MY2SONS

Well I've been saying for three years I wanted an autopilot and pulled the trigger and ordered the new ray marine ev 200 sport pilot Got it for 1750 with three day shipping (it was only 2 bucks more than regular shipping)from Hodges marine. Thanks for the recommendation Joel Reiser.

Congrats on the AP purchase. I bit the bullet too and bought one except I went with the Garmin GHP-10. Just finished the install last weekend. I took more time installing it than it should have because I replaced all the hydraulic lines to keep them short without having to create loops. Im ready for the sea trial if we ever ice out. Id be interested in how the installation goes on your rig.

I am looking to put an Auto Pilot on my 23ft Sea Swirl. I was just curious as to any recommendations for what kind/brand to look at. Thanks

Im currently installing a Garmin GHP-10 on my rig. I went with Garmin because of all the positive feedback on this system. Will be putting it to the test this Spring.

Ryan is correct and you may also need to consider some of the triple bank charger setups are isolated internally to allow you to charge 2 batteries in series at at 12v ea. Any load bank will be based off the weakest battery so hooking a new battery to a old tired battery will only give you the power of two old tired batteries.

Does it usually specify if the batteries are isolated internally on the charger? Ill have to dig up the paperwork on the unit to see if I can find anything on it. Appreciate the advice.

Ryan is correct and you may also need to consider some of the triple bank charger setups are isolated internally to allow you to charge 2 batteries in series at at 12v ea. Any load bank will be based off the weakest battery so hooking a new battery to a old tired battery will only give you the power of two old tired batteries.

Tbe two batteries in parallel are brand new.

No, I made the mistake of doing that on my setup and it was bad. When you connect two batteries in parallel they become one big battery and should only have one charger lead connected. You could disconnect one of the lines between the batteries to isolate them when charging and have a charger line going to each battery. When the charger is not running having the leads connected will not make any difference -- just don't forget to uncouple the batteries before turning it on.

Thanks for the advice. That helps a lot.

Having the batteries connected will not affect your electronics. The electronics are going to draw the amps they need to run -- having two batteries in parallel just makes one big 12v battery with twice the amp hour capacity. With the same load, double batteries will provide twice the running time.

As for the charger, only hook it to one of the batteries in the pair. It will charge both of the batteries but will take twice as long.

You will also want the batteries in the paring to be identical for best results. Both should be of the same size and of the same type (starting, combo, deep cycle). If they are of different capacities the larger one will only charge to the capacity of the smaller battery. Since starting batteries and deep cycle discharge differently you don't want to mix them in a parallel setup.

I have a similar setup on my boat but I have two batteries in parallel for my electronics and a separate battery for each of my two 90 hp outboards. I charge the two batteries each night and they last the whole next day running all of my electronics (three Raymarine 7" displays, 1 GPS, 1 VHV, FishHawk X4, & Autopilot) for 8-12 hours. I run my electric downriggers off of the engine batteries as their draw is too high in my opinion to run off the house/electronics batteries.

My boat has a 3 bank charger. One for each of the deep cycle batteries that are used for the electronics, and one for the starting battery. Can the two banks still be used for the two batteries in parallel?

I was considering hooking my two identical 12V batteries up in parallel to double my battery capacity when running my electronics when the main engine isnt running and charging them. My question is this. Since theyre hooked in parallel ( positive to positive, negative to negative) would the doubled amp hours affect my electronics in any way such as overheating the wires, etc. Also, I have a 3 bank charger on my boat and if the batteries are hooked in parallel would they have to be isolated from each other when being charged? Im hooking an AP to the batteries in parallel too because its controlling the kicker and the kicker doesnt charge the batteries when its running.

Theyre going to need some serious pain medication the next day. They were beat up pretty hard. Ouch.

On top of invading Asian carp and algae blooms, the Great Lakes are being polluted with tiny plastic polyethylene beads that appear in soap, body washes and toothpastes.

More...

I dont like the thought of anything polluting our great lakes, but come on. Whos funding the study for microbead contamination? There's bigger threats to the overall health of the lakes like sewage spills, dumping coal dust, and asian carp.

Has anyone here ever installed a Garmin GHP 10 on a Lund Pro-V with 150 Hp engine, and 9.9 Hp kicker, or any aluminum boat with outboards for that matter? I'm looking to possibly purchase one for my boat, but wondering if anyone had any experience (good, or bad) using an AP on a small (19') boat. I usually fish with a buddy of mine, and while he's setting lines I'm usually stuck steering the boat. This would make fishing a lot more enjoyable, and probably more productive since I'll be able to help set lines too instead of steering the boat.

Anybody have a unique idea, or method for holding planer boards when not in use? I'm trying to think of something creative that holds the boards securely, isn't too bulky, or cumbersome, yet is easily accessible.

