Bowmount with spit lock

[Corry]

I'm running MK's on both boats, big one is 36v 112lb 72", it's a pain running two voltages, so I've hooked a 36v to 12v converter as the MK uses bugger all power and I want to be able to use it for other stuff as well.

My small one, that I swap between my 5m Top Ender and my 4m tinny is a 12v 55lb MK. It does the job really well with the 4m tinny, and does OK with the 5m, but could be better. As we fish a lot between NT and NQ/FNQ, I find it struggles on the 5m with the big tides, 6m+. In the normal tides it's quite ok up the estuaries as the wind doesn't have that much impact, offshore it does the job fine, but I don't take it out the front if it's blowing, so don't really contend with the wind side of things.

My little one being an older model, it'd be just over 10 years old now, chases the spot lock a bit, especially compared to my big one which is new (and has the extra GPS puck). This is enough that I'm looking at getting a new one to replace it, but only cause we're upgrading the boat as well.

Battery wise, the big one runs off a BLA 36v 100a Lithium, the little one when in the 4m tinny runs off a Marine 120a standard battery, and in the 5m I'm running a 100a AGM and 100a standard battery joined together, these both run the MK and the fridge.

If you can wait it's worth it to make sure you get what suits up front, once you have one, you'll never do without one again... then we can talk about live scope

[kingtin]

Ok thanks for that, do you have the gps puck for it as I would have thought that would help that . I’m not sure which way to go with battery as that’s all expensive as well and I want to have a bow mount bracket welded on the bow . It all builds quickly hmmmm .

The GPS is built into the geospot. If you search around for lifepo4 they can be found at only around double the price of agm nowadays (see Kings 4wd supacentre) and will outlast 3,4, or even more agms. I fish twice a week so that's a hundred times a year and my batteries are guaranteed for 2000 cycles so I'll be dead before they are. Also, agms lose power (output) the longer they run whereas lithiums don't. I used to do 6 knotts on NPD down to Bass Bay but coming back I was only doing two knotts due to AGM depletion. With lithiums I'm still doing 7 knotts at the end of a day's fishing. I often wondered if I would ever make it back to the ramp when I ran AGM's. I never felt secure running agms all day. In the salt, with the current you really can't afford to be losing power as the day drags on when lithiums are available. I was a pro photographer but sold all my camera gear just to have peace of mind to afford lifepo4's. I know that isn't an issue for those with outboards but I'm simply illustrating how much confidence I have in lithiums. I had to replace my agms around every 18 months and after over 2 yrs my lifepo4s are still putting out the same as when I bought 'em. Seriously, you won't regret it, despite the initial outlay.

[kingtin]

better as does my bigger 108 lb Motorguide yet another mates 112lb MK is not as responsive with it's 2 blade prop. Another mate used his 55lb on his converted 19' Haines Hunter (from cabin to CC) and offshore in good conditions it worked but not once the swell got up.
As to lithium batteries you shouldn't run them at full speed due to the constant high voltage rate.
Matt is talking 65lbs which is 10lbs greater, could make a difference.

Not a problem nowadays. The 65lb geospot only pulls 50 ampif you marry it to one of the the newer lifepo4's which are rated 100amp (Kings) and you can even find more expensive ones rated at 150amp

[bluefin59]

Ok thanks for all that information as I will start saving and get it right with such a massive outlay but if it works it works . Thanks so much for all that and will come back to this when I get some more cash to sort it . Matt

[Dignity]

Ok thanks for all that information as I will start saving and get it right with such a massive outlay but if it works it works . Thanks so much for all that and will come back to this when I get some more cash to sort it . Matt

I had a spare quick release base but have it to a mate recently. If you get to the stage of putting on your bracket and get a quick release base I'd be happy to loan you a leccy and battery to trial it.

[bluefin59]

I had a spare quick release base but have it to a mate recently. If you get to the stage of putting on your bracket and get a quick release base I'd be happy to loan you a leccy and battery to trial it.

Thanks for the offer it’s much appreciated but I’m putting it on the back burner for now as a t top or canopy is next on the list . Thanks again Matt