laker1

I second the suggestion made by Cody191. Your kicker should always charge the main cranking battery. This is what I have done. I intend in the future to run a line from this battery with an isolator to either my electronic battery or to my trolling batteries. I expect this will have minimal effect because I usually go on short runs in Lake of the Woods. However I have been stranded and never again! Last year we had a famous musky hunter get stranded for 3 days in November in an open boat with daily snow living on bread and peanut butter.

My battery storage method in cold Canada is to pull them all out of the boats and charge them all one final time inside the insulated cottage upon a swimming float mat. The plastic in the mat keeps the batteries warm all winter. Then I cover the terminals with dialectic grease and the whole battery with a garbage bag. Dust on your terminals is your enemy. Periodically I check the batteries fluid and charge them thru the winter. Come spring my engines all start . (I also change all the oils every fall whether they need it every fall and fill the gas tanks with premium and Sea Foam to fight condensation.) It can be time consuming but the system works!

Thank you L & M and Sherman Brown. This has been an education. I have an old Humminbird 1197c that I just love. I bought it in April 2010. I thought I could move it to my second boat, but after a brief shakedown cruise I think it is ageing. My GPS no longer works etc. So rather drill more holes I am going to place this machine on the floor and continue to use it until it really dies. The other functions I use still work.

Hi, I am reluctant to drill thru my Lund Rebel consol. The consol appears to be hard plastic over aluminum. I wish to instal a Ram mount. Does anyone have any advice as to method and type of drill bit. I do not want to crack the consol. Just drill straight down and bolt her in. Probably with a wood base underneath. I wonder how do the professional riggers do it? Thanking all contributors in advance. jim

I have been told releases can damage my line. I would like to hear if anyone agrees with this (or not) and what they have done to protect their line. Currently I am using off shore releases with rubber bands fishing with either mono or braid.

Thank you, I have a circuit block. But this is good to know.

Do any of you use this? And does it make a difference? I never have but do have a Cannon rigger which will allow me to do this. Not trying to be controversial here but want to do a little fresh water research. My boat by the way is aluminum and I wonder if this is a factor?

Thank you Andre, I like the automatic charge concept. I will be in contact with Blue Sea. Hope they have a dealer in Canada. jim

Hi, I have in my Lund a circuit block connected to my cranking battery. I wish to connect my new sonar to a dedicated RV battery that is also connected in parallel to the cranking battery thru the circuit block. I am trying to have my Hondas first charge my cranking battery and then because I am using a parallel circuit charge the RV battery. Again the circuit block would be where I would connect (start) the parallel circuit. Now the question is where I should locate an isolator in the circuit to the RV battery? Should the inline isolator be close to the RV battery near the bow OR should the isolator originate at the stern after the circuit block at the beginning of the parallel circuit? I hope my request for assistance makes sense. Thanks Jim

Kicker Suggestions Have your main motor and your kicker both use the same gas line connections so if you have bad gas in one tank you still can get home. Ask me how I know! Can you hang your kicker on the Stanley transom next to your main power plant? I do this with my 17’ Lund. There are transom mounts made for four stroke kickers. Consider attaching hydro fins to your main power plant to assist you getting out of the hole. The fins help offset your kickers weight. Canadian gas quality can be very poor. An inline gas line water separator mounted before the main engine is used all the time around here. My kicker (Honda 8 hp ) also charges/maintains my main cranking battery. A circuit block is also a good idea - safe, to connect your accessaries with individual fuses. Good Luck

Thank you jim

Yet another question With two birds (Solix, cho and regular) linked together by ethernet wire and only one transducer can one unit run auto chart live while the other operates side imaging? I know I can operate gps/mapping with side imaging. Thanks in advance jim

There are many Canadians who do not agree with the open border immigration that has taken place!

Thank you jim

ok one question : After both birds are connected by ethernet in my boat. If I make an adjustment to the main bird say to sensitivity or to colour palette is this automatically reflected in the second bird,(cho)? Or do I adjust both birds one after the other? I can see advantages either way and that the systems may not be capable. jim

Thank you jim

Hi, I am looking at buying two serious Humminbirds (control head and full system) and connecting them by ethernet cable. I know that I will have to include a dedicated battery in the setup. Has anyone used the ethernet cable setup before? Have there been any concerns about electrical interference? Does the system work as advertised with instantaneous readout for both units? Thank you I would appreciate all and any input. jim