characteristics are better as would be battery life.

I definitely don't want to be recharging like all the time. For the better rechargeable AA batteries it's like $10 for 4. So for 10 of these puppies you're looking at like >$20. The equivalent SLA is around $13 and probably holds a charge longer and lasts longer.

I would definitely want my charge holding for 2 days of fishing running sonar...will the New Age Battery give me this?


thanks

I guess it all depends on personal preference.  I think my main concern for staying lite is the ocean, rough water landings with alot of gear can add up to disaster.   Also, I've done some long paddles & peddals on my mirage outback and I noticed a whale of a difference with less weight aboard.  To answer your question about the 2 days of sonar, yes, my duracells did two 6 hour trips 3 days apart with no problem.  Honestly, go with the 7ah for lake fishing, it wont be a problem and as for setting the battery by the scuppers tubes, use duct tape.   I love duct tape. 

Yes...duct tape, cable ties and velcro loops can get you a long ways...

I may pick up a 5ah 12v battery...only 3 lbs as opposed to 6-7lbs. I do have 3 of the 12v 7ah batteries lying around...so maybe I'll just burn these out and go smaller as I get a feel for battery life.

One other reason I wanted a beefier battery (this is lake scenario only...not ocean) was that I could hook up a waterproof/floating 12v floodlight...even a satellite radio...going the Winnebago route for sure...but on lakes it's mellow so you have more room to be bloated.

I'm planning on hooking a 12v rubber cap'd receptacle just above 2nd cupholder on mounting area of my Ocean Kayak Prowler 13. This would let me test/recharge battery in addition to doing easy hookup of floodlight and/or submersible fishing lights. For ocean going I'd just plug receptacle with a big cylinder of closed-cell foam. Just ordered 3 pool noodles for chopping up.

Any idea of how long you can recharge a 12v 5/7 ah battery? Ditto for rechargeable alkaline...how long can you recharge them and expect performance?

I use 5 Ah 12V batteries exclusively now.  They last a solid two days worth of fishing before recharging.  I've been using the same battery for a little over a year and no problems so far.  I also use a 5Ah for my bait pump... runs the pump for one full day of fishing before it dies.

Erik

So that's 2 days on a 5ah running sonar only? This would be ok.

For freshwater scenario...as my house sits on edge of Clearlake (water laps my driveway!)...which is only time submersible lights, flood, etc. might be used. So when I come home from out on water...to recharge is no big deal.

Only time I'd want <possibly> 2 days uninterrupted is for ocean...in which case I'm doing sonar only. Then again...if I'm camping on 2-day ocean trip...I'm probably near my car so I could recharge...also have 2 solar panels which could recharge too. They are fairly portable...in theory I could put them in dry bag and stow in my bow hatch...so even if car weren't around I could recharge.

I'm planning my first ocean trip like a military operation...everything must be rock-solid, water proof/resistant, strapped/lashed or somehow tied-down. I know how it is to lose stuff...no yard sales for me. I've run most surf entry/exit scenarios in my head and done massive googling/norcal visits, etc....so hopefully I'll be good to go first time out...but still keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm planning my first ocean trip like a military operation...everything must be rock-solid, water proof/resistant, strapped/lashed or somehow tied-down. I know how it is to lose stuff...no yard sales for me. I've run most surf entry/exit scenarios in my head and done massive googling/norcal visits, etc....so hopefully I'll be good to go first time out...but still keeping my fingers crossed.

I think  you might be overplanning.  Try going out sometime with just a handline only.  There's something to say about minimilistic.   

-Allen

I think when you're talking about entering/exiting surf in varying conditions there is no such thing as overplanning.

Everyone I know has had a "yard sale" and dumped rods/reels, camera, etc. overboard. This is something I don't want to have happen.

I've been "minimalistic" for past 2 years...it's time to customize.

If you've never been through the surf, then I suggest doing it with NOTHING in your yak.  Practice makes perfect.  If you've never done it before and you've thought this through this much, I don't think there is much more you can do other that JUST DO IT.

I don't mean to be hard on you and I hope you don' t take it that way.  I admire all the planning you've done ... but for god's sale man, GET IT ON!!!  We're all pulling for you.

-Allen