Rigging Bowfishing boat questions??

[ofishil]

I went on my first bow fishing trip with a guide around a month ago and had alot of fun. I was thinking of rigging my saltwater boat up with some EASILY REMOVABLE lights and drag it up to some freshwater lakes and try it by myself. I was going to see if I can pick your minds a bit. I was thinking of using wood or pvc to make a light rig that can be easily removed. Anyone have any ideas?

Also what kind of light do you guys recommend? And generator?

And last question. How do you wire it up so all the lights run off the generator? The guide also had his trolling motor running off the generator also but if it ran out of gas it would then automatically start running off the battery. How do you wire that up?

I attached a photo of a boat that is like mine but thats not my boat.
Thanks

[TxSuperDad]

Man you didnt get any hits on this.

Bowfishing like anything else you have your different opinions and everybody is gonna do something different and their way.

Chevy vs Ford

Matthews vs Hoyt

Halogen lights vs Sodium lights Ect...


It really is gonna come down to how often are you actually go go to bow fishing..

After I started bowfishing and inbetween having boats I would just throw a couple of 500 watt haogen lights on the front. The ones I use are on longer type stand and the light adj up and down.

I just set them up on the edge of the side of the boat and pointed them down. Threw a generator on and strapped it down and ran a couple of extension cords... Load and unload when your done..

If its just you two 500 watts lights is plenty and your prob only gonna be able to shoot one side of the boat and troll at the same time. With only two lights you could get by with a small generator.


If you wanted something more stable you could find some type of mounting brackets that would attach to the boat and then the lights would screw in or attach one way or another. Then you can just pull them off and put them on when needed.

If you end up wanting to putt alot of light you can wire them all together and then leave the last one with a plug and then just plug it directly the generator.



As far as the trolling motor goes I am trying to figure this out myself. I think depend on what your generator is putting out compared to the trolling motor you have to have an invertor.

I am waiting to hear back for a answer on this my self so when I get it I will post it.. I havent been able to find any good info online for it..

Oh and you could build a rack out of pvs to mount the lights too and then just take it on an off. I did this with my last boat and Know others that have as well.

[stuntriderant]

I use 300 watt halogens. Get some round floor flanges and some short conduit with a female adapter. I believe they need to be half inch. You can put this together and screw the floor flanges into some 2x4s that are removeable and screw the halo on top of the conduit. As far as wiring, all I did was cut an extension cord on the female end. Strip the wires back and run them through the bottom of the conduit up to where the halo is gonna screw in. Wire it up and plug it in. Let me find some pics.

[stickman]

From what I have experienced; Honda generators are really quiet, as far as lights go its really about budget, and wiring can be fairly crude as long as you silicone fittings/connections to keep the water out. I am trying to gather all the goodies to rig out my aluminum boat as well. Good luck!

[BowBobby]

econolight has the best prices on lights anywhere. You can get 300 watt halo's for 9.00 each

[Ol Thumper]

Drive up and we can build you a removable set up out of mild steel or aluminum

[txcountryboy86]

Drive up and we can build you a removable set up out of mild steel or aluminum

What kind of price range are we talkin about cause im looking to have one built this summer as well for my duck boat

[TxSuperDad]

What kind of price range are we talkin about cause im looking to have one built this summer as well for my duck boat

Thats gonna be a looooooonnnnggggg drive... You might need to go ahead and switch to that boat at some time too

[LeanMachine]

Well here is my advice. I've bowfished my fair share of several different boats and have done some guiding as well. Take it or leave it.

Build your deck as short as possible. Tall decks only benefit in daytime and look dumb.

Put the lights under the deck. Less stuff on top is less stuff for line to tangle on.

I've always built the deck frame from mild steel and then put plywood on top. Outdoor carpet will add traction and make it look more finished.

[Stick1]

Well here is my advice. I've bowfished my fair share of several different boats and have done some guiding as well. Take it or leave it.

Build your deck as short as possible. Tall decks only benefit in daytime and look dumb.

Put the lights under the deck. Less stuff on top is less stuff for line to tangle on.

I've always built the deck frame from mild steel and then put plywood on top. Outdoor carpet will add traction and make it look more finished.

This is all solid advice! Couple more benefits to having the lights UNDER the deck is that you wont be fighting as much glare, and most importantly, it will keep SOME of the gnats down lower and out of your face Really hard to see anything with 2 or 3 of the little things stuck in your eye We used to do pretty well running 4 or 5 250-300 watt lights. I actually prefer them to the 500's because they create less glare when the water is off color but still provide plenty of useful light.

[LeanMachine]

This is all solid advice! Couple more benefits to having the lights UNDER the deck is that you wont be fighting as much glare, and most importantly, it will keep SOME of the gnats down lower and out of your face Really hard to see anything with 2 or 3 of the little things stuck in your eye We used to do pretty well running 4 or 5 250-300 watt lights. I actually prefer them to the 500's because they create less glare when the water is off color but still provide plenty of useful light.

yea and those bugs taste terrible! I will agree with the 300 watt lights. They will pull less load, burn less gas, and let your generator run quieter.

[Low Fence]

i've looked into trolling on a generator, and to do it with a 24v will cost you several THOUSAND$$$ in conversions. I can troll as long as you want to fish on two continental batteries..........or 4 golf cart batteries

[TxSuperDad]

Ok just got word from my source.. This the operation that he runs on his boat.


You will need a power converter between the trolling motor and generator.


If you are running a 24 volt Trolling motor you will need two converters.

2400 watt generator is more then enough to power a 80lb trolling motor.


Now he suggest certain brands and what not but to each their own.. His suggestions for a certain brand converter was $150 each.

Im sure you can find some cheaper that would work just fine especially if not using the set up alot.

But thats it.. Just need a converter to run between the two items.

[killerbee]

I had a century center console..... I used rod holders to hold four 500watt lights..... It worked great

[killerbee]

Mine hung over the gunnals so their was no glare....didnt have to modify my boat at all.