just got a new boat- need help- ideas

[jwmiller33]

Ok, one last question everybody, and thank you very much for everything helpin me out with all my questions! If you are ever in Duluth this summer, I will take ya out on my boat for a day! Just drop me a line...

Ok so I am buying a battery now. How do I know what one to buy?

marine cranking amps, cold cranking amps, reserve?

-i will be running a 30lb Minn Kota Endura trolling motor...

-a bow and stern light...

-GPS/fish finder combo

-2 12 inch LED lights

how many cold cranking amps do i need? how about reserve?

Thanks guys!

[jwmiller33]

ya motor is a pull start

[Tyler23]

if you tell the guys down at like fleet farm or cabelas they will set you up good.

ok well atleast with a pull start your not relying on the battery to get you going again. other wise i would prolly go with 2 just to make sure you dont have to worry about being stuck rowing home lol.

[traveler]

JW...that easy, the big one! If you're gonna put it in a specific spot, then you want to look at the actual dimensions to see that it will fit. Otherwise, the more reserve you have, the better. You don't need to buy that till later anyway, so we can figure that out after seeing exactly how she sets up. Plus it keeps your options open till you know for sure it'll be a 1 battery system. They will go on sale as spring rolls in anyway.

[DTro]

Pay no attention to the Cold Cranking amps, what you are looking for is Amp Hours (AH or ah). I would recommend something like a group 27 Deep Cycle RV/Marine battery.

[jwmiller33]

ok thanks guy... how many lbs of thrust do you guys think i should need for my boats trolling motor?

i have a buddy who has a 30lb minn kota that he won in a fishing tourney and its still brand new in the box and he will give it to me if i want it...

do you think that is enough thrust for my boat? should i bump it up to 40?

[DTro]

30 will be adequate but on the low side, I would prefer something 36 or higher.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Since its free 30# will do. I had a similar boat up until last year. That will push it plenty fast for trolling.

[ozzie]

I think I have a 36 thrust on a 14ft boat and it is about perfect rare occasions when the wind is really whippin then i want more thrust but I would suggest a 36 or more maybe a 55?

[jwmiller33]

ok cool. i am going to go with the 30. cant argue with a great deal on a brand new minnkota...

30 it is

[Brian H]

Couple of suggestions.............

I would have a separate switch for your night running lights and the LED lights. You aren't going to want the LED lights on all the time when the running lights are on.

Put your battery in the compartment OPPOSITE of the side of the boat you will sit on. Need to spread the weight so the boat doesn't lean to one side.

Buy an extra plug and wire it to the inside if the boat so it doesn't get lost or disappear.

Just my thoughts..........I have fun with the new boat!!

[hoggs222]

If you wanted to do separate batteries, I would think that a Vexilar battery would be good for the lights. Look at all the people that run their portable fish house LED lights for a long time off of one.

[jwmiller33]

does anybody every put weight in the front of their boat? like i was thinking i have a 25 and 45 lb weight used for weighlifting (the circular plate types) that i could always throw in the truck for when i am fishing along... just so i could have some extra weight in the front.... what do you guys think about that?

[traveler]

For years I would put rocks in the front of the canoe when I was soloing it. But for a trailer boat a guy should be able to figure out something a little more permanent I would think.

[jwmiller33]

ya i hear ya.. but hte majority of hte time i will have a fishing partner.. but there will be days, maybe 25% of the time, where it will just be me and my golden retriever molly

so if i could just throw in a weight, i wouldnt be so worried about flippin the boat

[hoggs222]

Get a couple of decent sized anchors and just store them up front. It's always nice to have 2 anchors for keeping the front and back sturdy. I'm guessing that you want weight in front for planing out? Or were you thinking of more weight than that?

[TonkaBass]

Last summer I cleaned up the family boat (16' lund w/ 15hp), and also fished wiring for the lights through the gunnal. I would reccommend keeping it fairly simple and clean with plenty of study platforms to stand on. Looks like you have a pretty good idea of what you're gonna do, and it's good that you're thinking it through. I would recommend a bouy holder ($30) which is very helpful in catching fish and it is also organized this way, and a stick on measure tape for measuring your fish.

[minneman]

on those days, fill a cooler with water for weight, stick it up front.

[hoggs222]

Another thing I thought of.....

What about making a casting platform from the bow to the first bench. You can still mount a removable seat on the front then and make storage underneath that area for your battery/batteries or whatever. That'll keep the weight up front.

I have a buddy that did this and it's slick!

[Dan Brelje]

Wow, talk about deja vu. My father and i recently renovated the exact same boat this past fall. I could give you all the details but it would take a year to tell you. If you want info send me your email and ill shoot you some pics and info. The $$ adds up quick but its worth every penny. its amazing what you can do with some hard work.

Here is what we ended up with!

[jwmiller33]

Another thing I thought of.....

What about making a casting platform from the bow to the first bench. You can still mount a removable seat on the front then and make storage underneath that area for your battery/batteries or whatever. That'll keep the weight up front.

I have a buddy that did this and it's slick!

ok i definitly thought about doing this. i really want to, but i'm not sure how to do it! the spot where the tiny step/seat at the very front of the nose is, that isnt quite level with the first seat....

does anybody know how to do that? I would LOVE to have the front compartment be for storage/battery... and having that platform to fish on is sweet!

[jwmiller33]

Wow, talk about deja vu. My father and i recently renovated the exact same boat this past fall. I could give you all the details but it would take a year to tell you. If you want info send me your email and ill shoot you some pics and info. The $$ adds up quick but its worth every penny. its amazing what you can do with some hard work.

Here is what we ended up with!

hey Dan, can you shoot me a email? My email is in my signature. I am VERY interested in hearing everything you did to it and how you did it... send as many pics as you have!

[Dan Brelje]

E-mail sent! Let me know if i can help more

[jwmiller33]

Dan, thanks a ton! I sent a email back.. I have a couple of questions for you haha. Is there anyway you could take a pic of what the inside supports look like under neath those storage compartments?

[marine_man]

I would try running it all off one battery to start with, but be aware that you may see / pickup some interference from the trolling motor (when it's running) on your locator.

If it becomes too big of a problem you may need to add another battery.

marine_man