Everything is looking great!!! I know you mention it, but you will love that NOCO charger. I didn't think I needed one until I bought one. Don't know how I lived without it!!! Keep up the good work.

Looking good buddy.

Does she have a name yet????

14 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Looking good buddy.

Does she have a name yet????

No it doesn’t lol. Can’t think of anything

42 minutes ago, tander said:

Everything is looking great!!! I know you mention it, but you will love that NOCO charger. I didn't think I needed one until I bought one. Don't know how I lived without it!!! Keep up the good work.

Thank you! I bought the wrong noko I got the baby 1 amp. So I returned it and got a cheaper 10 amp charger. The noco 10 is on the list as the spring and summer goes on to get

On 3/14/2026 at 5:28 AM, GRiver said:

The conduit ribs is a great idea. When ya get a chance, next time you’ve got it uncovered. Would like some pics of how he mounted the coupling to the gunwale. I know you got it all buttoned up for the snow so no hurry.

Ok sorry it took me a few days to get ya a pic. These are what he used.

Home for the day because it’s spring break for my daughter. after me and the kiddo went shopping I got out there and got the old all steel mount off the bow. Alot heavier than it looked for certain. I got it drilled out and got the edge mounted. Lined up with the keel and was able to keep it from interfering with the cover or the cover cross bar. Have not wired it up yet. It started flurrying. Thank god tomm we start warming up again.

56 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

took me a few days to get ya a pic.

Thanks, simple and it works.

1 minute ago, GRiver said:

Thanks, simple and it works.

It really does lol. I thought it was kinda hoky at fist. But we’ve had rain,snow and a blizzard. And it held the cover up and worked just fine lol.

License plate mounted, registration stickers on, trolling motor and breaker wired. Everything heat shrank. A few tools in the small dry box. Ready for Saturday morning to see how it does

If you have a multimeter in one of those tool boxes, I'd bring it along come Saturday morning.

Just now, OkobojiEagle said:

If you have a multimeter in one of those tool boxes, I'd bring it along come Saturday morning.

I’ve got a couple good multimeters. Why’s that though?

Since you have 'new' wiring and electroncs and you're relying on an electric motor to get you around, should there be any problems it's a good diagnostic tool.

My first trip out with the new boat last year I dropped the TM in the water and nothing. Flipped the switches, tried all the things, nothing. Checked the battery on my phone (Ibluetooth link) and it was good- 24V, 50 AH full charge. A multimeter down the line would have picked up the problem immediately instead of me tying off at a random dock and trying everything while my blood pressure went through the roof. (it was the breaker- I had hit the button and not reset it).

57 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Since you have 'new' wiring and electroncs and you're relying on an electric motor to get you around, should there be any problems it's a good diagnostic tool.

My first trip out with the new boat last year I dropped the TM in the water and nothing. Flipped the switches, tried all the things, nothing. Checked the battery on my phone (Ibluetooth link) and it was good- 24V, 50 AH full charge. A multimeter down the line would have picked up the problem immediately instead of me tying off at a random dock and trying everything while my blood pressure went through the roof. (it was the breaker- I had hit the button and not reset it).

lol those things happen. I can throw it in there. 12 volt is second nature to me. Did it forever and ever lol. I’ll throw it and a test light in there to

I don’t have a boat or know how to wire everything up but this is like a small instruction video. I love watching your progress here. Super excited for your maiden voyage. 👍

You’ll have to setup a fishing schedule so we can all participate as a co-angler and test out your new ride. 😂

There’s nothing like a “LIVE REVIEW”.

Keep the flow going sir!!

18 minutes ago, FLYING HIGH said:

I don’t have a boat or know how to wire everything up but this is like a small instruction video. I love watching your progress here. Super excited for your maiden voyage. 👍

You’ll have to setup a fishing schedule so we can all participate as a co-angler and test out your new ride. 😂

There’s nothing like a “LIVE REVIEW”.

Keep the flow going sir!!

Thank you!! I was diesel mechanic for 20 years up until 7 months ago. A boats 12 volt wiring is about as simple as you can get lol. Anyone can do it especially with the resources we have today for information. I will gladLu keep the thread alive with updates and pics.

Thought I’d throw some back story in here. I started bass fishing hardcore about 12 years ago in west central Florida. Grew up there. I grew up fishing the intercoastal water ways and piers and beaches for inshore fish. First floating vessel I had was an old 14 foot aluminum canoe given to me.