My Mercury (Tohatsu) 9.9 Four stroke ProKicker is very hard starting, and idles rough. I realize some engines are "cold blooded", but I was wondering if anybody else who has one is experiencing the same thing. Please no Mercury bashing. We all have our favorites so If you don't like Merc's keep your opinions to yourself. I'm just looking for professional input to see if others had the same experience.

Anybody know where "the bowl" is located in Traverse City's West bay? I was told to try salmon fishing there and I only have two days up here. I have a 19' Lund Pro-V and I'm here July 7 & 8. Any help would be great

Rogers truck and automotive. Good honest guy. Been going to him for years. Has a shop in borculo.

Rogers is just across the field for me. Never thought of using him before. Have to check it out on future automotive repairs

Rogers truck and automotive. Good honest guy. Been going to him for years. Has a shop in borculo.

Rogers is just across the field for me. Never thought of using him before. Have to check it out on future automotive repairs

What month are you coming? Which bay do you plan to fish? How big is your boat and where are you planning to launch?

We're coming up over the 4th of July. I'm launching out of Grielickville (SP?). I have a 19' Lund Pro-V.

I'll be in Traverse City for a much needed vacation, and I'm taking my rig up with me to do some fishing on the bay. Looking for some advice on where to go to get into the fish. Any information would be helpful. Ill only be there a couple days so I'm hoping I can have some fish to eat.

Theyr're really not that difficult to install with the exception of routing the wire to keep everything out of sight. That's more time consuming than difficult. The instructions that come with the units are pretty self explanitory, and you save $$$.

I recently installed an X-4D on my boat, and I mounted the transducer to the right of my kicker motor to prevent prop wash from interfering with the signal. I set the angle according to the instructions, but when I took it out on the water to test it, the display was erratic in dusplay. It would occasionally give readings that were believable but then it would give some bogus readings. I didn't try seeing what the unit would do with the main engine on and the kicker off because we had to head back to the launch with two seasick kids. Anyway, anybody have this problem, and if so what did you do to correct it?

Great plans, great weather, lousy fishin, humble pie served as JUNE fishin holds true.

3:37 am, one of the crew bails out, decide to go anyway, 1 hr later than planned as I wait for the first mate to get out of bed. Pretty sunrise from the park n ride. Turns out BK now has donut holes...

Launch boat and there is another whaler launching next to us, but their boat wont start so we offer Rick n Dennis from Holland to go with us as we were short a pair of hands anyway. Seemed like nice guyz that appeared appreciative for the impulsive invite. Sucks to launch a boat and then NOT go. Didnt guarantee a fish but felt optimistic.

End result, 1 dink ho from a 300' copper on happy meal mag in 83 fow.

Pull lines at 11:00 discouraged, but still smiling, because I got to go fishing instead of yardwork.

A simple Thank you and goodbye would have been nice, albeit expected. Hell if I was in their tennis shoes, my M.O. is to offer to chip in a little $ for gas expenses...freaky deaky dutch...

So we dock and I head to get the trailer, these guys decide to duck out without saying goodbye let alone Thank you or a small token of appreciation. Those old guyz should know that a little courtesy and ettiquette go a long way and karma will catch up to you. Guess I'm old school and was raised differently.

Glad to say I leave Friday on a float plane for the canadian bush to get unplugged with my son and great comrades for 1 week of walleye. see u in July at the launch.

Well this says a lot about your character vs theirs. Too bad some people are so rude. Like they say "No good deed goes unpunished". Sad but sometimes true. Fish On!

Hope the picture(s) come through, but here's my new rig for 2013. She's a 19 foot 2012 Lund Pro-V with a 150 Hp Mercury Optimax Pro XS engine, and a 9.9 Hp kicker. Bought her new a month ago. I'm in the process of getting her rigged now, but so far I've installed two Cannon Digi-Troll IV downriggers, eight Berts ratcheting rod holders, two Berts swivel rod trees, Fish Hawk X4-D, Garmin 740S GPS, marine radio, and 3-bank pro battery charger. Hoping to get her wet for the first time soon. Still have to mount the transducer boards, and transducers hopefully this weekend. I'm having the mooring cover altered to fit around all the added gear so in the picture I have the windshield taken off.

I am so sick and tired of these "accidents" that cause everything from human waste to "slightly radioactive water" being dumped into our lake. Businesses, and people need to be held accountable for their actions. There should be multiple safety backups preventing anything toxic from making it into the lake. This is a precious resource people treat it like a damn dumping ground. Whether its the Badger dumping coal dust, the sewage treatment plant dumping thousands of gallons of **** into it, or Palisades letting "slightly radioactive water" into her. Pollution is pollution, and the idiots responsible need to be accountable. I don't care if its diluted. IT'S FU@$#£G RADIOACTIVE!

I'm installing a Garmin 740S with the lake maps on my boat. Heard good things about it, but I haven't had a chance to try it out.