06-20-2009, 08:30 PM
I have finished a few more mods. Here are some pics.
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This is the battery tray and rod holder installed. This rod holder is for when I am changing flies/lures. Much more secure than sticking the rod under my thigh to hold.
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This is the new seat I put on. Gives my back quite a bit more support. Got it from Cabela's on sale for under $50. It only weighs a tiny bit more than the original seat.
[inline 0605091921a.jpg]
Here is the new fish finder installed. I went with a Humminbird 580-GPS. I did not really need color, but I did want the GPS and maps for marking fish and also for the MPH for when I troll.
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This is the transducer mount and GPS mount. I made it from a mop handle that extents and retracts by the use of a twist lock. Works great and is nice to just slide the transducer up and into a safe position for loading and unloading.
[inline 0607091141a.jpg]
This is a front view of everything the way it looks. I took it out to Springfield yesterday for a trial run and to check out the Optima battery I bought. I was running a 55lb trust trolling motor and had the fish finder on the whole time which was about 6.5 hours. I did try and troll for the first 45 mins, but it was to weedy and the trolling motor handle hit the seat. The battery seemed to hold up fine and it charges quickly. Everything worked good other than I noticed that having a trolling motor on with the seat all the way back does not work so well. If it was not for having the swivel on the seat, I would have had to use the trolling motor backwards all day. I could turn the handle around, but I think I will move the shelf back about 6" so I can use the trolling motor like it is designed and also give me room when I swivel the seat around to put my legs on the shelf. I find that this works very well when trolling. I have the motor between my knees so it is easy to steer and I also have the rods in the rod holders within easy reach facing backwards. I do not have to worry about looking over my shoulder all the time to watch for a strike. I have also learned to stand up on the standing platform with out the lean bar on calm water. Works quite well and is great for sight fishing. I seen fishing swimming every where. I also noticed having the raised seat that casting from the sitting position is just as natural and easy as standing is. I think with a few minor tweaks I will have the perfect pontoon setup for me. I still am going to try the roll up cutting board for a little added protecting.
I did pretty good at Springfield once I figured out what they were eating. I caught 9 and kept one. All were 17"+ with the largest that I kept at 20". I had a newbie moment all day tho. Instead of checking the first fish I caught and inspecting the stomach contents, I fished all day changing flies until I found what worked. I knew there was a hatch going on, but did not pay much attention to it. This did not dawn on me until I was cleaning my fish and noticed the tons of insects in its mouth and stomach. I felt like an idiot about then. Oh well, maybe I will remember next time.
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[inline 0607091235.jpg]
This is the battery tray and rod holder installed. This rod holder is for when I am changing flies/lures. Much more secure than sticking the rod under my thigh to hold.
[inline 0605091921.jpg]
This is the new seat I put on. Gives my back quite a bit more support. Got it from Cabela's on sale for under $50. It only weighs a tiny bit more than the original seat.
[inline 0605091921a.jpg]
Here is the new fish finder installed. I went with a Humminbird 580-GPS. I did not really need color, but I did want the GPS and maps for marking fish and also for the MPH for when I troll.
[inline 0605091940.jpg]
This is the transducer mount and GPS mount. I made it from a mop handle that extents and retracts by the use of a twist lock. Works great and is nice to just slide the transducer up and into a safe position for loading and unloading.
[inline 0607091141a.jpg]
This is a front view of everything the way it looks. I took it out to Springfield yesterday for a trial run and to check out the Optima battery I bought. I was running a 55lb trust trolling motor and had the fish finder on the whole time which was about 6.5 hours. I did try and troll for the first 45 mins, but it was to weedy and the trolling motor handle hit the seat. The battery seemed to hold up fine and it charges quickly. Everything worked good other than I noticed that having a trolling motor on with the seat all the way back does not work so well. If it was not for having the swivel on the seat, I would have had to use the trolling motor backwards all day. I could turn the handle around, but I think I will move the shelf back about 6" so I can use the trolling motor like it is designed and also give me room when I swivel the seat around to put my legs on the shelf. I find that this works very well when trolling. I have the motor between my knees so it is easy to steer and I also have the rods in the rod holders within easy reach facing backwards. I do not have to worry about looking over my shoulder all the time to watch for a strike. I have also learned to stand up on the standing platform with out the lean bar on calm water. Works quite well and is great for sight fishing. I seen fishing swimming every where. I also noticed having the raised seat that casting from the sitting position is just as natural and easy as standing is. I think with a few minor tweaks I will have the perfect pontoon setup for me. I still am going to try the roll up cutting board for a little added protecting.
I did pretty good at Springfield once I figured out what they were eating. I caught 9 and kept one. All were 17"+ with the largest that I kept at 20". I had a newbie moment all day tho. Instead of checking the first fish I caught and inspecting the stomach contents, I fished all day changing flies until I found what worked. I knew there was a hatch going on, but did not pay much attention to it. This did not dawn on me until I was cleaning my fish and noticed the tons of insects in its mouth and stomach. I felt like an idiot about then. Oh well, maybe I will remember next time.
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