[mg2969]

Check out your local Wal-Mart, they still have fishfinders on double clearance from last year. I picked up a Eagle Cuda 242 that had been on clearance for $65 and then marked down again to $49. I have not yet mounted it due to issues with my new Prowler 13, however I did run a baseline test.

I went to radio shack and purchased 2 different 8 AA battery holders for $1.99 each. The only difference is shape. One is rectangular and the other is square. Since I really haven't figured out how I want to mount it yet I figured on just purchasing both.

I also purchased a bag of 9 volt battery connectors ( yes I know 8 AAs produce more than 9 volts) . The battery holders have a 9 volt connector, so it makes the whole process easier.

Tied in the connector to the fishfinder cable and added a fuse (which comes with the fishfinder) in line. Added 8 fully charged Duracell 2500mAH AA batteries to the battery holder. Connected 9v connector. Powered up the Cuda and was showing steady and reliable 11V.

I successfully ran the fishfinder for 8 hours straight and the voltage had dropped to 10.3 V and was still going strong.

Since I both kayak with the wife and also fish on my own on days off I wanted to have a removable system. My current thought is to use the most forward cup holder and mount the batteries (square holder) in a watertight contatiner and FF right above it with the transducer cable going through the forward gaspachi hatch on the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13.