rigged new ff on my prowler

[robinsonfam1]

Let me start off by saying......ITS FREAKING SWEET!!!!!

Its a lowrance elite 5 gps ff combo. Color and full charts!

Made battery box with a 7ah brick from hd. I built a well inside hull with putty and used grease to set transducer. It was my first attempt at a transducer install like this and went perfect.

Watch out boaters! There will be a green yak on reefs and wrecks!!!

[3spots]

Sounds cool! Catch them fish!

[jerseyjoe]

Can you post some pics? I am getting ready to install my fishfinder, and may install in the yak, shooting thru the hull. Curious to see just how you did it.

I alsmost got the same FF...I just went the slightly cheaper route and got the Elite 4 (same features but smaller screen). That Elite 5 is sweet! Enjoy it!

I found a post on another forum using a 12V litium ion battery. Guy says he can fish 2, 7hr days on one charge and still have power to spare.

I have all of the components, just need to put them together. I will post pics.

[robinsonfam1]

Once it gets a bit more light out I will take some pics and try to load them!

There is a battery on ebay that is from china made from AA batts. Li ion. Comes with charger. 12v 9.8ah! $42! Its definately the way to go but for now I didnt want to wait for 3 week shipping.

I almost bought the elite 4 too but there was a $100 rebate on the 5. I was trying to talk myself into the 4 dsi but was afraid in a yak the speed wouldnt be enough to produce good images. Ive heard mixed reviews on dsi/side scan on yaks.

[robinsonfam1]

i mounted it where rod pod hatch would normally be. i have yet to get or build a hatch cover for it so this works good for now.

i used a rubber cork stopper, drilled 2 holes in for the wires, then used utility knife to slice it to the holes so it would split to allow wires to fit. once its smashed into the hole it seals very tight.

under the mount i used a foam sheet to make a gasket. basically use a knife/blade to trace it on a cutting board them peel backing and stick the the base, then trim excess and inside. dont forget to leave a drain/weep hole in gasket if you decide to go this route.

i had to do the same foam for battery box since i couldnt find a sealing waterproof box anywhere around me without buying a pelican or expensive equal. that too worked well.

Attachments:

[robinsonfam1]

used plumbers putty as it was on hand but did purchase GB Duct Seal in case it didnt work.

basically made a dam/well with putty, had high temp bearing grease, made a nice even coat on ducer about 1/4" thick bubble free, squished it into the well area twisting etc trying to push out any possible bubbles. then pulled and formed the putty over and around the ducer to hold it in place.

i do recommend to use the GB duct seal over this as it is mush stickier and a little better forming.

my initial test was on a salt pond next door and had to do a pretty harsh combat launch over rocks, concrete and ducer held just fine. no bubbles, clear readings.

Attachments:

[robinsonfam1]

batt box is a simple sterilite box with latch.

as said before i made a gasket using peel stick foam.

battery is a lithonia lighting 12v 7.2ah brick from HD electrical dept. $30

used std female spade connectors to connect it. water-tite fuse holder with 3A fuse as lowrance specd. it was the std glass tube style and not blade style.

pool noodle to hold everything snug. spare fuses in ziploc, putty kept in box as well.

Attachments:

[robinsonfam1]

here is ducer, extra wire rolled up and tied, battery box held in place with velcro.
basically its directly under the sonar shield on the prowler. i contemplated putting the battery box inside the sonar shield area for ease of access but decided against it due to water intrusion possibilities.

Attachments:

[robinsonfam1]

this can be found at walmart and most craft stores. usually around the lil kid projects. ive been using it for many years on much more demanding projects and even some pressurized containers and it holds up extremely well. $3.50 for 6 sheets. i didnt even use a full sheet.

all connections were simple butt splices and crimps with shrink tube over top. couldnt find my solder once i began so this was the answer. they are water tite so im confident.

the power connector between batt and unit is the std 2 prong rubber water resistant plug that looks like trailer plug.

let me know if you need more pics or any clarification. i wish i would have better documented the project but i really stink at keeping up with that.

Attachments:

[gabreamyaker]

glad to see more folks adding fish finders to there yaks. i really like the piranha 170 i have on mine, i have moved mine twice since putting it on couple of years ago. you also might want to look at the 8 AA power source for your fish finder. i started out with the big battery and have converted it to the 8 AA. and works great.

[nubby]

Cool great work.

[robinsonfam1]

Apr 13, 2013 14:43:15 GMT -5 nubby said:

Cool great work.

Thanks! Fun project that will yield good results!

[jerseyjoe]

Awesome. Thanks for the pics. I will post some up when I am done. I put together my battery box last night. I found a water tight box from walmart for $6. I got the 12V 9800 lithium ion batt from ebay (but I was able to find 1 seller in the US, so i had it in a few days).

I soldered connections for the DC plug adapter, 3a inline fuse, and a "trailer type" 2 prong disconnect, so I can take the batt box out.

Just need to mount the transducer and hook up to power.

[jerseyjoe]

and on the tpoic of the Elite4/5...I had the same situation the E-5 with the rebate was tempting, but the 4 was still a bit cheaper, and I think will fit my needs. I too read that the DSI was not great in yaks, so stuck with the 4.

A friend is picking up his new yak soon, and he got the E-4DSI. It will be interesting to see what he thinks of the down scan.

[robinsonfam1]

I'll look for the us seller for that battery. I need to do a constant run on mine to see how long the battery lasts that I already have too though.

I went to fill out my rebate form........wife threw it and receipt out. Ugh. I'll have to see if bass pro can reprint one.!?!

[jerseyjoe]

My Fish Finder is in. Used the duct seal for shoot thru hull mount.
(I hope these pics came out allright/right size. the camera on the BlackBerry stinks)

Here it is inside the yak


Here is the battery box with quick disconnect out of the yak



Closeup of the box holding battery/3a fuse and connections


Here is the battery out of the box. I wanted to add something for a sense of scale, and a pack of Zman was the closest thing. Moral of the story, the battery is quite small, and very light.



Can't wait to hit the water with it!!

[reefdonkey]

How did it feel to drill a hole through that fancy Pro Angler?

[Redbeard]

Just a thought based on personal experience, be sure to coat all electrical connections with waterproof anti-corrosion coating. The same type used on an automotive battery works great. Unless the connections are sealed, corrosion will eventually cause a loss of connectivity. I do not have a sealed fuse holder and it has been a problem several times where the connections in the fuse holder corroded. Hopefully, I will remember to replace the one I have with a sealed one eventually!!!

Redbeard

[jerseyjoe]

Good point. I have some terminal protector for my golfcart batts I can use.

[robinsonfam1]

I bought all water resistant plugs and also coated them in dielectric grease. Good tip though! Easily over looked!
Keep spare fuses too and extra grease and seal just in case something goes wrong too.