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Afalconsvick

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey guys-

I just go my 1st boat today, it's a 14' Lund. It came with a fishfinder and the guy I got it from says he connected the battery and the trolling motor to the same battery. Is it okay to do this? Also how much does it brain the battery by connecting the fish finder?

Thanks!

Also wanted to says thanks to BPM and twoglasseyes for answering all the questions I sent them via PM. Thanks guys! :)
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Question for you guys, I know I transfer the title for boat and trailer. How do I go about registering the boat with the IL DNR, or do I just have to renew it since the guy registered it before me?
 
#8 ·
coyote said:
Congrats kid, the big question is where are your primary fishing destinations goona be?
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My question as well!! Congrats.

In terms of your question, a basic fish finder does not drain much voltage at all. My first boat was a 14' with a TM and a small sonar unit. Both of them were hooked up to the same battery. I never turned the sonar off when fishing. No problems at all.
 
#9 ·
Tony ill be ready anytime you want to go out :D Are you going to keep the camo on it? Im happy you got a nice deal. im thinking about getting a sea eagle for smaller ponds cant store anything by my house sucks.
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
Hmm... now my dashboard lights and tail lights don't work, they worked last night. However, my brake lights and turn signals still work.. this every happen to anyone? Maybe a short or blown fuse? Any ideas?
 
#13 ·
Congrats on the boat! Watch out though, their money pits, at least if your creative. I constantly keep thinking of things I can do to improve it haha. Last summer I drilled out all the rivets in the center bench of my boat (14' jon boat) took out the tiny bench and built a whole big bench that has storage on the inside. that was fun.
 
#14 ·
not sure what your driving, but it most definitely can be a blown fuse. it happened to me like 8 months ago, my dashboard and tail lights went out and it ended up being a 10a or 15a fuse, i forget what it was labeled as. It was fun attempting to find and replace the fuse at 4 in the morning while a cop was shining his little flash light on my fuse panel. I got pulled over :( guess its a good thing my lights were out though because I was going like 20 over and he didn't even notice me drive by until I got further passed him haha kinda of scared me though because I figured he got me for speeding and then he walks up and says my taillights were out. yay
 
#18 ·
Tony,
I can't help you with the lights. Over my years of boating, trailer lights has been one of the most frustrating things to deal with when problems arise. Good luck on that one.

Check out this site: http://www.tinboats.net/

It has a lot of good info. One thing I did on my 14'er was to install a front casting deck. Actually, my dad pretty much installed the deck and I assisted but that's besides the point. It was carpeted with storage underneath. That deck made that boat a bass fishing machine. There are a lot of good places to hit with a boat like that. Just a thought. Good fishing.
 
#19 ·
Hmm... now my dashboard lights and tail lights don't work, they worked last night. However, my brake lights and turn signals still work.. this every happen to anyone? Maybe a short or blown fuse? Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Sounds like a fuse. The dash lights are usually on the same fuse as the tail lights so that you will notice they are out. :wink: Look in the manual for a fuse diagram to make sure you check the right one.
Other than that you should check the ground on the wiring harness for the trailer lights. Something may be shorting them out there. And one tip... Always disconnect your trailer lights before you launch a boat. Even if the lights say they are "waterproof". It will save you some fuses/bulbs.

For your question about the trolling motor and battery, I use the same battery often, but when I'm on my "nicer" boat up north on long outings I use a second smaller 12v battery for the depth finder and running/anchor lights. Any small 12v battery will power a depth finder. I like to save the big trolling motor battery when I'm out all day.
 
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twoglasseyes
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