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16ft xpress build

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Andys08

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I bought this boat 3 months ago just started working on it last week and I think it's going good so far just had a few questions for you guys

1) is a Honda 2000 enough to run 4 400w hps sodiums( digital balast)
2) will those 4 lights be enough light
3)who makes a good weld on hinge
4) I need a ballast box but not sure how to go about it. Would like it to be removable easily so I can store it indoor when not in use. And ideas?

I'll post pics on the progress
 
#4 ·
Andys08 said:
I bought this boat 3 months ago just started working on it last week and I think it's going good so far just had a few questions for you guys

1) is a Honda 2000 enough to run 4 400w hps sodiums( digital balast)
2) will those 4 lights be enough light
3)who makes a good weld on hinge
4) I need a ballast box but not sure how to go about it. Would like it to be removable easily so I can store it indoor when not in use. And ideas?

I'll post pics on the progress
Click to expand...
1) The honda will run the lights but it will be completely maxed out....It will handle them better if you have digital ballasts. This will also make building a ballast box easier. I ran my 4 400 magnetics on a champion 2000 inverter and it ran them ok but I only done it for a minute. Not an entire night.
2) If you angle the front 2 lights so that they match the front angle of the boat, then put the side lights straight out then it will be fine. I have 4 400s and 4 250s on my boat and sometimes when I need to run a charger on the genny I will fish with just the 400s. It does fine but my front 2 400s point exactly straight forward and my sides point straight out sideways so there is a little bit of a dark area where the sides and front meet. The dark area is still brighter than an led boat though.
3) IDK
4)If you use digitals then just mount them to a board and make a place for it to slide into under the deck like a kitchen drawer (you could do this by welding two pieces of angle iron under the deck and the board would lay on the inside legs of the angle iron), if you use magnetic you can mount all the ballasts to a board that fits inside of a big toolbox from lowes. mount a 120v computer case fan from ebay on the side of it to keep it kill and drill some holes on the other side for the air to exit.
 
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#5 ·
Welcome to BFC Andy. I am a big fan of Xpress boats, just bought my second one. There are a few recent build threads for Xpress on here.

1) As far as your 4 400w HPS on a Honda 2000...per calculations it will run it, but you are right at the limit. A Honda 2000 is rated at 1600w/13.3A which is exactly your load with the 4 lights and I believe you should run at 80% of that.
2) I know many who fish with much less than 4 400w HPS, all depends on what type water you fish and your preference.
3) Don't know about the hinge.
4) I would mount the ballast under your front deck.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Thanks I decided to go bigger on genny really wanted small and quit but if I add later on would be nice to have the power. I ended up using stainless hinges with rivets. Ended up making a small aluminum box for ballast not done yet but should be tomorrow. How tall should I make the light rail was thinking it would be nice to have 20in to lean the knee against any thoughts
 
#8 ·
Andys08 said:
What's better 3100w champion invertor or sportsman 3500w invertor generator
Click to expand...
3100 watt champion is definitely better. Champions have great reputations on here. I personally wouldnt make the rail that high. I would go 14" max. anything higher and it just gets in the way. You will be trying to shoot around it all night long.
 
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#9 ·
Do a mockup on the rail. Start with a height that is below your knee. Then check to make sure that the lower limb of your bow won't strike it when you shoot by trying different positions. The one that usually causes trouble is when you go to shoot along side your boat. If the rail is installed and then you decide that it's too tall you can always lop some off it. I went with Champion generators because of their reputation. I have no complaints about them yet.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Had the tubing bent and welded it in last night. As soon as I got everything in place rain hit so had to move inside. Pictures aren't the best but you can get the idea I made the rail 16" I had a buddy hold the light and rail up while I was on the deck and I thought it looked good.

Hopefully I can get all the lights mounted tonight then take them off and decide on a paint. I'll be painting it to match my boat like another member just did. Only thing I'm unsure of is what to put on the floor don't wanna bust my but because it's to slick
Rear cover isn't finished but I did rivet it on so I could take my wife for a river ride on Sunday
 
#14 ·
Andys08 said:
Had the tubing bent and welded it in last night. As soon as I got everything in place rain hit so had to move inside. Pictures aren't the best but you can get the idea I made the rail 16" I had a buddy hold the light and rail up while I was on the deck and I thought it looked good.

View attachment 151322

Hopefully I can get all the lights mounted tonight then take them off and decide on a paint. I'll be painting it to match my boat like another member just did. Only thing I'm unsure of is what to put on the floor don't wanna bust my but because it's to slick

View attachment 151330
Rear cover isn't finished but I did rivet it on so I could take my wife for a river ride on Sunday
Click to expand...
The boat looks like its coming together nice. How do you like the eastwood tig? Will it weld aluminum well?
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
awaldro7 said:
The boat looks like its coming together nice. How do you like the eastwood tig? Will it weld aluminum well?
Click to expand...
I like the welder a lot i opened the first one and it didn't work something with the circuit board being bad so they sent another and no problems. I'm no professional welder or anything but I'm really happy with how well my welds are turning out hardest part so far was welding the tubing I'm not very good at following it around the back.

The first one is on top the deck. Second was the first night with it like weld 5 or 6
 
#18 ·
Looks good to me. Is it the 200 amp dc model?
 
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