Good evening all!

I have my Lowrance unit mounted into my kayak, and was wondering what are your recommendations for a charger and waterproofing box?

Also, do you recommend a solar battery charger to keep with you on the yak? I'm brand new at all of this so any recommendations would be helpful!

I just use a plastic Rubbermaid container with a slit cut in the lid, and a pair of rubber bands for extra tightness. Nothing fancy and it works for about $5. You shouldn't run out of power with a 7-8 amp battery, check how much your unit draws per hour.

A lot depends on the amp draw of your FF and the size of your battery, and how you plan on using it.

Hobie makes a 12v charger. Mariner Sails probably has it.
Black and Decker also makes one.

I like the idea of the solar charging...I have one and have never used it.

I'd like to see what you come up with on the battery box. I'll be installing a fish finder as soon I decide what to get.

Some guys have used the plastic box that Walmart caries in the boating area. The ones I use are clear orange and have a rubber seal with clips. Then they use a bulkhead fitting to go through the box. I'll post it if I find it later.

Tim

Fishfinder.com

I just use Velcro to stick the battery down.

That's what I did. I'm going to add some velcro and rubber to cover the terminals just in case.

I built a battery box out of a Project Box from Amazon. I added a vent on the box, which is recommended if you're gonna recharge it, and an in-line fuse.
I put a 1" hole in the box to bulkhead mount a SAE connector, and put the matching connector on both my fish finder and the battery charger.
I went a little overboard (ME? Never!) and put about $60 (plus the battery ) into it, but it works. I got some velcro at Malmart that I gooped down to the inside of the hull to keep it from sliding around. It's good enough for paddling, but I have to take it out when hauling it in the truck.
For a charger, I bought the matched charger at Gander Mountain when I bought the battery. I rigged up a spare SAE connector to attach the charger to my battery via the alligator clips that came with the charger.
A little advice, if you go that route, make one of the leads shorter than the other, or insulate it, so you don't blow your fuse. Experience points: 2.

If anyone is interested, I will take a few pics to add to the post later.

Kirk

I'm currently playing around with building a box centered around around USB to 12v setup so I can use a cheap phone/device li-ion battery to run my fish finder /LEDs. If I finalize my approach I'll post the components here. Double advantage is you could easily charge it from any car or solar charger designed to charge a phone.

Searsey,
Aren't all of the phone chargers 5v, and either 1 or 2 amp? Curious to know how you are going to make them operate a 12v ff? You got my curiosity going.

Voltage Step up 5v to 9v/12v (like this at amazon)- i'm still looking around I'd like to find a step up circut that can pull from dual USB feeds - May just end up making my own if I have to. pound for power it should be a very solid setup.

I won't claim this is the most cost effective setup though - for me though it's fun to figure out and is a nice convergence of what people(me) need (mobile charging) & ease of compatibility/price with existing items (solar panels, charge anywhere - since almost anyone has a phone charger w/ USB-C mini or similar) and is really light (my kayak is an ocean frenzy... any weight i can cut makes it a drier ride)

some additional facts
1) Many of these USB LI packs actually are 12-18v devices that step down the current for the USB ports
2) Some of the manufacturers are getting smart and adding direct feeds (see following link for overpriced XTpower)

For instance - i have the Anker battery for camping (and my wife uses it at work) - Anker LI-Ion

Example of a batter w/ a 9/12v feed - XTPower - if decide the step down circut(or making my own) is not a good match/use of my time - i might pawn off my anker battery and upgrade to one of the xtpower ones

My end game goal is to figure out a battery solution for my kayak that doubles outside of the kayak (camping, wife work, so on). Slips in/out of a box and is plug & play for charging and use.

That looks like a plan. I haven't looked at any of the back-up power cells in a while. 20,000 mAh. WOW. Granted, you won't get quite the same longevity at 12v that you would at 5v, but with a 2 amp or so draw from a fish finder, it should be more than plenty.
I wonder if it would be possible to use some of the batteries from the rechargeable drills to power on-board electronics? It would be heavier than what you are doing, but still lighter than a deer feeder battery. <insert chin-rubbing emoji here>
Never mind. I looked on Harbor Freight and found a 12V LI power cell and charger for $35 (minus the usual coupons). You would still have to build an attachment for it, and it's only 1300 mAh.
I hope you'll post pictures, once you get your setup finished.

Kirk B.

Battery box. I used my throw net box. made a hookup by using a 2 lead trailer hookup, cut a slit in the lid of the box for one end, other tied into FF, then made a similar hookup with alligator clips so I can charge it without removing from box. Clear box, has a handle and I velcro in the yak.

at academy they have a neat battery in a box with built in charger for a deer feeder about $40

The dewalt batteries for cordless tools works great for the fish finder. A friend of mine uses them. I'll get a pic next time we go out and post it.