Bowfishing Boats and Ideas

[bofish-IL]

I bought them at Farm King I think for around 12.00 a piece but that was 12 to 15 years ago. They were in the truck accessories area. They were the flood light not the running light type.

[ishoot4thrills]

Thanks for the info, bofish-IL.

[LB_hntr]

if you want to run without a generator led lights are great options and very efficient.
you can get a 27 watt led that puts out almost 3000 lumens for 50 bucks. if you bought 3 of those you could run for ever on a battery or 2 and total cost would be 150 bucks. then as money allows you can add a couple 50 watt leds to supplement.
 
or if you bought 4 27 watt leds you could put 2 on the front and one on each side and total cost would be 200.00 bucks.

Leds are about the cheapest way to get started without buying a generator.

here is a general pricing for different set ups with 6 lights.

led 27 watt: 50 each x 6 is 300.00
led 50 watt: 100 each x 6 is 600.00

6 500watt halogens 10 bucks each x 6 is 60 bucks (need a generator like the champion 3500/4000 for 300 bucks).

6 hps 150 watt 50 each x 6 is 300bucks (need generator like of at least 1000 watts can be bought for 200 bucks).

so if you already have a generator (or plan to get one for other purposes) the halogens are the cheapest and great lights. hps are brighter and also great lights but cost 5 times as much as halogen and are heavier.

IF you don't want or have a generator the leds are the best way to go.

Another option that is cheapest is the spot light and a buddy. we used to fish like this a lot. 20 dollar spot light (floodyest one you can get) held by buddy and you shoot. then switch up.

another great option is what I use on lakes where I don't want to bother people with my geny and lights. I have a eagletac 800 lumen flashlight in a fenix headband and another eagletac 800 lumen light mounted on my bow above my reel. these 2 lights rock! even when im using my generator and lights if a fish swims out of my lights I tap the button on my bow light and I can shoot farther than my line will allow.
  Also use this set up when taking the kids bank shooting at night.

[ishoot4thrills]

LB_hntr, looks like that's about all I need to know when it comes to lighting. Great info. Thanks man!

   

[LB_hntr]

Originally posted by ishoot4thrills:
LB_hntr, looks like that's about all I need to know when it comes to lighting. Great info. Thanks man!

     

You have the same size boat I do. I have set up 4 of this size boats for myself and for friends.
 A cheap way to make it a perfect all around bowfishing/fishing boat would be the following.

3/4 ply wood sheet. lay it across the bow and cut it so it sits right on top of the boat rails then add a couple 2x2 or 2x3 supports under the deck to keep it from sagging. coat the wood with spray bedliner or behr deck over paint.  Total cost 75 bucks and you have a great deck that is the width of the boat and 4 feet long. perfect for bowfishing and a great casting deck for regular fishing. Can mount your seat base right to the deck as well.
  mount what ever lights you go with on the deck. one light on the front and one light on each side is a good start. or 2 on the front one on each side.
 Take a look at how I made my trolling motor mount bracket. its awesome and cost less that 10 bucks.
 put all of the weight of the boat items in the back of the boat. batteries, gas tank, generator (if you go with one), etc. get all the weight to the back of the boat so when you are on the front deck the boat sits level.
 Then get a Rubbermaid plastic bin to throw your fish in and you are good to go!
 Working on boats is addictive and fun late winter projects. For a minimal amount of money you can take your already solid perfect size boat and make it into the perfect bowfishing/fishing, backwater, river, lake boat.

[ishoot4thrills]

A wealth of info and just what I needed to know....Thank you!

Here's something I've been wanting to do about making a front deck with some aluminum signs I have laying around:

 

 

 

I could add another section of ladder and have even more light weight decking.

[beendare]

I run 6 of the 50W leds in the big housings like in the photo above of Brians boat. I have mine wired 24v to 2 big Walmart batteries and can get about 5-6 hours out of them.

The light from these fixtures is equal to [about] a 250w worklight, pretty powerful and made better by the housings. There are other 27w led fixtures that look like the KC lights but not even close to the big 50w fixtures, IMO. In semi clear water I can shoot 25' from the boat which is more than enough. The 27w LEDS probably give you 1/2 that.

A couple guys on Bowfishingcountry sell these one goes by Customfitz. I think I paid $70 a fixture back a couple years ago- probably cheaper now.

 I have a small Honda genny I ran my old lights on but I bowfish to relax and drifting across delta flats at night with the LEDS and no noise except the breeze is just too cool to describe.

[JohnnyWayne]

Awesome boats you all have here  

[ishoot4thrills]

Let's bring this back up again.....

[LB_hntr]

Here is my buddy steves airboat.
 
my wife on steves airboat putting the hurt on some fish..lol
 

[onewhohasfun]

You guys should do a search for " Loop charging trolling motor batteries from your outboard" All the big time walleye fisherman have their boats set up this way.  Charges your deep cycle batteries while running your big motor.