I have a 12' aluminum boat and I want to have some music in there once in a while or listen to a game now and then. What are my best options for making a radio for CHEAP? Here are my ideas:
1. Use a car radio and car speakers.
2. Use a car radio and outdoor speakers like the fake rock ones they have at Menards.
3. Try to find a stereo that runs off a cigarette lighter and just splice the wires before the plug and run it off my battery.
4. I was told you can run a battery-operated radio by putting screws in the end of a piece of wood and fitting it perfectly into the battery slot, then you attach your positive and negative wires to opposite ends of the piece of wood and you get power that way. Does that actually work or do you need a resistor? I know an inline fuse is a must, but what size?
If you really want to treat your wife (and yourself) with a remote operated trolling motor, the Minn Kota Ulterra is about easy as it gets. Auto stow and deploy is pretty awesome. You just have to turn the motor on when you go out and that the last time you have to touch it.
24V 80lb. 60 inch shaft is probably the right length for your boat. They ain’t cheap - about $3k - but neither one of you would have to leave your seat to use it all day.
Wanderer, thanks for your reply. I do intend for it to be 24 volt, with a thrust of 70-80. Spot lock is a must (my wife is looking forward to
not being the anchor person any more). With my old boat we did quite a lot of pulling shad raps and hot n tots, using the trolling motor. Unlikely
that we will fish in whitecaps, did plenty of that when I was younger. I also need a wireless remote, not going back to a foot pedal. We do a fair amount of bobber fishing.
I don't think I will bother with a depth finder on the trolling motor. I am leaning toward moving my Garmin depth finder from my old boat to the
new one, just because I am so used to it and it works well for me. I am 70 years old and kinda set in my ways...
Dang, new content and now answers.
First, congrats on the new boat!
My recommendation is to get the most thrust you can in 24V, assuming a boat that size isn’t running 36V. 80 might be tops? I’m partial to MinnKota.
How do you plan to use the trolling motor is an important question too.
All weather or just nice weather?
Casting a lot or bait dragging?
Bobber or panfish fishing?
Spot lock? Networked with depth finders? What brand of depth finders?
We have bought a new boat, which we will be picking up this spring. It is an Alumacraft Competitor 165 sport with a 90 horse Yamaha
motor. I will be buying and installing a trolling motor, wondering if I can get some recommendations on what pound thrust I will
want for this boat? Also, I will be selling my old boat, is there a good way to determine the value on an older boat ( mid-80's with a 75 horse 2-stroke
Mariner motor) I will appreciate any help with these questions.
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LoneRanger
I have a 12' aluminum boat and I want to have some music in there once in a while or listen to a game now and then. What are my best options for making a radio for CHEAP? Here are my ideas:
1. Use a car radio and car speakers.
2. Use a car radio and outdoor speakers like the fake rock ones they have at Menards.
3. Try to find a stereo that runs off a cigarette lighter and just splice the wires before the plug and run it off my battery.
4. I was told you can run a battery-operated radio by putting screws in the end of a piece of wood and fitting it perfectly into the battery slot, then you attach your positive and negative wires to opposite ends of the piece of wood and you get power that way. Does that actually work or do you need a resistor? I know an inline fuse is a must, but what size?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
LoneRanger
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