Looking for install ideas - Dragon Fly 7 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

goldenglory18 · 08-29-2017, 12:28 PM

All,

I'm preparing to buy all the required stuff to install my Dragon Fly 7pro, and looking for some inspiration. Anyone have some favorite projects they have seen/tried/referenced that you'd like to share?

Here is what I'm considering:

*Wet, over the gunnel ducer install. Possibly RAM, possibly DIY. No Scotty.
*Track mount + RAM arm screen mount. 1" should work
*Simple drybox battery, but setup for either home or auto 12v charging
*Blue Sea Systems wire and cable management

Any and all ideas/suggestions are appreciated!

CrazzyGar · 08-29-2017, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

All,

I'm preparing to buy all the required stuff to install my Dragon Fly 7pro, and looking for some inspiration. Anyone have some favorite projects they have seen/tried/referenced that you'd like to share?

Here is what I'm considering:

*Wet, over the gunnel ducer install. Possibly RAM, possibly DIY. No Scotty.

*Track mount + RAM arm screen mount. 1" should work

*Simple drybox battery, but setup for either home or auto 12v charging

*Blue Sea Systems wire and cable management

Any and all ideas/suggestions are appreciated!

On which Kayak...?

That will make a difference.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GTboosted · 08-29-2017, 01:04 PM

If you don't have a rudder don't put it over the side. I had an arm on mine and it created enough drag that it needed slight paddling correction. Luckily I had a rudder on my old tarpon 140.

Under water is your best option. Now I have a lowrance ready kayak but my next move on the tarpon would have been to install the ducer in a scupper hole closer to the front. That way it doesn't get damaged when I drag the kayak.

I see a bunch of people waste time on battery boxes. Imo they are not needed. Just clean an lube the plugs.

goldenglory18 · 08-29-2017, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazzyGar

On which Kayak...?

That will make a difference.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fair point.... 2016 Ride 135. No rudder, no in-scupper option for 'ducer (the Raymarine transducer is HUGE.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTboosted

If you don't have a rudder don't put it over the side. I had an arm on mine and it created enough drag that it needed slight paddling correction. Luckily I had a rudder on my old tarpon 140.

Under water is your best option. Now I have a lowrance ready kayak but my next move on the tarpon would have been to install the ducer in a scupper hole closer to the front. That way it doesn't get damaged when I drag the kayak.

I see a bunch of people waste time on battery boxes. Imo they are not needed. Just clean an lube the plugs.

Hmmm, not sure why it would cause THAT much drag, but it makes sense.

The battery box is a must when you have a less-than sealed hull.

GTboosted · 08-29-2017, 02:12 PM

It wasn't that much but enough to be annoying. Enough that I was going to redo it. Lol

As far as the battery box goes, it all depends on how much water you planning on taking in. My cheap $10 12v 9ah batteries are fully sealed and sometimes sit in water in my PA. In my tarpon, they would sometimes sit in a inch or two of water after rolling in the surf with no issues. Never even blew the inline fuse either.

Dave Legacy · 08-29-2017, 02:22 PM

I use a ram arm and it makes a little noise, but less than my paddling. Also, the drag is there, but not enough to bother me - I bring up the arm when I'm focused on reaching a destination anyway. The ram arm isn't ideal, but it meets my realistic expectations of it.

Amish Ed · 08-29-2017, 04:20 PM

I've been using a Madfrog TDA since they came out (long before they were in my signature). On my Ride I have the TDA on the track mount, the battery goes in a drybag in the footwell with the extra transducer cable, and the head unit is on a Ram mount above the cup holder.

I have a rudder now, but this is the first time I've had one. Drag is negligible. If on a really long paddle, I too just flip it up.

The way I have mine setup is obviously not good for beach launching, but I never surf launch. So, it's a non-issue. If I did regular surf launches I'd move the battery and extra cable inside the yak.

StumpFisher · 08-29-2017, 05:36 PM

For battery options I picked up a lithium nocqua power pro battery. A little more expensive than the classic bricks but is all self contained with water proof attachment to FF provided and is super small/light weight which I love. They have 4.4 AH and 10AH and since I don't have a livewell I can get away with just the 4.4 AH for my FF. Haven't done a full day yet but rated to be able to handle 6-8 hours for FF alone. $80 on sale on Austin kayak right now. The 10AH is $130.

08-29-2017, 12:28 PM	#1
goldenglory18 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Seattle Area Posts: 861	Looking for install ideas - Dragon Fly 7 All, I'm preparing to buy all the required stuff to install my Dragon Fly 7pro, and looking for some inspiration. Anyone have some favorite projects they have seen/tried/referenced that you'd like to share? Here is what I'm considering: Wet, over the gunnel ducer install. Possibly RAM, possibly DIY. No Scotty. Track mount + RAM arm screen mount. 1" should work Simple drybox battery, but setup for either home or auto 12v charging Blue Sea Systems wire and cable management Any and all ideas/suggestions are appreciated!

08-29-2017, 01:04 PM	#3
GTboosted Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lake Balboa, The Valley Posts: 425	If you don't have a rudder don't put it over the side. I had an arm on mine and it created enough drag that it needed slight paddling correction. Luckily I had a rudder on my old tarpon 140. Under water is your best option. Now I have a lowrance ready kayak but my next move on the tarpon would have been to install the ducer in a scupper hole closer to the front. That way it doesn't get damaged when I drag the kayak. I see a bunch of people waste time on battery boxes. Imo they are not needed. Just clean an lube the plugs. __________________ -Beto

08-29-2017, 02:12 PM	#5
GTboosted Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lake Balboa, The Valley Posts: 425	It wasn't that much but enough to be annoying. Enough that I was going to redo it. Lol As far as the battery box goes, it all depends on how much water you planning on taking in. My cheap $10 12v 9ah batteries are fully sealed and sometimes sit in water in my PA. In my tarpon, they would sometimes sit in a inch or two of water after rolling in the surf with no issues. Never even blew the inline fuse either. __________________ -Beto

08-29-2017, 04:20 PM	#7
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	I've been using a Madfrog TDA since they came out (long before they were in my signature). On my Ride I have the TDA on the track mount, the battery goes in a drybag in the footwell with the extra transducer cable, and the head unit is on a Ram mount above the cup holder. I have a rudder now, but this is the first time I've had one. Drag is negligible. If on a really long paddle, I too just flip it up. The way I have mine setup is obviously not good for beach launching, but I never surf launch. So, it's a non-issue. If I did regular surf launches I'd move the battery and extra cable inside the yak. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

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08-29-2017, 02:22 PM	#6
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	I use a ram arm and it makes a little noise, but less than my paddling. Also, the drag is there, but not enough to bother me - I bring up the arm when I'm focused on reaching a destination anyway. The ram arm isn't ideal, but it meets my realistic expectations of it.

08-29-2017, 05:36 PM	#8
StumpFisher Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Riverside Posts: 52	For battery options I picked up a lithium nocqua power pro battery. A little more expensive than the classic bricks but is all self contained with water proof attachment to FF provided and is super small/light weight which I love. They have 4.4 AH and 10AH and since I don't have a livewell I can get away with just the 4.4 AH for my FF. Haven't done a full day yet but rated to be able to handle 6-8 hours for FF alone. $80 on sale on Austin kayak right now. The 10AH is $130.