fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

[smoothcannibal]

i tried searching and didn't come up with anything. when i get my tax return i want to finally get a fish finder to go with my 10 ft intex excursion i received for christmas. i am having a hard time finding which finders i can use alkaline batts with. i don't want to spend more than 200 bux on it. the only ones i have been able to figure out that use alkalines are the humminbird fishin buddy series. most depth i would be fishing in would be around 50 or 60 feet tops. any big water lakes i would just stick close to the shore. any help would be appreciated.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

Why screw around with alkaline batteries. Buy any standard locator and use a small 12 volt battery that can be recharged. The small gel cells can be had for less than 20 bucks (12 on sale) and will operate a locator for a very long time. For what you want to spend you get the locator, battery and charger.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

I read this morning from another thread that someone bought a Fishmark 320 from Cabelas for about $100. That is a good unit.

Combine it with a little rechargeable like what silvertip suggests: would be perfect with this. You can mount the transducer to a wood bracket off the back. That's cheap and fairly high performance.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

I bought a portable Humminbird unit for $80 on ebay last year. Comes with a 12v rechargeable battery that is very small and lightweight.

Nice unit, B&W, depth max is lke 600ft, beeps when fish swim by and you can set it very dim to save battery life

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

I use a 7ah gel cell that cost $16.99 to run the starter and charge the ignitor for my R/C airplanes. One of those airplanes is a 25cc gasser. That battery sees much more severe service than it would powering a locator. I charge it about once a month. The Fishmark 320 is a good locator. Not a color unit but they don't have to be.

 

[arks]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

I use an old Eagle portable fishfinder on my Jonboat. It has a battery compartment that takes 8- D cells. Works pretty well, and I picked it up used for only 30 bucks.
Here's a similar one currently on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Eable-Strata-12...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca9957fbf

Not a fish finder, but another option would be to get one of those HawkEye depth finders. I use one when kayaking. It looks like a flashlight. They don't work in depths under 3' but they have a thermometer, which is handy.
Image:

 

[smoothcannibal]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

okay thanks. i have never had a fish finder and seemed like they all required a big marine battery. trying to save weight and space. i'll have to look into a small battery. definitely opens what i can get then for sure.

 

[bowman316]

Re: fish finders that run on ordinary batteries

my buddy ran a fish finder off a golf cart battery. they don't use much juice.