Fish Finder Float Tube / Pontoon Boat Setup - Need Your Wisdom!

[barbless.co]

Hi guys -

I want to get a fish finder for my Outcast OSG Stealth Pro (https://www.outcastboats.com/frameless/osg-stealth-pro-lime.asp) boat.

I'm considering the setup below which is basically:

Humminbird Fishin' Buddy MAX DI Fishfinder (https://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-410060-1-Fishin-Buddy-Fishfinder/dp/B013T5QS30)
Outcast's Buddy Strap (https://www.outcastboats.com/products/buddy-strap-fish-finder-holster.asp)

Pros:

The transponder, finder and power is all one unit
Straight-forward setup

Cons:

Based on the reviews I've read about the Buddy Max, the battery life isn't that great (4-6 hours)
I don't think it is possible to connect an external power source

Questions:

Is anyone else running a similar setup?
Does anyone know of alternatives to the Buddy Max? I've seen several mount options (https://www.fishfindermounts.com/mount-photos) over at Fish Finder Mounts, but these are all a little too complicated and "fly line grabby" for my taste.
Do you think the Buddy Max + Buddy Strap is a good plan?



13899

[Woodman]

I had an older model buddy and wasn't that happy with capability, battery life, etc. They're also pretty pricy for what you get. On my Scadden Rampage, I'm running a Garmin Striker 4. My transducer is mounted with a strap similar to a buddy strap. Finder unit and a 12V smoke alarm battery go in one of the side pockets.