Rigging a Fish Finder - Part 2: Battery Power

You have found the perfect fish finder, and you are ready to start cutting, drilling and ultimately, fishing. Well, before you can do any of that, you must decide how to power the thing. You basically have two choices...one big rechargeable battery, or a bunch of small rechargeable batteries. These choices lead to various considerations:

• How much voltage does my fish finder need to operate?
• How many amp-hours (hours of use) will the batteries deliver?
• How much space and access do I have for mounting the power source?
• How much do I want to spend?

Probably the easiest way to go is to use rechargeable AA batteries that you can buy just about anywhere. Most of the fish finders that are appropriate for use on a kayak are designed for 12 volt marine batteries, and will operate within a range of 10 - 15 volts, so an array of eight AA batteries should work perfectly. Eight AA rechargeable batteries will typically deliver a little over 10 volts to the fish finder (usually about 1.3 volts per rechargeable battery, as opposed to 1.5 volts per carbon or alkaline battery). In fact, the fish finder I use on my kayaks requires at least 10 volts to operate, and with 8 AA batteries I am getting about 11 volts. As far as running time is concerned, my fish finder has a current drain of 180 milliamps (ma) every hour. Since I am using 2500 ma batteries, in "theory" I should get 13 hours of use from my fish finder before having to recharge the batteries. In reality, after about 4 - 6 hours the voltage output will drop below where the fish finder will operate. This setup is the smallest and lightest way to go, can usually be purchased (8 batteries and charger) for $20 - $30, but will give the shortest running time.

You can also use one larger, rechargeable battery for your fish finder kayak installation. There are many options, from home alarm panel backup batteries, to deer hunting auto-feeder batteries, to general purpose hobby batteries. Cabelas has a popular rechargeable battery that delivers 12 volts and 8 amps. The primary benefit of a larger battery is a much longer running time between charges. The main drawback is the larger size and weight of the battery. The Cabelas battery and charger is $30, which is an average price.

Now that you are all powered up, don't forget to check back for the next installment: mounting options.

Good Paddling

The Kayak Sportsman

Rigging a Fish Finder - Part 1: Choosing the Right Model

What should you look for in a fish / depth finder for a kayak? Well, the most obvious feature is portability. You need to find a unit that is small enough to carry or mount on a kayak, is powered by a voltage and amp range that can be served by a reasonably sized battery setup, and has enough features to make it useful. You also need to decide how big and how colorful you want the display screen, and what options you have for mounting the transducer. Of course, you have to find all of the above in a fish / depth finder that fits your budget.

There are a few "true" portable fish / depth finders on the market, with battery and transducer options designed for self-contained use, with no real installation needed. One popular series of portable fish finders is the "SmartCast" series by Humminbird. Eagle (a subsidiary of Lowrance) also makes a few models of portable fish finders. Although their performance can be variable, portable models are well suited for those who don't like the idea of making permanent alterations to their kayak.

Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance / Eagle are probably the four most widely used brands of compact and portable fish finders on kayaks. My suggestion is to do some research on their websites to compare features (you will find that there is a great deal of overlap between Lowrance and its Eagle products) and then look for user reviews. A great place for reviews is Amazon. A quick search on Amazon finds quite a few models available, with plenty of customer reviews for most of them. The prices on Amazon are also pretty good, but when you narrow it down to one or two models, you can verify the best price with a Google Shopping search. For example, here is a quick Google Shopping search for an Eagle Cuda 300 fish finder, sorted by lowest price first.

Since this series will be following the experience of KayakDoc, you will see in his pictures that he chose a Lowrance X50 DS. Remember, there is no right or wrong choice, only the choice that works best for you. The good thing is that since the X50 has a similar general shape, base, cable and transducer to many of the models most commonly mounted in kayaks, the experience will be similar for most of you.

Good luck in your search. Check back for the next installment: battery power.

Good Paddling

The Kayak Sportsman

Rigging a Fish Finder - Introduction

OK, so you have decided to take your kayak fishing to the next level. Your kayak has rod holders, and places for stowing gear, bait, and the fish you catch. You even have a handheld GPS in your pocket (hopefully on a leash!). And now all you need to complete your ultimate kayak fishing rig is a fish / depth finder. Not too long ago this would have sounded crazy, but as the sport of kayak fishing has matured, so have the options for boat customization. It should come as no surprise that small, battery-powered fish finders eventually found their way onto kayaks. In fact. some manufacturers even make fishing kayaks with dedicated mounting and stowage options for fish finders.

I have been using a fish / depth finder on two of my boats for several years now. So when one of my readers shared with me the story (and pictures) of how they mounted and rigged one to their kayak, I asked him to let me share his experience with all of you. This will be a multi-part series of blog posts that combines some tips and DIY how-to, links to other sites and references, and the pictures from faithful blog reader, KayakDoc.

