Quote Originally Posted by DockShootinJack View Post
The more I think about the voltage regulator. The more it seems like a possible fail point. I do realize that it would not leave you stranded yet I get very few days a month to get on the water. Having your electronics crap out on you would put a damper on the day. I work with robotics and industrial automation. Electronics crapping out at the worst possible time keeps me employed well that and operators that find the right pushbutton combinations to lock up the controls system. Buying the cells and building your own battery would be a good way to go.
One of my boats is a Key West 1720 which has the battery compartment in the stern for both my batteries.
The factory prewired for the bow trolling motor, but there is no good way to get a wire up there for a seperate fish finder.
There is an anchor compartment however which i dont really need for fresh water fishing.
So i bought an ammo box and installed a small gel cell battery in that.
I also installed a small charging unit in there.
I only use a small basic fish finder unit up there which does have down imaging.
I can run that unit for 2 full days without recharging.
I can also remove the whole setup by just removing the ammo box and unpluging the wires.
There are some holes in the box sides for feeding the wires, but i drilled a small one in the bottom also for drainage if necessary.