On 11/10/2021 at 8:55 PM, guidoStow said:

Cool thanks!

 

That ATAK 140 looks a lot like the Native Watercraft Slayer 14.5 I just traded in on the new Ultimate. This time I'm taking a different direction for rod storage. I'll post pictures when I have it set up. I'm going to use the Yak Gadget LowPro Crate XD for my main storage and a LowPro Tray under the seat for spools/lines leader materials and other smaller stuff... I have been using Fishpond Sushi rolls for fly storage but have a large size Cliffs Bugger Barn on the way to try that...  Battery box will be over the access hatch in the extreme rear..

yeah on top but the hull is different if I recall.  I remember looking at one when I go the ATAK.

 

On 11/3/2021 at 4:12 PM, schplurg said:

You can only use half the amp hours of a lead battery without damaging it.

True, but I wouldn't really worry when you're talking about a $15 battery. You'll still get a couple years of use out of it, unless you're fishing 5 days a week.

 

And if you're still worried about it, I know of a 6ah lifepo4 for $30. I have 2 running in parallel to give me 12ah.

I finally got my transducer mounted in the NuCanoe mount (although I don't have it set up to extend since my finder is not side scanning...). So I brought the cell block with the garmin mounting harp on top out to the boat and checked how things fit. I want to have the finder mounted on the short right front track where the storage pod would go (not the center track where I will be standing). So I put the block there and stepped back to check it out. What an ugly mess... The block sticks up above the gunwale quite far by itself and with the finder on top it just says "fly line magnet". Ugh...

 

A bit of test fitting later I discovered that the nocqua battery fits acceptably in the side tackle box recess and it will be easy to run the cable up to the right front track where the ram mount medium (soon to be a short) mount holds the harp at a much more out of the way location...

 

It is so interesting how what you visualize is not always what works out...

I finally got this boat on the water after a very busy spring. First went out under paddle just to test the stability. The boat feels very stable to me. Easy to turn around in the seat and move in various directions with no worries at all.

 

I then put the motor on it and took a spin around for a while. I did do the calibration procedures, but the maintain heading feature wasn't working at all. Maybe I need to repeat them? I will try again tomorrow.

 

I then got out for a few hours of fishing and got skunked. Everything was new today: new boat, new motor, new rods and reels, new lake, first time baitcasting. The only thing that remained the same was the getting skunked part!

 

Plan to fish 4-6 hours tomorrow as well. Hopefully will get some bites.

 

Once I get comfortable with everything, I will put the Hummingbird unit in and start learning how to use that. I got a Helix 7 DI/SI. 

 

 

 

 

Only thing I'm not sure about is how much water should come in through the scupper holes? The water line is basically flush with the bottom of the boat. I don't really see how water can drain. But it's not really flooding in either, I just didn't expect the water line to be almost in the boat/right flush with bottom of the boat. I'm probably a bit heavy for the boat once I add in battery and motor and other gear. Although I'm should be near the supposed rated capacity.

12 hours ago, JbroBass said:

I finally got this boat on the water after a very busy spring. First went out under paddle just to test the stability. The boat feels very stable to me. Easy to turn around in the seat and move in various directions with no worries at all.

 

I then put the motor on it and took a spin around for a while. I did do the calibration procedures, but the maintain heading feature wasn't working at all. Maybe I need to repeat them? I will try again tomorrow.

 

I then got out for a few hours of fishing and got skunked. Everything was new today: new boat, new motor, new rods and reels, new lake, first time baitcasting. The only thing that remained the same was the getting skunked part!

 

Plan to fish 4-6 hours tomorrow as well. Hopefully will get some bites.

 

Once I get comfortable with everything, I will put the Hummingbird unit in and start learning how to use that. I got a Helix 7 DI/SI. 

 

 

 

 

Only thing I'm not sure about is how much water should come in through the scupper holes? The water line is basically flush with the bottom of the boat. I don't really see how water can drain. But it's not really flooding in either, I just didn't expect the water line to be almost in the boat/right flush with bottom of the boat. I'm probably a bit heavy for the boat once I add in battery and motor and other gear. Although I'm should be near the supposed rated capacity.

Sounds like a solid first trip out.  As far as the scupper thing goes, as long as the water isn't pooling it is draining.  I checked out the specs and it is cool they list a self bailing weight cap as well and i would say the close you get to that weight, the more water will you see come through the scuppers.  

I figured out why the maintain heading function wasn't working: I was pushing the cruise control button! Although the boat didn't track great when I tried the actual heading function today, especially with the wind at my back. The motor was doing a lot of jogging back and forth. It did better heading into the wind.

 

Thanks for pointing out the self-bailing cap in the specs! With my body weight and gear, I'm probably pushing 75% to 80% of the self bailing cap. (Not sure if weight of the seat should count against the cap, but I assume so.) The water seems to pool just a tiny bit above a couple of the scupper holes. But it never gets worse and it never gets better. I think it's o,k but I'm assuming it will be a lot more comfortable after I drop 50+ pounds of body weight. (23 down so far and 60 to go.)

 

Caught 2 bass today. Both small 11" to 12" or so. First fish ever on a bait caster! Also caught my first fish ever on a drop shot rig. 

21 hours ago, JbroBass said:

Once I get comfortable with everything, I will put the Hummingbird unit in and start learning how to use that. I got a Helix 7 DI/SI. 

 

Only thing I'm not sure about is how much water should come in through the scupper holes? 

 

Did you get the Helix 7 MEGA with Di/SI? If so, let me know what you think of it. I have the Lowrance Hook2 5 tripleshot but I'm looking for more clarity and a bigger screen.

 

The only time I get water through the scuppers is when I'm bouncing off some big wakes. Even then, mine drains well.

5 minutes ago, Koz said:

 

Did you get the Helix 7 MEGA with Di/SI? If so, let me know what you think of it. I have the Lowrance Hook2 5 tripleshot but I'm looking for more clarity and a bigger screen.

 

The only time I get water through the scuppers is when I'm bouncing off some big wakes. Even then, mine drains well.

 

Yes, the exact unit is Helix 7 Chirp Mega SI/DI GPS G4

 

This weekend I focused on getting used to the kayak and the motor, so I didn't even take the unit out of the box yet. I'm traveling next week, so it will probably be 10-14 days before I try it out. But I'll let you know as soon as I can. 

On 6/12/2022 at 7:56 PM, Koz said:

 

Did you get the Helix 7 MEGA with Di/SI? If so, let me know what you think of it. I have the Lowrance Hook2 5 tripleshot but I'm looking for more clarity and a bigger screen.

 

The only time I get water through the scuppers is when I'm bouncing off some big wakes. Even then, mine drains well.

 

I see you made the leap. I just got home yesterday and wired up my unit tonight. Maybe we can help each other learn these things... This is my first modern unit so I have a lot to learn. 

11 hours ago, JbroBass said:

 

I see you made the leap. I just got home yesterday and wired up my unit tonight. Maybe we can help each other learn these things... This is my first modern unit so I have a lot to learn. 

It’s fairly straightforward. Memorizing the key presses helps (long press, two presses, etc.). It may also help to at first take it off of Angler mode and put it in custom mode so you see all of the menu choices.

2 hours ago, Koz said:

It’s fairly straightforward. Memorizing the key presses helps (long press, two presses, etc.). It may also help to at first take it off of Angler mode and put it in custom mode so you see all of the menu choices.

 

Thanks. The first thing I did was put it into Custom Mode. ?