Before you decide to run out and buy a fish finder for your kayak, you have to understand that rigging a kayak is quite serious stuff. If you have never drilled a hole in your kayak's hull, you must keep in mind that installing accessories on your kayak may:

• Void the warranty of your kayak
• Damage your kayak beyond repair
• Compromise the structural integrity of your kayak
• Allow your kayak to take on water
• Make your kayak dangerous and unsafe to operate

In other words...please be sure you are comfortable working with tools and adhesives, especially as they pertain to marine applications. Do not attempt this or any modification to your kayak if you do not have the skills and experience necessary to undertake the work described. If you decide to modify your kayak in any way, make sure you read and follow the safety instructions for all tools and supplies you will be using, and use the appropriate safety equipment (eye protection, dust mask, etc.). The blog posts that follow are meant for informational and educational purposes. If you decide to use this information in any way, you assume any and all risks.

Stay tuned for Part 1 - "Selecting a Fish / Depth Finder"

Good Paddling

The Kayak Sportsman

Beginner's Guide to Camping

I am assuming that all (most) of you are active kayakers, and many of you are also fishing from your kayaks. However, kayak camping is not quite as popular as other kayak-related activities. If you've never been camping on a beach after a long day of paddling, I highly recommend it. There are so many amazing places to paddle and camp (see this blog post) that you shouldn't have any problems finding a good spot near you.

For those of you that are master paddlers and anglers, but don't know how to pitch a tent, there are many great sources online to help you get started. I found an interesting article this morning that would be a great place to start for those of you who would like to try kayak camping.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Sportsman

Photo Credit: TripleBlaze

I'm Back...

Well, I know it has been a little while since I have posted on the blog and Twitter feed, but I am back. I sent out a quick "tweet" explaining what happened, but for those of you who missed it; Mrs. KayakSportsman suffered a pretty severe broken wrist, requiring surgery. She had to have four pins inserted into the broken bones to hold everything in place, so I had to play nurse-maid. Instead of kayaking, I've been running the house and catering to her needs as she recovers.

Let's just say that I like my regular job much better, and I give her all the credit in the world for doing what she does everyday to keep me and the two boys clothed, fed, and out of trouble!

But, as I said, I am back and ready to start posting again.

Thanks for your patience, and for the well wishes many of you sent along.

Sea Kayaking Safety

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that safety while kayaking is one of my top concerns. I am always on the hunt for anything that can help further the cause of safety, from articles to checklists, and I just found a pretty good article from an interesting source. Some of you may remember a company called Mariner Kayaks. Mariner Kayaks used to build and sell sea kayaks, from 1980 until 2008. Even though the business has closed, the former owners have left the website up as a reference. As long as they decide to keep them available, there are several excellent articles on the site that are worth reading.

The article that caught my eye is obviously the one about safety, but if you go to the home page and open the drop down menu on the left called manuals, you will see the list of articles available. The article is targeted at sea kayaking, but there is information there good for all kayakers.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Sportsman

Kayak Surfing

Now this looks like fun! One of the things I enjoy the most about kayaking in the ocean is playing in the waves near the shore. One of my boats is a short sit-on-top that has removable thigh straps, so it can handle even moderately challenging whitewater and waves. I don't use that kayak as much as I used to, but after watching this video trailer for a kayak surfing movie, I may just have to give my fishing and touring kayaks a rest.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Angler

Florida's Best Secret Beaches

If you are like me, you love a quiet stretch of beach where you can paddle, fish, swim, and even camp. You may remember a post I did last year about some of the best beach campsites in the US. The original article neglected to include one of my favorite beach campsites, Cape Sable in Everglades National Park, so I added my two cents. Well I just happened on an article about Florida's Best Secret Beaches, and again they neglected to mention my favorite!

Oh, well...I guess I just have to put in another shameless plug for Cape Sable.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Sportsman

Photo Credit: Florida Villas Today

Whitewater Adventures

Remember, the Kayak Sportsman is into all manner of kayaking, including the heart-pounding, whitewater variety. I will admit that I have never been over a waterfall much higher than about 8 feet, but I definitely admire those who have plunged over falls much higher. If you like crazy whitewater footage, then YouTube has you covered too.

Here is just one example of the many clips you can find there.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Sportsman

Kayak Fishing on TV

Have you ever seen an episode of Florida Sportsman's "Shallow Water Angler" television show? Well, as you can imagine, it highlights the best fishing that takes place in...you guessed it...shallow water! Well, here is a nice 8 minute segment from a recent episode that is all about kayak fishing, with Captain Mike Kogan, in Jacksonville, Florida.

YouTube is quite a gold mine for great kayaking videos, as a quick search will reveal. Do you have a favorite kayaking, fishing or camping video you would like to share? Email me (kayaksportsman@gmail.com), contact me via Twitter, or leave a comment below. I'll be sure to post the best ones right here on the blog.

Good Paddling!

The Kayak Sportsman