I just got my 10E and got a 27 series deep cycle for my trolling motor. Also have a fish finder. Can I hook both of the fish finder and trolling motor directly to the battery? I don't know much about all that. My first boat so I am just trying to figure out how to set that up. If anyone could explain or post a picture of how your fish finder and motor is connected to battery that would be great. Need to figure out by Sunday night.

Here is the pic of my setup. I run my trolling motor up front with the trolling motor power and fish finder power into the plug at the front of the boat. I have the inline fuse for the trolling motor spliced into the wire before it joins the TM wire because it requires less amperage. It's stuffed behind the unit in the picture. The inline fuse for the TM is in back at the battery.

 

I don't have the plug in for the boat yet and won't have it by the time I go Monday morning. Can I just connect the fish finder and trolling motor directly to my battery?

Yes, you can. BUT make sure you use the right fuses for each item. Don't want to burn up your gear on your first outing. Carry extra fuses also. I find using old medicine bottles handy for that purpose. I have the 27 battery also but got a little bigger battery box that has the adjustable divider in it. The extra fuses fits in this void just right.

 

Good luck, I am headed to bed now so I can get up with the sun and go in the morning.

In for a penny - in for a pound.   I'd buy a small lawn tractor battery to power the depth finder with and not put anything else on the trolling motor battery.

I have both the trolling motor and fishfinder connected to the front plug of my 10E. There is absolutely no interference from the trolling motor and since I hooked up the fishfinder my full size battery still lasts all day. After all the draw of the fishfinder is measured in micro amps. Not having another battery means a little more floor space and one less thing to take in and out of the boat when trailering it.

I bought a small 12v sealed battery for my finder and no joking have used it on 4 outings and it still shows fully charged so the FF draw is very, very little. I do like having my small battery as a simple backup for the trolling motor so I will keep using it.

I need some pictures and ideas of how to mount the fish finder in the boat. I would rather not have holes drilled or anything. Any way to do that? Maybe using one of the rod holders or something? Send pictures if you have them please. Also materials used to make the mount would be helpful. Thanks!

I need some pictures and ideas of how to mount the fish finder in the boat. I would rather not have holes drilled or anything. Any way to do that? Maybe using one of the rod holders or something? Send pictures if you have them please. Also materials used to make the mount would be helpful. Thanks!

I originally thought about using pvc pipe. I thought I might mount a platform on top with fishfinder attached and the pipe would fit in rod holder. Would make removal of whole unit easier. I settled on mounting the metal base on the outside of the rod holder. Thought I might still be able to use rod holder but have been using it for the extra cable storage. I can see that you have seen my pic a few posts back. I have yet to mount anything where I would have to puncture into the plastic. I would like to mount my paddle to the outside with a paddle holder but I just cannot get my nerve up to do it.

BrooksC,

Look at my post and picture from 18 July on page 122. It might be what your looking for.

BrooksC,

Look at my post and picture from 18 July on page 122. It might be what your looking for.

What do you have it mounted with? It's kind of hard to tell. I just have a lowrance 3x so mine is a little smaller but looks like you have some sort of clamp on there?

BrookC,

I explained everything in my narrative on page 122. Tap or click on the picture to enlarge it.

Gotcha. I'm going to work on mine this weekend. Thanks!

New Pelican 10E owner, have had it about a month now. Really loving this little boat.

1st, I wanted to thank everyone that has contributed to this topic and shared all their great ideas and mods. It was one of the reason I ended up buying a raider, seeing all the mods and ways to improve the little bass catcher.

So I have completed some mods (rudder,foot switch, rod tie downs etc.) I'll post some pics when completed, my next step is buying a fish finder! I have never purchased one and wanted some other opinions and experiences. I will fabricate my own mount and wiring is no problem and I also want to mount the transducer to the TM. I have been looking at the Lowrance elite 4x chirp model for $169-199 and really don't want to spend anymore than that.

So a couple questions I have:

-Is color screen really a must have? It seems if you go to B/W screen, you can get more features in a FF at the same price point as a color screen model.

-Really looking for water temp, good structure and fish marking. Gps waypoint plotting(being able to mark a piece of structure on a certain lake), would be great, but might be out of my price range, not sure?

-Can I wire in my FF inline(fused of course) with my trolling motor feed up front off of my main battery in the bow?

-Does the FF draw enough to be concerned with a separate battery purchase?

-how important is it to buy an unit that is waterproof?

