think it would well for the lights talking good quality bats. also could have a generator and whenever you take a break or run low if you ever did do some charging for a while.

 

What snake said get a quiet inverter generator you can talk just fine with one running and it wouldn't bother anyone

 

Lol. Strictly batteries, no generator or converters.

 

Well I guess 1770 flatbottom with a 90 hp Merc. Running the lights 24 volt and two sets of batts for the troller that will run you all night depending on the water lakes or river. I'm going to say your fishing river for Silvers and big head so this set up will work for you. But I would cut the batts in half and get a converter and inverter genny good luck on your decision.

 

To be honest I think that's a lot of weight fishing 4 guys and 7 batteries. I know my 1872 fishes 4 guys with 5 batteries great but I can tell a big difference once we have a barrel or two of fish.

 

Oh this is my kind of question!

You could do it with 5 total batteries, but they need to be the right kind of batteries.

I currently run an 1860, 74lb Troller, 24 x 27Watt LEDS, and run 4 batteries.

We run (2) Trojan T1275 150AH 82lbs each Golf Deep Cycle batteries for our lights, and during the open we ran for 10hrs and still had juice.

Our trolling motor runs off (2) Pro-Guide 31AGMs 110AH 66lbs each, and we can last 5-6 hours on a normal night of fishing. If we run hard, I have to hook up the genny but most other nights I'm fine. (We're switching to 36V this season for the longer run time and when we need more speed)

With this setup, we have 296lbs of batteries in the boat and the night of the open we doubled up just to be safe so we ran with 600lbs in Batteries alone haha.

You could most definitely could use the Trojan T1275 for your troller and have an Extra 80AH's of capacity on your trolling motor.

And if you wanted to shave some real weight, I'd use the heaviest CCA Lawn & Garden battery for a Starting battery.

It's not for everyone, or everyboat but it's worth it to me to run silent. Plus I'm a battery guy....

 

I know it can be done. I guess I'm mainly asking about boat and outboard size. I want the shortest, widest boat possible with the least amount of horsepower to meet my requirements (3-4 shooters, 5 hour run time, minimum 50 watt leds). I don't make long runs and the weight of the fish usually isn't much of a factor. Lol. 75% of the time I never crank the big motor.

 

Honda EU 2000 is quieter than 70 horse 4 stroke! I've got my boat set up to run quiet if I NEED to. That leads me to my only question.......Why do you want to run silent?

 

I've done the Honda thing and it sure beats a champion but the goal is complete silence. My last boat was silent (1748, 12-27 watters, 2-31 series batts, 80lb troller). I know Honda is what everyone is gonna say, including myself if I weren't asking the question. The COMPLETE silence is worth the trade off for me, even compared to a little inverter genny. So, what boat and motor combo?

 

I have a 21' Excel with a 115 Yammerhammer four stroke. 18 50w led 120v. 80lb 24v troller (not big enough with a load of fish). I have a 2500w inverter, so I can run on all batteries if needed, but the Hondas are so quiet, we rarely do. Sometimes I'll unload all the batteries, and run a pair of Hondas so they just idle. It's heavy when loaded, but we have fished 7 without any troubles. What part of the world do you call home, smashed?

 

Depends on the size of the guys. If it's four big guys, 1870 or bigger. If you don't motor much a 40 to 50 hp motor would work.

 

South Alabama. What would be your minimum size boat and motor for 3 guys and 7 batteries (maybe 4 batteries depending on lights and battery type)? I want short and wide with preferably a tiller outboard. The boat wil be used to bowfish, running jugs, and gator hunting.

 

Short and wide you say? :laugh: Check out my "Swamp Chicken" build thread. It's short and wide, and one of these days, it will be done.

 

I've been following that awesome thread. Need something a little bigger. I made due with a 1748, sd mud motor, Honda eu3000, and 4 guys for years. Yeah, loaded.

 

17' imo but the shorter you get the worse it will nose dive when fishing with guys up front.

 

Yeah, that's what I figured. If I go 17 I might as well go 18. If I go 18 I will need (want) a bigger outboard. If I get a bigger outboard I will need a console. With a bigger boat I will want more lights which will require more batteries and probably a generator. If I get a generator I will probably want a fan next. Never ending cycle. I think I may stick to my original plan except go 1770.

 

Here ya go.

