Newbie's boat needs to be outfitted!

[dixrp]

Just getting into crappie fishing. I need to outfit my duck boat for fishing it is a 1648 Grizz open floor plan with just back pods and front deck. I know I need a trolling motor, fish finder, pedastel and seat for front deck. I am mostly going to be fishing oxbows off Miss River(in deer club inside levy at Mcgehee that has nice lakes), the Arkansas River around LR, Greers Ferry, and any good fishing spots within driving distance of Cabot, such as Lake Conway. I work sales in SouthEast Ark so will be fishing down there too.

What type of trolling motor: foot control or hand control? What size of thrust?

What type of electronics? Do I need gps in fish finder? I have hand held. Does tranducer need to be mounted on trolling motor or transome?

What else would you recomend? Any suggestion would be helpful. I do have some money budgeted for this project but sky not the limit, so only need basics now then add on from there. I have attached a few pics of boat.

[Slipcork]

Hey Dixrp.

I use a transom mounted toller motor with the handle turned around so that it works on the front. You can get a box welded on the front of the boat just wide enough to hang the tm on. Put you a tm plug for power. This way you can take it on and off for hunting quickly and there not much to get in the way when it's off. Go big on power. Just cuz it's there you don't have to use all of it. and a big tm will use less power on low that a smaller one will on high. And it's nice tho have the power if needed. I use a the biggest 12v MinnKota with the Maximizer in it. This unit has veriable speed, not a 1 2 3.
Send me a PM and I might be able to get you a real good price on any tm. and other goodies.

Go the best you can on fish finders. It is nice to have on e on back and front. If you use your hand held gps get a mount for it so that you can watch it without having to hold it.

That's a start.

[DRPEPPER]

I have never started a project from the ground before. I have a tiller trolling motor. I like having more control over the direction than you get with the foot operated. However, I have a foot button installed. The motor goes when I step on it. It helps make trolling more of a hands off operation. I have the original Graph that came with my boat in it's original position (transducer on the rear). I also have a Humingbird 535 that reads from the trolling motor. If you start hanging aroung with these guys, you will want a GPS unit. You will not need anything fancy. I use a garmin map 76. I have seen some guys with less expensive units and get the same results.
The options are endless. There was a thread last week with pictures of spider rigs and rod holders. Slab Bandit has been sharing some pictures of his rig and one of a buddy's he is helpng on.
I know CEB and maybe Slipcork have rigged boats from the ground like you are in for.
This sight is endless for resources. Try the search option at the top of the page.
DP

[SteveJ]

Check here:

http://www.myjonboat.com/

[ceb]

Hey Rob, the possiblities are endless. But if you intend to keep duck hunting out of that boat, you'd be better off to keep thing simple. For a few ideas...here's the modifications that I made to both of my boats... http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/showthread.php?t=27760

[slabbandit]

Hey dixrp, The first suggestion that comes to my mind...Buy a new paddle!
Seriously though, all these guys have great ideas. The best thing that you can do is to attend Crappie Camp and see how all the different boats are rigged out.

Good Luck!