Share Your Innovations

[FullFlavorPike]

*slow clap* Kudos to you, sir. That battery box is so awesome, and so doomed to corrosive failure

My rig uses a single voltage divider to split a 12v battery into 6v for the bait tank and 12v for the fish finder. Long story short, even that's too much wiring and I bought a 6v battery so I can rewire the whole system in a simpler fashion.

Unless you goop over all those switches that thing is going to short out in like one trip. Those ammo boxes aren't really that waterproof, either. I don;t mean to be a total hater, because that's an elegant and beautiful rig you built, but it's going to be a pain in your butthole.

[Wyota]

Thanks for the tips, I'll make some refinements and see if I can negate some of that, as I really don't want to be running 5 batteries for 5 systems, and I like a challenge!

I've got a few ideas to shore up the boxes rubber seal from my diving kit (bigger O-rings and silicone keeps water out of some of my stuff at 120 foot depth, I think it can handle the surf) and some sort of "over" rubber around the lid such as an innertube or something.

The switches will be the weak link. I had gooped where the switches went in, and they have the rubber seals and covers, but I'll add extra goop to help out and see if I can shore it up a bit.

I'll update after I have corrected and taken it out this weekend, as well as a couple weeks after that to see how she is holding up at that point.

[Wyota]

Well, based on your advice, I gooped the poop out of the switches (not so pretty now), and I decided to use a liberal amount of dielectric grease on the box seal. Took it out, and while it didn't get a full dunking, it got pretty wet. Appears to be no moisture whatsoever inside the box. Gotta give it a few more days to check for any moisture or corrosion, but appearts to be holding up pretty well. After use, have decided to mount the ff to the top of the box (assuming it passes the longer term corrosion test).

Goop is great!!!!!

Update: 16 days later and nary a bit of moisture or corrosion. I'll keep inspection, grease and regoop as needed as a critical pre op check and it should be fine. Now to build out the light rig.

[Modigity]

Made a bait tank out of a Marine Cooler and copied the workings of the hobie bait tank using the scuppers for water intake and drain. I chose this cooler since it fits snug in the back of the Pro Angler and already had knotches I can put the bungie cords. I also rigged a stadium seat to the back and works perfect for passengers.

[Wyota]

Originally Posted by Modigity

Made a bait tank out of a Marine Cooler and copied the workings of the hobie bait tank using the scuppers for water intake and drain. I chose this cooler since it fits snug in the back of the Pro Angler and already had knotches I can put the bungie cords. I also rigged a stadium seat to the back and works perfect for passengers.

Nice setup, I'll be pinching some of your ideas as I look to build one for myself.

Quick noob questions:

The black bulb inline to the inlet pipes. Is that so you can manually add water should the bilge pump not have power?

The pipe over the top/side: does that have holes in the underside for the water to flow in?

[YakDout]

Originally Posted by Wyota

Nice setup, I'll be pinching some of your ideas as I look to build one for myself.

Quick noob questions:

The black bulb inline to the inlet pipes. Is that so you can manually add water should the bilge pump not have power?

The pipe over the top/side: does that have holes in the underside for the water to flow in?

Its to prime the tank, instead of having to use forward propulsion to push water up the inlet under the scupper.

[Modigity]

Originally Posted by YakDout

Its to prime the tank, instead of having to use forward propulsion to push water up the inlet under the scupper.

Yes, its a primer so I can turn it on when im stationary.

[BigTunaL]

Originally Posted by Modigity

Made a bait tank out of a Marine Cooler and copied the workings of the hobie bait tank using the scuppers for water intake and drain. I chose this cooler since it fits snug in the back of the Pro Angler and already had knotches I can put the bungie cords. I also rigged a stadium seat to the back and works perfect for passengers.

Hello Modigity, I am going to duplicate your design
how did you fasten the pvc pipe inside the cooler that shoots water out? where did you get the priming pump? did you put a mesh/strainer at the end of the intake pvc pipe? what about check valves? did you use any?

Thank you

[JayDee]

Originally Posted by Modigity

Made a bait tank out of a Marine Cooler and copied the workings of the hobie bait tank using the scuppers for water intake and drain. I chose this cooler since it fits snug in the back of the Pro Angler and already had knotches I can put the bungie cords. I also rigged a stadium seat to the back and works perfect for passengers.

Where did you get your stadium seat? mind sharing the link to buy and any tip on installing it? Picking up my new PA14 here shortly and would love to take my daughter out in the bay with me.

Thanks!

[Mr. NiceGuy]

Originally Posted by JayDee

Where did you get your stadium seat? mind sharing the link to buy and any tip on installing it? Picking up my new PA14 here shortly and would love to take my daughter out in the bay with me.

Thanks!

Costco has offered nice quality stadium seats for the past couple of years for around $14. What you do with it depends on your own creativity and mechanical skills.

[Hunters Pa]

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

Costco has offered nice quality stadium seats for the past couple of years for around $14. What you do with it depends on your own creativity and mechanical skills.

Saw the stadium seats at Fullerton Costco yesterday. They didn’t have a ton, but other Costco’s should have them too. They are seasonal so grab one if you are considering it

FWIW, they are awesome on bleachers, which is what they are made for. My bony butt on metal stands can only take so much, but a weekend-long waterpolo tournament is comfortable.

[Wyota]

Well, despite being doomed to corrosive failure, the box is still going strong. Replaced a fuse once after letting her sit a while but the o-ringed covers on switches, goop on case rubber switch covers faul, and liberAL use of dialectric grease on the buss inside has kept her looking new. Run lights fishfinder, bait tank and marine radio off it all day with no issues.

Originally Posted by Wyota

Well, based on your advice, I gooped the poop out of the switches (not so pretty now), and I decided to use a liberal amount of dielectric grease on the box seal. Took it out, and while it didn't get a full dunking, it got pretty wet. Appears to be no moisture whatsoever inside the box. Gotta give it a few more days to check for any moisture or corrosion, but appearts to be holding up pretty well. After use, have decided to mount the ff to the top of the box (assuming it passes the longer term corrosion test).

Goop is great!!!!!

Update: 16 days later and nary a bit of moisture or corrosion. I'll keep inspection, grease and regoop as needed as a critical pre op check and it should be fine. Now to build out the light rig.