Bow Sonar

Soon, I plan on getting a sonar up front on the bow with a trolling motor mount transducer on my new Crestliner Superhawk. I want to mount it on a RAM mount somewhere on the front panel. The tough part will be wiring the power back to the rear starting battery.

I’m thinking of the Lowrance X135, or the X15, GPS not needed. Leaning toward the X135 due to price. I’m just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on these two units. Thanks.

I use a 18 amp gel cell battery up in the bow. I run a GPS,LCD and flasher. Batteries Plus has them. They run about $50. If your going to run one LCD, the 7amp battery will do just fine. The 7amp is the same battery used for flashers in the winter.

Isn’t there any existing wiring that you can tap into, rather than snaking new wires? If it’s accessable, the bow light wiring would probably do.

Dan

Thanks for those tips. I assumed I’d blow the lighting fuse circuit with the added draw. But evidentally, the sonars don’t draw that much.

Now I can’t wait for spring and soft water boat season.

MT Net, Those are both really nice units so you could really go with either one and be happy. That LCX-15 is on closeout at Jolly Ann Marine, which makes the price not all that much more than the X135. Something to consider, but like I said, that X135 is a very nice unit too.

Derek: Can you charge that 18A battery with the same charger as the 7A battery, or do I have do get a new charger for the higher capacity battery?

I use a standard deep cycle charger that has a 2amp setting. A milli-amp charger would probably draw too many amps and get a little hot. The 18 amp battery is basically a sealed motorcycle/tractor battery

I am very farmilliar with Crestliner boats. You should have two studs up front for electrical hook-up coming from a tilt or trim switch. Have a look, and keepa volt meter handy. Most all of their models have juice up there you can get into.
Tuck

Thanks for the tips. Now it’ll be a waiting game until I get the boat out of storage.

Net My friend!
What a coincidence. I just today bought a transducer set up to mount on my trolling motor for my fl-8 flasher. Its going the cheapo route; but it will work just fine. I’ve been going to long without the electronics up front.

Hey is your boat going to be parked on Vermilion or are you going to bring it south on occasions? Later sir!

dd

DD! How you doing? I’m anxious for the Opener. I hadn’t thought about running the Vex up front. Another consideration. I still like the idea of the X135, though.

Yep, the boat will sit on the lift on the V. Pops retires up there and said he’d take great care of it. Dang, he gets the fun of breaking it in.

Payback from high school, and gasless I suppose for all the times I borrowed his car and left it on MT.