DIY Brightest Collapsible Kayak Light

I have never been satisfied with the brightness of off the shelf lights and my DIY light. I have had a few to close to call encounters due to the going to the light! Here is what you need.
Items needed to build this light were:

• Tektite Mark III 4 LED light $24.99
• (1) section of 3/4" thin wall PVC 12" long
• (2) sections of 1/2" sch 40 PVC 12" long
• (2) 1/2 slip couplers
• (1) 3/4 slip coupler
• (1) 3/4 to 1/2 adapter
• (1) 1/2 end cap
• 3-4 feet of Bungee cord
• (1) SS bolt and nut
• Drill and bit slightly larger than the bungee

Step  1 put the Teklite light in the 3/4 PVC pipe. The bungee that comes on the light is pulled out the end using a piece of cord or what ever you prefer. Slip the bolt through a hole drilled in the bottom of the PVC and through the bungee to hold it in the PVC tight. The light twist at the top to turn on and change the batteries so you will never have to pull it out technically,

Step 2 Attach the end of the long bungee cord to the bolt,

Step 3 using a 3/4" coupler and a 3/4 to 1/2 adapter slip that on the bungee,

Step 4 slip a section of the 1/2 PVC on the bungee

Step 5 add 1/2" coupler and another section of 1/2 PVC

Step 6 drill a hole through the side or out the end cap and thread the bungee through,

Step 7 assemble the sections together and pull the bungee tight and tie a knot in the end. 

This light is extremely bright. The photo was taken at 45 feet away. You can change this anyway you like as far as lengths etc. Its a great light for under $30. 

2013 Hobie Pro Angler (PA) Lowrance Elite 5 Depth Finder Install

At the end of 2013 I retired the Jackson Cuda and bought a 2013 Hobie Pro Angler. What sold me on the Pro Angler? The Seat! After riding in comfort for two years in the Jackson Cuda but wanting the range and ability to fish on the move I chose the Hobie PA with the Vantage seating. I guess if you are reading this you just want to get to the nuts and bolts of the install. I have skipped the transducer install since Hobie has a Youtube video covering that and it is that easy.
Supply List:
Waterproof storage box size large from the Walmart camping department
(2) 2 wire connecting harnesses
Fuse Holder
Small rubber grommet for a 1/4" hole
Ram 101-L011 Mount
YakAttack Screwball 1.5 inch
YakAttack Geartracks 12-16" depends on your needs.
Lowrance Elite 4 or Elite 5 (Note: You can cut back on the RAM and Screwball to a 1 inch on a 4)
UB 1270 or UB 1280 12V battery. The more amps the longer it last. 15 hours is no problem.

Tools:
Drill
1/4" drill bit
Wire strippers
2 female slip on terminals
Butt connector
Heat Shrink
Lighter
Wire Crimps

Step 1 Transducer Install- mount the transducer in the pocket on the bottom. Just unscrew the 3 screws and mount the transducer. I did have to get a 1/2 longer stainless bolt than Lowrance supplied to use the mount. Route the wires through the holes on your PA and direct it to which ever side you prefer your unit to be on. I routed mine on the starboard side as can be seen.

Step 2 Mounting the Battery- Prepare your box by drilling a hole in one end and inserting a rubber grommet to help keep water out. Cut one of your 2 wire harnesses in half. Run the wires through the grommet and install one female clip to the white wire that will serve as your negative and will slide on your battery terminal. On the red wire use a butt connector and join it to the fuse holder using heat shrink to cover the connection. Use a female terminal on the other end of the fuse holder. This is your positive wire. I went to my local Lowe's and found a clamp that was a plastic conduit clamp that was made to screw to a flat surface. I mounted with bolts to my waterproof box and clamped around the Hobie mast post.

 Okay the battery box is mounted and the transducer is run. Add the other half of your two wire harness to the power cord on your transducer harness. Just match red to red and white to black. Again use butt connectors and heat shrink.

Step #3 was to mount he unit on the side board. I decided I wanted the unit on my right side to this is where my wiring harness was fed out.





I mounted (2) Yakattack 12" Geartrac's on the mounting boards. These are very functional with all the items available from Yakattack and Ram to mount. I have now have the ability to move my unit forward or back or switch over to the left side with no additional drilling. I can also mount additional rod holders with the Scotty track adapters. Yakattack provides all the mounting hardware all the way down to the drill bit.

 

Once both sides were mounted it was time to get the unit on. This was easy. Using a 1 1/2" Yakattack Screwball on the track and the Ram 101-L011 Mount minus the base just assemble.

 

Here is the final view. It works great. I have seen that I need to charge the battery more often since this unit is much larger than the Garmin Echo 100 I used on the Jackson Cuda. This is easy as you can see with the charger below. I just added another two wire adapter and it is charged inside the case on the PA.