Yep. Looking into that but not sure where to mount the panel. Plus I spent TOO MUCH on this already so solar will have to wait for next season.
Also installed some nav lights and new rod holders. Have sourced hydraulic steering and other goodies.
Where’s the pier? Is this boat for ocean/bay fishing or lake fishing?
The pier is Port Sorell. The boat, when finished, will be predominantly for lake and estuary fishing for trout and bream but occasionally out in small bays and poking out, inshore, on calm days for the odd snapper and kingfish expedition.
As it is, i am just dummying the parts together for testing and then i’ll install the fore and aft casting decks, console and proper rod storage, etc…
I’ve been to Port Sorell before, a nice stretch of water. I was down there for the flyfishing, Little Pine etc in the highlands.
Yep, keen to have a suitable boat for fly and lure casting. Love the idea of controlled drifts and anchor functions on the bowmount GPS motor. Plus the side scanning sounder for seeking submerged structure, etc. Runabouts just aren’t very good for this kind of angling.
Better than nothing, although the Great Lakes can get pretty wild sometimes.
Wading is better than trying to flyfish out of your average runabout…
Decks on this thing will be as clear of tangling obtsicals as possible and allow for a good angle of view into the water for spotting cruising fish. Also, dealing with anchors in a runabout is a complete nightmare.
Far out that’s a lot of motor for that hull…be careful with your turns at speed.
Have a think about putting a dcdc charger from your boat alternator to charge your deep cycle whilst your running around on the main motor, will help stretch out how much you can get out of your deep cycle.
If your on mains power, consider running heat lamps instead of a gas heater, let’s you put the heat and light right where you need it rather than trying to heat up the whole shed.
Yeah… I won’t be doing “turns” at speed! Minor deviations only!
Off grid so heat lamps won’t do it.
When your ready to drop some cash on a solar panel, consider getting a flexible one. You can roll it up and stow it when you don’t want it, and get it out and lay it on the deck or the ground at camp when you want it
Yep, looking at flexi jobbies. Would ideally like it permanently fixed to the boat for a constant trickle charge but where, is the question!??!
I was thinking maybe wrapped around the front of the console.
I have a small (5 watt) panel on the front of my console. It keeps up with the house battery (vhf radio, stereo, GPS) but does almost nothing for the deep cycle for the trolling motor
I reckon I could just about wrap a 60w flexi panel around the front of the 800mm wide centre console.
Sounds like a plan
Bit of an update… Back into the project in full swing!
There are another couple of vids of progress on the channel and more on the way…
Righto… back out there and into it…
Looking good.
I love the “yeah I busted it” comment.
I see fishing rod holders but where’s the gun rack?
Dunno… maybe a can install a cannon rearward…?
Now we are talking. Easier than fishing.
After dummying in my console mouldings, i’m not sure if the casting deck needs to be so long…
Any feed back appreciated.