Newbie Electrical Question

[canuckjack]

This stuff is probably bleedingly obvious but I'm new to fishing/boating and I haven't found a real clear answer anywhere.

 

I picked up my first boat this fall after renting a boat for the first time up on the Mazinaw where I caught this bug that's making me spend money on fishing stuff that I haven't the slightest idea how to use She's a 20 year old 16' aluminum with a 1989 30hp 2 stroke Johnson. The motor doesn't have an alternator but I want to be able to run the marker lights, a trolling motor (to be purchased) and a fish finder (also to be purchased before the water goes soft). Is there anything aside from a 12v deep cycle marine battery and a charger that I'll need to be able to connect these components, ie: will the fish finder connect directly to the battery or is there something needed between those, and will one battery be enough or does a trolling motor need it's own battery?

 

And while I'm asking newbie-like questions any opinions on good entry level trolling motors or fish finders?

[Terry]

putting the lights on the same battery as the trolling motor is no problem, but some trolling motors cause RF and that can affect electronics so you may want a second battery for fishfinders and G

PS, but it will not hurt them so you can give it a try before you buy a second battery

and it wouldn't hurt to have a 30 to 50 amp fusible link at the battery, so if there is a short it will not burn up the battery

[smally21]

you can keep things clean by putting a terminal block in and wiring your electronics from there. i imagine for a boat that size your trolling motor will be 12V, and a decent deep cycle will run everything for hours. in line fuses are a must, light guage wiring can burn up in no time with shorts and such.

good luck.

[canuckjack]

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.

 

Smally you say a decent deep cycle battery, any preference on make? Was keeping an eye on the Motomaster Nautilus, any experience on here with those?