Over the winter, with the ‘fun money’ account having been replenished after purchasing the boat last spring, I’ve slowly but steadily picked up the parts and pieces for the upgrades I wanted to do with the new boat. This past weekend it, mostly, all got installed and wanted to share a couple pics. The first is my finished console, 1199 main unit, I also added an extra base unit so I can bring the 788 (bow unit) into the console as well for times when I want full screen side imaging and the map up also. the 1199 and both 788 bases are then networked together and also hooked up to the terrova with i-pilot link system.
Now the ‘fun’ part. Sunday afternoon I went to install the onboard charger for the trolling batteries. My first spot was going to be tucked under the port side console, however it stuck out beyond the console, which I wasn’t thrilled about, and once holding it there it was a little too easy for it to get kicked/beat up there. So after thinking about a few other spots I settled on the covered area under the bow and running the cables along the same line the power to the TM does. I attempted doing this without pulling up the deck (second picture) but I just couldn’t get them through the chase and in, so off came the deck. I’ve got to give it to Lund though for knowing how to build something subject to a marine environment. 10 stainless screws later the deck popped right out and in less time than I spent figuring out exactly how the deck came off I had lines ran and deck back on. WAY easier than the ‘fun’ I had trying to install a bigger battery box in my tracker, stripped out/corroded galv. screws on that deck ended up in a complete rebuild of the front end of the boat.
On a side note, I recall there being a thread on here a while back with concern on the new humminbird ‘9’ series units and the internal GPS. Sitting in my garage I was getting a position error of about 17′ with the internal and 5′ with either the 788 internal (at the bow) or the old external I left on from the 757 I took off.
