Kayaking, Diving, Skiing, & Surfing Forum. - GPS/Fishfinder on kayak?

Hey guys, I was reading Florida Fishing Weekly for this week and they had a nice article of ocean fishing from a kayak. The guide the author went out with had a GPS/Fishfinder hooked up on his yak which was interesting. He had it hooked up to a dry-cell battery and a small pvc pipe that held the transitor. Has anyone on here done it? The GPS/Fishfinder was similar to a humminbird Piranha Max. First of all, what is a dry-cell battery? And also how to you recharge the battery?

I tried finding the article on FloridaFishingWeekly.com but its not on there yet. It is in the magazine that came out today with the two guys holding a big tarpon on the cover.

Any comments?

Garmin makes some portable units. My father rigs his boats with them.

Just a question, do you plan on going that far out that you need a gps to find you way back in?
As far as ocean fishing goes, aren't you worried about hooking into something bigger then the yak you are in? :o :(
As far as charging the battery, why not put a small small solar panel on the top side of the yah aft of you, that's what I'd do. ;)

Garett - 9/21/2006 10:34 AM

Just a question, do you plan on going that far out that you need a gps to find you way back in?
As far as ocean fishing goes, aren't you worried about hooking into something bigger then the yak you are in? :o :(
As far as charging the battery, why not put a small small solar panel on the top side of the yah aft of you, that's what I'd do. ;)

I don't have a kayak but plan on buying one soon. As far as the ocean, I'd never go into the ocean, I was curious if anyone has a GPS/fishfinder on thier kayak. And yes I'd be afraid of hooking a big fish that would pull me around. But it seems to be catching on down here in florida. Not something I'd do.

I have one on both of my yaks, my Hobie Outback has a Matrix 17 interfaced to GPS so I can get back to my launch at night or in fog and get trolling speed. I regularly fish offshore and it runs for a week on a 7amp sealed battery. I'll upload some pics. Or you can have a look at my photo album here under my screenname.

PS it will take a good sized fish to pull you around. I have caught kings, albies and citation stripers none of them pull that hard.... they do try;)

Here are some of Familyman's pix

http://www.thehulltruth.com/photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=19803

http://www.thehulltruth.com/photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=19802

What's the lifejacket in that picture?

Also, like the color but would never think of kayaking the ocean in South Florida in anything other than very bright yellow!

;cool;

Hey Wiley, that is my buddy Mike, he is wearing a full drysuit and PFD. This is a pic from earlier this year off of Nags Head, we hit the beach in Jan for some well fed ocean stripers. We have to pick our days but usually catch our limit then fish for fun. There is a lot of planning and safety gear on these trips as the water temps are in the 50's. Don't have to worry much about other boats, lots of them are charters others are just curious. It is an awesome sight out there, fishing between diving gannets, finback and pilot whales and stripers.

Wiley, if your interested in ocean fishing from a kayak, check out this week's Florida Fishing Weekly, good article in there about it.
Familyman--nice setup you have!! When your battery dies, do you just buy a new one or recharge it? I really like your kayaks.

Just recharge it, it is the same battery used in UPS (battery back-up) systems and deer feeders...I think Cabelas sells them too. I installed it in a waterproof box and added a 12V plug that can power items and doubles as a charge point. I got 2 years out of my old one!

I have both on my Cobra also. I use a very small 12v motorcyle battery. It measures 4.5in.X3.5in.X2.5in. It lasts for quite a while and can be recharged like normal. The GPS is a AA powered. I mount the small battery in a wood box with a lid that seals that I expoxied to the floor of my Kayak up forward.

Chris