After a while the paddles were put down for a $20 trolling motor bracket from a co worker. And the cheapest trolling motor Walmart sold at the time. I travelled all over floridas bayous and mangrove bays and oyster beds chasing snook and redfish. Grass flats for miles fishing for sea trout. And spent a ton of time on two local lakes. Flipping and casting anytime I could. The canoe did leak when you got done for the day ya had a little bit of standing water in it. But it was a lot of fun and a low dollar investment. Free and $120 for the motor and mount. And 3 cans of ace hardware brand rust oleum paint for the inside.

I think a lot of us on here, started the same way. From bank or bridge fishing to canoe or anything that floated.

24 minutes ago, GRiver said:

I think a lot of us on here, started the same way. From bank or bridge fishing to canoe or anything that floated.

It’s a great way to start!

Had a boat back in the 90s....had to sell it. Then went shore, canoe, Bass Trek....natural progression of a 'water-bug' 🤪

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Had a boat back in the 90s....had to sell it. Then went shore, canoe, Bass Trek....natural progression of a 'water-bug' 🤪

Love it!

On 3/17/2026 at 1:59 PM, Joedodge said:

Boat and trailer are registered. And I took a play from the kayak guys play book. Bought a small utility box. And now that the shop I work for supplies all my tools I have 6 of these Milwaukee 12 volt 5.0 amp hour batteries. Made a small battery box that sits out of site and won’t be stepped on in the bow. Buttttt I think the transducer may be bad lol. Not positive. But it certainly acts wonky.

Was the transducer in water? If it's just in open air it'll show strange stuff...

23 minutes ago, Fastbee said:

Was the transducer in water? If it's just in open air it'll show strange stuff...

lol yeah open air. I’ve never had a graph of any kind. Even in Florida with canoes and kayaks. And fishing bass and salt water flats. @Pat Brown explained to me that it won’t work out of water. Learn something new every day lol. Definitely a dumb moment for me after I looked up how the transducer works

I enjoyed the photos of younger Joe!

As far the progression from bank to canoe to motorboat, I went bank to motorboat to canoe.

56 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

I enjoyed the photos of younger Joe!

As far the progression from bank to canoe to motorboat, I went bank to motorboat to canoe.

lol I found a few more only one of them is in my canoe though. Alligator lake is where all these canoe photos are from. Except the one of my son that’s a bayou we used to flats fish in. One of the photos is the bayou and oyster bed fields we fished a lot.

Ok. Long post alert so ya may wana skip lol

Got to the lake at about 7:15. Almost hit a deer on the way. But other than that the ride went well. Got backed in and tied to the dock no issues. I cruised around and fished till about 10:00. Boat cruised along just fine. Lil tippy like I expected. I found out I’m not in my late 20s anymore lol. Used to stand in an aluminum canoe no issues. Lil more wobbly 10 years later haha. The boat did not leak a single drop of water though. So I was absolutely thrilled with that!!!

The good-

The boat did not leak a drop, trolling motors worked amazing. I need to loosen the tension screws on the foot pedal for steering a lil. I really had to work to turn. And I honestly may put a recessed tray for the pedal. Stiff kneed for 3 hours kinda sucked lol. I ran around on about 2-3 on the bow mount and ran around on high on the old 36 pound thrust. 3 hours and the battery only dropped from 14.5 to 13.4 took 2.5 hours at home on a 10 amp charger to be fully charged again.

( yes I brought a meter for everyone who was worried about the battery)

The bad-

The small lowrance that came on the boat is junk. It read water temp well.

43-46 degrees depending where I was. But it doesn’t read depth properly and goes blank when ever it wants. This lake has about 18 inches of visibility. And at one point I was turning up mud and it said I was in 6 feet of water lol. Trailer it to leave is a pain in the butt. But I have no outboard to power load. So it’s expected. Ended up shoes and socks off and jeans rolled up to walk out and hook the winch up. So I’ll have to bring flip flops and a towel lol.

All In all. I had an amazing morning! And love the little boat. And I’m happy with the progress so far!!!

I had to run to fleet farm to get my wife polyurethane she’s restoring our dining room table. And they had a display unit lowrance hook 5 ss on super clearance. About 50 percent off so it came home and is installed now for the next trip.

Sweet! Nice work

2 hours ago, Joedodge said:

You went from fishing your local ponds on foot, to most of Iowa now depending on the weather.

I'd say time and money WELL SPENT.