The "Ghost Rider" has auxiliary power...

[Chalk]

Finally got two minutes to mount the Minn Kota on to the Ghost....I bought the removable mount so I can switch the trolling motot over to the little boat when it's finished.....I was amazed at how sturdy it was....Need some batteries now and sometime to fish....

Periscope up....


Got it as close to the boat as I could...


Once the motor is removed this is all that's left...

[noleflyfisher]

Very nice Chalk. I've got the same mounting system and have no complaints whatsoever. I'm looking at the Lifeline and Odyssey AGMs to repower my trolling motor but don't know if I'm willing to drop two and a half bills on a battery (particularly when I'm trying to convince my wife that a PowerPole is a necessary piece of equipment).

[Chalk]

I know what you mean about those Odyssey's...I have chatted with a few owners that say they are good, but I wonder if they want me to feel their pain Their reserve capacity does not mathematically add up and there specs are a little out of sync with other battery specs .....I have decided it will be either an Optima D34M ($145.00 ea.) or AC Delco Voyager M24MF (around $80.00)...They both weigh the same, the Delco is a touch bigger....Delco's are wet cell and the Optima is dry cell.....I'm gonna buy either two Delcos or one Optima tomorrow

My Xmas wish list was a jack plate, trim tabs, Stiffy Hybrid push pole and a power pole...Keyword is wish

[catchin1]

I like the Hooters hugger.

[T Smith]

nice rig Chalk, the trolling motor should work nice and really be usefull fishing in the bay.

I do have one question and you might have said somewhere else or it might be obvious and I'm just missing something, but what in the world is that in your new avatar???

noleflyfisher too, we took our little girl for christmas pictures last week and we couldn't get her to sit still for anything. How did you get that redfish to cooperate. I mean you got a redfish and a fly rod balanced on a polling platfrom on a rocking boat, Nice work

[RC]

Chalk

I have a pair of the optima 34's for my trolling bats. Have a 24v minkota autopilot.

I am really disappointed with these batts. They are probably great for starting applications but they don't last like those big old heavy deka AGM's on my other boat.

I have also been looking at the Oddysea bats. I had them on my Hell's Bay back when they were called trolling thunders. I had that boat 6 years and they were still good when I sold it.

I am about to decide that for trolling applications there is no substitute for weight. More lead more reserve capacity.

I would like to hear from someone with experience with the Oddysea's.

I did install a Stealth Charger and it has really helped with keeping my trolling bats charged. It charges on the run. Pricey but it works.

Speaking of auxiliary power, twice a trolling motor has saved me. Once the drive shaft on my 25HP broke outside the Aucilla River and we trolling motored all the way back to the Econfina Landing. Another time a friends boat quit, when we were tarpon fishing, almost to West Pass and we trolling motored back to Indian Pass. Its nice to be able to keep moving even if it is slow.

[Chalk]

RC....Remember we talked about the odyssey's awhile back......Batteries.....I'm still not convinced on the Reserve Capacity on the Odyssey's.....I might have to call them and see if they can explain it to me....I understand it has a longer life (being able to accept alot more rechargings), but I am interested in Reserve Capacity i.e. more trolling and more fishing....

How much trolling time could you get out of the trolling thunders, before they lost power?

[RC]

They were very small, motorcycle size I think they were 650's, and I had a 42lb great white on a Hell's Bay 16. I could fish about a half a day fishing the mangroves.

I mostly poled that boat. Llived on Merrit Island and only used a trolling motor when I fished the mangroves for snook.

As I said previously I now have the optima's, 34's, and I am not impressed.

I think you are probably right about the odysea's. I think, for trolling applications, you can't beat a big old heavy lead acid battery. I had some deka AGM batteries that were tough as all get out and will probably go back to them when the optimas bite the dust.

Sure would like to find a lighter bat that would do the job but from past experience I don't think its going to happen.

[Sea Gurl]

TS said "I do have one question and you might have said somewhere else or it might be obvious and I'm just missing something, but what in the world is that in your new avatar??? "

I wondered the same thing T S but didn't want to show my ignorance to something that's probably obvious to others but now that you've brought it up......

Come on a enlighten us Chalk.
Sea Gurl

[wevans]

Put teeth where the "bling bling" is at

[Reel Slow]

Sweet rig job there Chalk. I've got the same mount and it is great. Much better than the old slide in aluminum mount I had on the last boat.

[Chalk]

Well it took all day and some of yesterday....a trip to Autozone, West marine, Pep boys and Home Depot but I finally got the batteries and the trolling motor does work (long different story )......Can't wait to try it out on the water....Watch out Mr. Redfish here I come....

[RC]

Are those the Optima's.

Looks like a nice installation in tight quarters.

[Chalk]

Yes...D34M's....It's tight no doubt

[RC]

That's what I have but I'm pushing a 21' bay boat.

Keep me posted about how long you can run your trolling motor with them.

I have an autopilot and found out the hard way you have to unplug it to keep from discharging your batts.

They have been completely discharged and left that way for a while a few times. May have damaged them. They don't seem to hold a charge like they should.