Thread: Rigging the Ranger

Originally Posted by GoFishKY

Following this thread! I'm interested in your updates. I bought a used 2008 Ranger 2050 a few years back and continue to find ways to spend money to update things the way I want. I also like to troll and have been wracking my brain for the last year on how to get more time trolling with my 80 lb Terrova I-pilot. I've talked to a couple of different dealers about upgrading to a 36V trolling motor but they didn't think I had the space to add another battery because I also have the oil tank for my etec under the jump seats where the batteries go. I did upgrade from a 27 series to 31 series batteries this year but no one ever mentioned the idea of putting the bigger golf cart butteries in there. When figuring the cost of adding a 3rd battery, new 4 bank charger, and new 36V trolling motor it seemed to make more sense to look at installing a kicker motor but still debating because that wasn't in the budget this year.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Mike

Mike,

I think I’ve seen your posts on Walleye Central. How much vertical space do you have in your battery compartments? You need 11 1/8” clearance for the Trojan 1275s. Two of these would definitely increase the reserve capacity of your system, extending troll time on your rig. Each Trojan is 23lbs heavier than the group 31s I typically use.

If you’re got a solid 24v Terrova and have money burning a hole in your pocket, I’d spend it on a Panther lift bracket and kicker versus upgrading to a 36v Terrova and three batteries, wiring and charger. If you’re a hardcore troller, that’s the only way I’d go if you wanted to invest that kind of money in your rig. I would have added a 9.9 kicker if I had a usable electric steer bow mount TM on this boat- but I didn’t.

Terrova is getting installed tomorrow with some help. That single 4” access hole in the bow panel and the front two bolts should prove interesting since my arm isn’t 5’ long. Also adding the last of three Trojan golf cart batteries to wire it all up.

Waiting on a delivery from Cisco Fishing Systems with tracks and bases for my rod holders. I’m excited to adapt a Great Lakes walleye/salmon trolling system to crappie use. I haven’t seen it used for the type of fishing that we do down here so I’ll be making a lot of it up as we go along. Thanks for taking the time to read about my little adventure, I only hope that it gives one person an idea to help set up their boat for the type of trolling that I enjoy so much.

way to go buddy. its coming together

Tonight the 36v Terrova got mounted to the bow using the R&R trolling motor bracket. The bracket required Flat head bolts, not low profile ovals. I found flat head 3” stainless 1/4”-20 bolts after a little searching. With some help from someone who installs a lot more trolling mirrors than I do, new holes were drilled and the base was bolted on with appropriately sized fender washers and nylock nuts. The year range for this hull has some well-known issues with the electric steer trolling motors hitting the trailer roller when launching at certain angle ramps. To minimize the risk of banging my new TM on the bow roller, this mount allows for several inches of movement rearward when launching and then a single pull of a knob slides it forward into operating position. MinnKota has a smaller version of a sliding bracket but the footprint does not allow for as many bolts to be utilized (we got six bolts into the bow) and the amount of rearward travel is less. They discontinued their better bracket for some reason.



Operating (forward) position


Launching/Retrieval (rear) position




Like my last two boats, the foot pedal never saw the light of day so I stowed it away in one of the bow compartments.

Next I fished the custom 2AWG battery cables from the port side battery compartment to the starboard side box. The 60amp breaker was secured to the side of the battery compartment with stainless screws and the line/load terminals attached.

Nice job guys.

That's a fishing machine. It will be real good on KY lake.

Sent from my XT1650 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Coming along nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Nice thread!