I'm thinking about getting a small finder for finding drop offs and creek channels. I wont be running it all the time, jus to find structure and mark it with a buoy.

My question is what are most of you using for a power source. I'm thinking, a small lawnmower battery will work fine, for my use. Would like any ideas or recommendations you guys or gals might have for yak power source. I'm in a 12ft Red Fish if it matters.TIA

You can get a sealed 12v 7-8 amp hour battery and Schumacher charger from Walmart for around $40. 

 

 

You can make a pretty spiffy power station using this member's DIY:

 

I put two Milwaukee M12 XC batteries in a Pelican box and velcro it in my Lure’s hull with a quick- disconnect, making it removable.

 

I use a Lowrance Elite 5-HDI and get about 4 hours out of each battery.

I use 9Ah batteries I got off Amazon.  

 

I started with Cabelas 8Ah pair of batteries that came with wall charger.  I don't know if it was the batteries or the cheap charger, but they didn't last too long.  I'm now using the NoCo charger that I use for larger 12V batteries - its a smart charger and has special setting for smaller batteries.  I don't think they've lost anything in a year. 

 

Inside my front hatch, I used Goop to attach some small Styrofoam packing pieces that 'block' the battery so it doesn't shift around.

I use a small battery box with a 12 amp hour sealed led acid battery I picked up on Amazon for $27. I have a 7 amp hour also in the box as a backup if needed. I'm running a Lowrance Elite Ti 5 on mine and can run it all day without issue. I can get a couple days out of the charge if I only do 4-5hr days. I spliced quick connects to my charger, batteries, and Lowrance unit. You could probably get a battery, case, quick connects, wiring connectors for around $50 or so. I'd suggest not skimping on the amp hours to save a buck or two. You might find more uses for your battery down the line. Things like led lights if you night fish, charging your phone, or powering some other low powered accessories.

 

I use a 9 Ah sealed AGM. It's relatively light weight, measures 6 x 3.5 x 2.5 in, Duracell model DURA12-9F2. Got it at a local Batteries/Bulbs store. I recommend a charger as well. I got a wall wart style charger (Werker WK12V500) which sources 500 mA.

 

It powers a Lowrance Hook 4 which typically draws 1.1 A according to the specs, and I'll assume a similarly small finder will do the same. 9 Ah / 1.1 A = 8.2 hours of run time. I've used this combo for 6-8 hours straight on a few occasions and it's never run out.

 

Don't forget the fuse

 

 

 Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions.

 

Never thought about the batteries for kiddie cars for this use or putting them in a box.

 

I forgot to ask in original post about an arm for transducer. flexible or solid?, from pvc?

DIY or homemade ideas welcome.

 

I plug my scup holes so I need an arm of some type. Thanks again!

17 hours ago, haggard said:

I use a 9 Ah sealed AGM. It's relatively light weight, measures 6 x 3.5 x 2.5 in, Duracell model DURA12-9F2. Got it at a local Batteries/Bulbs store. I recommend a charger as well. I got a wall wart style charger (Werker WK12V500) which sources 500 mA.

 

It powers a Lowrance Hook 4 which typically draws 1.1 A according to the specs, and I'll assume a similarly small finder will do the same. 9 Ah / 1.1 A = 8.2 hours of run time. I've used this combo for 6-8 hours straight on a few occasions and it's never run out.

 

Don't forget the fuse

 

 

My wife gets these OEM by the case for emergency exit and alarm back up batteries for her job, the ironic part is she works LP....

I have Lowrance Hook4x.  The transducer shoots through my hull.  I attached it to inside of my yak using duct seal (about 4 bucks at Home Depot.) Works great.  Takes maybe 15 minutes to get accurate surface temp, but sonar is flawless. 

36 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I have Lowrance Hook4x.  The transducer shoots through my hull.  I attached it to inside of my yak using duct seal (about 4 bucks at Home Depot.) Works great.  Takes maybe 15 minutes to get accurate surface temp, but sonar is flawless. 

Do you store your yak indoors or out?  I keep mine outside and I am going to take the sonar plunge this spring but worry about the duct seal bond weakening in the heat. 

I keep mine outside.  Under a cheap tarp.  Its gotten so that I don't worry much about temp extremes here for much of anything.  I keep much of my fishing gear in the car year round.  I keep our yaks in the yard (or on top of the car for weeks at a time.)  About the only things I pay attention to as far as temps is that I bring JJ's Magic in the house during the summer; and I bring KVD line condition inside during winter.  Never had any problem with Goop or putty seals in the kayak.

I think I installed the transducers in my and my wife's yaks three seasons ago.  I have reseated hers once....pretty sure mine is still the original seating.

38 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I keep mine outside.  Under a cheap tarp.  Its gotten so that I don't worry much about temp extremes here for much of anything. 

Cool, thanks.  I keep mine outside under a large stand of trees, so it’s never in direct sun.  I have never used duct seal ibefore and didnt know how affected by temperature it was.  

 

I keep tackle in my car all year as well. I did a little test with a remote barbecue thermometer probe and discovered that the inside of my car, parked in the shade and under the packing blanket that I lay over my rods and tackle, never really exceeds 120 to 130 Fahrenheit on even the hottest days.  

It 'helps' that I smoke cigars in my car, so I almost always leave the windows cracked..... to air it out....I like to think that it never quite gets to the temp at which Power Pro might melt

On 1/3/2019 at 9:37 AM, TonynswAR said:

I forgot to ask in original post about an arm for transducer. flexible or solid?, from pvc?

DIY or homemade ideas welcome.

This is the very best in deployment arms.  I have the older version and it's excellent as well.

 

https://www.yakattack.us/switchblade-transducer-deployment-arm/

On 1/3/2019 at 6:37 AM, TonynswAR said:

I forgot to ask in original post about an arm for transducer. flexible or solid?, from pvc?

DIY or homemade ideas welcome.

When I bought my Elite 5Ti unit and got over the shell shock of the size of the total scan transducer I went with the following one as it was made specifically for the transducer.

 

https://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-316-18-TRA4U-NB

 

 

It seems to work pretty good and does have some flex if I bump into something. It's mounted to the left side about a foot in front of my kayak seat. When I'm off the water it swings up and sits on top of the seat for protection. 

Thanks for the info guys