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 boat.

I'm considering the setup below which is basically:

• Humminbird Fishin' Buddy MAX DI Fishfinder
• Outcast's Buddy Strap

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:

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

[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.