BowFishing Country banner

Hello to all, beginner trying to get set up.

1 reading
1.5K views 19 replies 10 participants last post by  Dgreece  
#1 ·
Hi to everyone!
This is my first time to post on the forum and I'm digging this place! I have done a little bow fishing for a few years from the bank but now I am trying to set up my 1442 G3 to do light duty fishing at night especially. However, I don't have a clue the best way to set it up. Two people will be shooting from this boat so space is limited. Plus I know weight will have to be balanced as good as possible. I am going to be getting the champion 3500W generator for the boat and other things as a multipurpose generator.
Questions:
1. I'm not sure what kind of lights I am going to go with yet, halo's or the hps's or how many I will need to have a decent rig. I would rather not spend a ton of money on fancy stuff when this rig won't be used heavily or real often.
2. What is the best way to physically connect the lights to the generator? Remember, I know little to nothing about this stuff so please forgive my ignorance. I tried to find answers to this before posting but couldn't. Perhaps I overlooked them but everything I found was way over my head.
3. I have read confusing comments about where to put the generator on a small boat. Some have said all the way in the back for better balance. Others have said the front for better balance. What do yall think? Front or back for better balance?

Sorry to dump so much on at once but I'm very ignorant. Thanks for any help!
 
#4 ·
I would go with halogens if you're looking for less cost.......and all you do is plug them in.....run some extension cords and plug them in....it wont look the best but its cheap and works. u should stop bowfishing now while ur still not addicted.....
 
#7 ·
Welcome.
Yep genny in the back, halo lights will be the cheapest. Id run 6 300-350 watt halos(you can buy 500 watt work lights for $8 each and put 300 watt bulbs in em.) run two on each side and two in the front.
Get a couple power strips and run an extention cord and plug em in brother. I would recomend not having the cords just laying all over, you will trip (from experience). I shot alot of fish under a set up like this. I love my HPS lights that I have now but they are heavy and expensive.
 
#8 ·
Welcome from S.C.
There was alot of good info on the old site before it crashed. Put the genny in the back, or close to it, and run whatever light you can afford. Halogens are cheap, put out decent light, but pull alot of amps for the light output. We run HPS lights and I highly recommend them. They put out alot of light for the amp draw, and work good in clear or murky water. They cost more than Halogens and weigh more, something to consider on a small boat. It all comes down to what you want to spend, and what will work best for you.
Good Luck and Good Fishing!!!
 
#9 ·
Wow, that didn't take long to get some help. I appreciate it!
Mudfish, I don't really have a set amount of money because I don't know what is the better bang for the buck. Not only what's cheaper but what's a better value? What would be the better way to go? Halo or Hps for the money? I am in college and don't have much extra, to say the least. In fact I'm selling my long bow to help fund the genny so, things are tight. But, I don't like buying junk OR something I'll regret not saving longer for and getting something better. Make sense?

TXBA,
I hear that, that's funny.
The owners manual for the gen says that the normal plug (I don't know the fancy words) is:

(7) 120 V 20 A Receptacle – This
receptacle powers 120 Volt AC, single phase,
60 Hz loads requiring up to 2400 Watts of
power.

Seems like that's limiting myself 400 watts that I could use on a 3500W genny and still stay at the 80% mark. I might be incorrect though.
Here's the link to the owners manual.
http://cpeauto.com/man/gen/46514 Manual.pdf
On page 10 it has the pictures.
I think but am not sure I can buy an adapter that would use the three prong twist lock plug that says:

(4) 120 /240 V 30 A Twist-Lock –
protected by a 15 A push-to-reset circuit
breaker on each 120 Volt leg of the
receptacle. This receptacle powers 240 Volt
AC, 60 Hz, single phase loads requiring up
to 14.6 A or 3500 Watts of power. If an L14-
30P plug is wired for only one 120 Volt leg
(3-wire connection) then this receptacle
powers 120 Volt AC, 60 Hz, single phase
loads requiring up to 15 A or 1800 Watts of
power.

I feel way over my head here! Thanks again for helping me out everyone!
 
#14 ·
I love my champion genny and run halos too. I say go with (6) 300w halos 2 on ea. side and 2 up front.
runs 3 to one plug and 3 to the other plug. it will be way below the 80% on the genny and will be split even (3 and 3) on the plugs. get out on the water and have fun without breaking the bank. upgrade later when your out of school or get some hps for grad gift! lol
 
#17 · (Edited)
Do you guys think going with the normal plug a with limit of 2400W (#7 on my large post) is the best or trying to use an adapter to use (#4 on large post) to get those extra 400W and still stay at 80% of 3500W which is 2800W.

I sure hope I'm not just being a moron asking these questions, I really appreciate it guys.

nrut,
The owners manual says it only has one plug that's normal. Am I missing something?