Question 1:
I have a 1989 18.5ft astro quickfire 18fs,
and it currently has a horrible TM on it ( i want to say like 36 lb thrust or something). Cannot move in the wind with it, almost lost my lower unit at the dam because the wind was blowing me back into it and turning me around etc. I was looking at a minn kota MAXXUM 70 LB 42"shaft with variable speed. Is this TM nice (your experience with it?) will it be fine for my boat? Also it says 24v, Ive been told that means I need 2 trolling batteries, at the moment I have 1 starter and 1 trolling battery, whats the situation there do I need another? Im going to pay someone to do a couple things to my boat and taking off the old TM and installing the new TM is one of those things. And Lastly does a 42 inch shaft sound like it would be fine judging by the picture? I never measured the exact distance to the water but it sits pretty low.


Question 2: I have a Lowrance 7 HDI, and I have a couple things with it. 1. Im not sure that its installed properly but i wouldnt imagine you could really do it wrong.
Here's a picture of the transducer.

I cant manage to find a sensitivity setting, and there ends up being too much of the "static" on the screen that is just movement or something, making it hard to see balls of baitfish or trees etc. I also cant manage to even see the damn screen when the sun is out, any suggestions on that would be great because i have to literally cover it with my hands and put my face right up to it just to see the depth.


ALL SUGGESTIONS, TIPS, AND HELP ARE APPRECIATED!

That should be enough power to handle your boat. Yes you need 2 Tmotor batteries and 1 cranker. The Tmotor batteries should be the same age and size (preferably 200 reserve capacity).

The angle of the screen is your seeing problem. Read your manual to find out the sensitivity setting.

Thanks dayne, I just put a new trolling battery in it last summer, is it okay if they are 1 year apart in age? Both being marine batteries.

It will probably work. Make sure both have the same reserve capacity or you may have issues.

Shaft length really depends on your boat. I do fine with a short one even in rough water. If you get to short, it will come out of the water if in rough stuff