One old guy's outings & kit (Aerotec, Yamaha 15 2T etc)

[rik_elliott]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Another bit of age related research... the marine mapping handheld Garmin is getting harder to read when my variofocals are splashed with seawater and I take them off. Bigger and brighter screen needed. I'll see what's about with an integral battery. Don't want to go back to a separate battery. I mean charts are a luxury on a SIB but I've been used to looking at them since a kid and it's a hard habit to lose.

Navionics on a Samsung galaxy active tab? You can get used second and third gen ones on ebay for very cheap.

Also, this thread makes me miss my aerotec! Come on boatworld, if there was ever a design that needed to be cloned it's this

[Fenlander]

Yes appreciate several folks get on OK with devices not primarily intended for open boat nav duties. I'm a bit set in my ways with the Garmin units that have served me well over some 15yrs... so I upgraded to a Montana 700 and heavily invested in OE charts.

Agree re Aerotec. If you get them you get them... but I can appreciate some folks don't need their balance of abilities in the plus/minus areas. And yep it's always puzzled me no-one copied the design.

[Steve509926]

Garmin 45cv echomap was a game changer for me David, especially with a transponder. I now get so much closer inshore, caves, cliff faces etc than I ever did before.
Screen is just big enough for me with distance glasses (don't get on with varifocals). A bigger screen would obviously be better, but then it would get in the way.

[Fenlander]

Yep that's probably the best performing unit by far in the price range when the included charts are taken into account.

I just hope this Montana 700 I've bought is as good when I get it on the water.

[chriswjallen]

How do you power it when out on the water? Does it need to be connected to a portable battery, or if charged in advance at home, will this last for the day?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by chriswjallen

How do you power it when out on the water? Does it need to be connected to a portable battery, or if charged in advance at home, will this last for the day?

It has a lithium battery that charges via usb, good for around 12-15 hours. Or you can whip out the lithium & stick 3 ordinary AA cells in. Very versatile bit of kit. We have one which we use for hill walking & boat backup.

[chriswjallen]

Thanks - and would the c.£300 outlay provide a decent upside in detail and info compared to the Navionics app which I have on my iPhone? (aside from the bigger screen size)

[Fenlander]

Chris if you are talking about £300 I reckon you are looking at the Garmin Echomap 45 whereas PD was replying about the Montana range which are nearer £500 plus charts extra.

Assuming so the Echomap 45 doesn't have an internal battery so needs an external battery in the 7-10ah range. Lots of folks have made up battery box arrangements to carry these under the seat.

When we had the Echomap 45 we had a battery like the one below just hung in an old camera bag under the seat the display was mounted on.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152947315...Bk9SR-bd2KzUYg

[Fenlander]

My setup is different now but here it is in 2020 when we had the Echomap 45. You can see the camera bag which held the battery hanging under the seat to the right of the fuel tank.

[chriswjallen]

Thanks David, makes sense. Assume I would need to buy a charger for the battery and then good to go

[Fenlander]

Yes any small modern charger will do... £7.99 from the middle aisle of Aldi type thing.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Chris if you are talking about £300 I reckon you are looking at the Garmin Echomap 45 whereas PD was replying about the Montana range which are nearer £500 plus charts extra.

Yeah, sorry for the confusion. I was referring to the Montana, which is what I thought Chris was referring to.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by chriswjallen

Thanks David, makes sense. Assume I would need to buy a charger for the battery and then good to go

Hi Chris, you may find this thread useful :-

https://www.rib.net/forum/f37/not-for-fishing-86842.html

[chriswjallen]

This is great, thank you

[Fenlander]

Many positives from today.

The Garmin upgrade to a Montana 700 has given me the screen visibility I need.

Have to reiterate how life changing the Trem bow trolley is for an older guy who needs to look after his joints.

Best of all the drop from 8.5 to 7.5 pitch prop on the Tohatsu has transformed the responsiveness of this outfit given we have a minimal HP motor for a 3.8m. Managed 14kts in unfavourable circumstances and importantly with the OB reviving more freely at 5450rpm rather than the bogged down 4200 with the 8.5. Getting onto the plane is prompt now (but of course not instant like a 15/20hp) rather than reluctant. It shows again what I’ve found that a 1” pitch change can make far more difference with portable motors than a prop calc might indicate.

It was interesting using the red test mule Aerotec with just a thin transom packer compared with my own which has a substantive 45mm lift. Water splash everywhere with both Tohatsu and Johnson.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Many positives from today.

The Garmin upgrade to a Montana 700 has given me the screen visibility I need.

Have to reiterate how life changing the Trem bow trolley is for an older guy who needs to look after his joints.

Best of all the drop from 8.5 to 7.5 pitch prop on the Tohatsu has transformed the responsiveness of this outfit given we have a minimal HP motor for a 3.8m. Managed 14kts in unfavourable circumstances and importantly with the OB reviving more freely at 5450rpm rather than the bogged down 4200 with the 8.5. Getting onto the plane is prompt now (but of course not instant like a 15/20hp) rather than reluctant. It shows again what I’ve found that a 1” pitch change can make far more difference with portable motors than a prop calc might indicate.

It was interesting using the red test mule Aerotec with just a thin transom packer compared with my own which has a substantive 45mm lift. Water splash everywhere with both Tohatsu and Johnson.

What was the actual Prop you used ie the full spec. I might buy one and give it a go.

Thansk

[Fenlander]

7.5” pitch OE, your nearest Tohatsu dealer will sort you one I’m sure.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

7.5” pitch OE, your nearest Tohatsu dealer will sort you one I’m sure.

I think the original is a 8.5 x 9 inch Prop 3 Blade. Are you talking about a 7.5 x 9 inch three blade

Thanks

[chipko]

The stock OE prop on the 9.8 two stroke is 8.9” dia. by 8.3” pitch and marked 8.5

[Fenlander]

My new one is the 7.5" pitch OE Tohatsu as per that chart.