 

To do my silent rig over again with your criterion. I would run 8 x 80w or 10x 50w on a flush deck on an 1860 flat front jon. I would power it with a 60-75hp outboard. I would troll with a 36v mk 112lb thrust (should easily get you through most of a night). Most importantly I would really think about how I fish and then wire my LEDs to multiple, easily accessable switches, so that power can be conserved when possible. One of the guys I met when I first got into bowfishing had his light switches mounted on his troller. Ingenious! As for batteries, I would go with the minimum and switch out as needed (sounded to me like you don't go to far from the launch).

 

We don't make long runs either and have a new fan boat on drawing/dreaming board, 1872 square front flat bottom with 15hp 4 stroke Yami and and 35 HP fan, was thinking dual set of actuators up front and if could run either fan or outboard as a kicker from the front...to save wieght and keep fan lower over the outboard

Back to your ????? The key to me was 3-4 people IMO 3=1860 minimum and 4=1872 minimum.

 

im confused, start from scratch and small then says 70 hp and 10-80s. are using "scratch" the way everyone else does or do you mean go buy a new production hull? what's your budget? do you want to be light weight and move slow or would you rather get a load up on plane? you don't need 10-80s unless your only lighting the front deck. if you're wanting more than 6' of the sides lit your gonna want to spread the light out more. side light vs. front light should be bout 1:3 meaning id would do 4- 80s forward and 12-30s on the sides. it would allow you to shoot the full length of the boat and only be 680 watt. of course id have them on multiple switches to keep amps down while only shooting one bank.

 

100 ways to look at it. id build a 1684 with a 115 tiller and 26" sides and 20" walk arounds. and a 112 troller. and roll like a boss! you don't need pods on the boat your trying to build you need width.

 

I think "small" went out the window when he started talking about 3-4 people shooting plus all the batteries to make "silent" happen. We did it on a 1648 but we also only ran a 12v/40lb thrust troller (which was too slow) 9.9hp outboard (also too slow) and two batteries for Led's which gave us about 3-4 hrs of light. Also when we fished places other than our clearer water, we struggled not having enough light (we had just short of 400w). It was nice to be silent but being limited to a 3 hr trip kinda sucked when you really got into the fish. Added the generator to be able to fish longer... And then wanted hps... And then wanted bigger boat...

 

I think "small" went out the window when he started talking about 3-4 people shooting plus all the batteries to make "silent" happen. We did it on a 1648 but we also only ran a 12v/40lb thrust troller (which was too slow) 9.9hp outboard (also too slow) and two batteries for Led's which gave us about 3-4 hrs of light. Also when we fished places other than our clearer water, we struggled not having enough light (we had just short of 400w). It was nice to be silent but beind limrited to a 3 hr trip kinda sucked when you really got into the fish. Added the generator to be able to fish longer... And then wanted hps... And then wanted bigger boat...

story of my life^^^^^^. you can shoot 3-4 off of a 1660 but its borderline safe. if he's planning on buying a hull a 70"+ wide boat is a must. a little alweld and a small outboard will be fine if he's not worried about getting anywhere fast. a 60 yammer with a 4 blade toon prop will haul a load fair enough. especially on a light production hull.

 

on most led rigs that cover in close and out a good distance takes more than just mounting 6 or 8 of the same light it is hard to cover the whole area we have both spot and flood wattage has to be pretty high.

 

I think you need 20X72 or 20X8, then I go with 2 trollers set up as kickers.
Running both a once.
:co:

 

Thanks for the replies. Everybody has different needs. Like I said before, I shot 4 off of a 1748 for years. The surface drive mudmotor could not get the boat on plane with 3 people and gear. When I say small, I mean the smallest boat that will still meet my criteria. The width is more important than the length. Pods were to help offset some of the weight of batteries, 4stroke outboard, and gas. The question was just as much for discussion as it was for information. I'm not new to boats or bowfishing but wanted some opinions of others who have maybe had short, wide boats in the past. Let me ask the question in another way to maybe simplify things a little. How would a 70hp push a 1670-1770 with 1200lbs in the boat? Just give me an educated guess.

 

on,t have a clue to the size water you get on but think about a safe rig if big water on a deep side 1770 believe if you could choose at least 100 horses.

 

I have a 1666 with a 115 and a 9.8 kicker. I've had 8 people in it and it got up on plane without issue. I think a 1670 with a 90 would work very well for you. I strongly
Suggest a small 4 stroke kicker over any trolling motor though. They're still pretty silent.

 

Thank you, exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I've got a 1756 with a 70hp and it has no problem with 4 guys, and gear for gator hunting. I don't know how 1 foot shorter but 14 inches wider would run with the same horsepower. I want a dedicated, SILENT, bowfishing-gator hunting boat.