 

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. I look forward to contributing to this topic and good luck catching!

Canam13, check out my post on page 125 post #1868 for a pic of my setup.

 

I have the inline fuse spliced between the FF and the TM plug. The inline fuse for the TM is in the rear at the battery. I have had no problems from either. I did replace the original rear fuse with the flat style.

i have the Elite 3x and I think it works just fine for me. Still learning to read it. Having used a monochrome one before, I believe i can actually see this one better and also differentiate between the bottom composition better.

 

I wanted a FF that had GPS builtin but did not have the money to afford it so I made use of an older handheld Garmin that i have. Been working fine so far.

 

Right now the only thing I would do different and plan on changing is to get a digital trolling motor so i can have variable speed control. There has been times when i just needed half the speed i was going, or needed a half more. Also the electrical consumption is supposed to be 4-5 times less than the non-digital variety of the same lbs thrust. I have not had any problems with running out of battery yet but I do have a couple of places I would like to go and feel like I would make it back without paddling.

 

I will be adding the Big Foot switch to my trolling motor this weekend. Could have used it last weekend for sure. 

 

 

As far as waterproof goes, I would make that a requirement. Do they have units that are not? You are not getting back fast if a rain shower pops up.

 

Hope this helps.

Also a digital trolling motor uses a good bit less battery. Minn kota enduramaxx 45 is what I have and I love it!!!

Got my Big Foot switch installed today:

 

Now i am ready for those windy days.

Got my Big Foot switch installed today:

 

Now i am ready for those windy days.

How much was that? You just connect it to any trolling motor and then you can control with your foot? Hard to install?

How much was that? You just connect it to any trolling motor and then you can control with your foot? Hard to install?

Got it for 21.99 + taxes from Bass Pro Shops.

It installs on the negative wire of the trolling motor. Just a couple of butt splices and it's good to go. I used heat shrink to neaten it up a little. I mounted it to the carpeted board so it wouldn't move on me. It has the holes for screws. I remove my trolling motor after each trip so this gets moved along with the FF wires.

I have a coworker who got one also and he is wanting me to install his after he saw the pic of mine.

Haven't tried it out yet more than just sitting in boat on the trailer.

Got it for 21.99 + taxes from Bass Pro Shops.

It installs on the negative wire of the trolling motor. Just a couple of butt splices and it's good to go. I used heat shrink to neaten it up a little. I mounted it to the carpeted board so it wouldn't move on me. It has the holes for screws. I remove my trolling motor after each trip so this gets moved along with the FF wires.

I have a coworker who got one also and he is wanting me to install his after he saw the pic of mine.

Haven't tried it out yet more than just sitting in boat on the trailer.

IMO the foot switch is a must have for these little boats and very easy to install. Going to make up a little board for mine when I get home, good idea!

What does that thing do?

It's an on off switch. You set the handle on the speed you want and put your foot on it when you want to go. It also has a flip thing that locks it on if you want. Wal mart and academy also has them

Nice. Yea that would be helpful. Especially in windy conditions like I found myself in last time out. Spent more time controlling the motor than fishing.

I have been tossing around the idea of a Kayak, SUP or a Pelican bass raider 10e.  I already own a MotorGuide R3 saltwater transom-mount trolling motor.  Like the thought of a trolling motor to get back in if weather/wind gets bad.  Curious if any of you have done any shallow marsh fishing in one of these little boats? 

I have been tossing around the idea of a Kayak, SUP or a Pelican bass raider 10e.  I already own a MotorGuide R3 saltwater transom-mount trolling motor.  Like the thought of a trolling motor to get back in if weather/wind gets bad.  Curious if any of you have done any shallow marsh fishing in one of these little boats?

With my buddy and I in the boat( both of us are 230lbs) the boat was only sitting down in 8 inches of water. So a single guy should be able to navigate in very shallow marsh/back creeks. One of the great features of this boat is the places they can go.

Trolling would be a must for the pelican. Haven't had to paddle mine(10e), but would imagine it can't be easy.

With my buddy and I in the boat( both of us are 230lbs) the boat was only sitting down in 8 inches of water. So a single guy should be able to navigate in very shallow marsh/back creeks. One of the great features of this boat is the places they can go.

Trolling would be a must for the pelican. Haven't had to paddle mine(10e), but would imagine it can't be easy.

Thanks for the reply.  I am leaning more and more to the Pelican due to the information gathered from this thread.  I appreciate all the information you all have provided here.