Motorized my Cobra Fish and Dive. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Aaron&Julie · 12-20-2011, 03:08 AM

Nice setup. Very impressive.
We also use a deep cycle marine battery purchased from Walmart, only when we go on bug trips. It's called EverStart. The good, well under $100, the bad, they weigh over 50lbs. My digital scale only goes to 50lb (supposedly). I just weighed it, it showed 52lbs, but I always believed it to be 60-65lbs, which may be more accurate.
Also, supposedly, it's been known not to keep a charge very well, according to some blogs we've read. While it charges to about 12.8 or 12.9 Vdc, after 3 or 4 days it may dip down to 12.5 Vdc, or thereabouts. We just slap on a fresh charge right before leaving (maybe 10-15 minutes), and we're good for about 5 miles using our Minnekota "Endura" 30 lb. thrust trolling motors, which are mounted on a 2"x4", which is mounted on one of our milk crates. The 2"x4" extends off the side of our 'yaks. The crate also holds the battery in it, plus a 5 gallon bucket for holding our bugs. We occasionally will fish for halibut prior to bug fishing at night. When we do, we substitute a different 5 gallon bait bucket modified with a pump (also from Walmart) to keep 'dines alive.

12-20-2011, 03:08 AM	#12
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Nice setup. Very impressive. We also use a deep cycle marine battery purchased from Walmart, only when we go on bug trips. It's called EverStart. The good, well under $100, the bad, they weigh over 50lbs. My digital scale only goes to 50lb (supposedly). I just weighed it, it showed 52lbs, but I always believed it to be 60-65lbs, which may be more accurate. Also, supposedly, it's been known not to keep a charge very well, according to some blogs we've read. While it charges to about 12.8 or 12.9 Vdc, after 3 or 4 days it may dip down to 12.5 Vdc, or thereabouts. We just slap on a fresh charge right before leaving (maybe 10-15 minutes), and we're good for about 5 miles using our Minnekota "Endura" 30 lb. thrust trolling motors, which are mounted on a 2"x4", which is mounted on one of our milk crates. The 2"x4" extends off the side of our 'yaks. The crate also holds the battery in it, plus a 5 gallon bucket for holding our bugs. We occasionally will fish for halibut prior to bug fishing at night. When we do, we substitute a different 5 gallon bait bucket modified with a pump (also from Walmart) to keep 'dines alive. __________________ "Never say die"