First Mate XT Battery Box

The First Mate XT transducer pole battery box mounts to the pole and holds a compact 12V battery, so there is no long wire running to the back of the boat. It snaps on with no permanent changes to your gear and moves between boats in seconds. The box is the attachment only. Battery not included — get the recommended 2600mAh battery on Amazon. $25.

What the transducer pole battery box does

The XT power head runs on 12V and draws under half an amp. That is little enough that a compact battery pack clipped to the pole will run it for days, and customers regularly report two to three days of fishing per charge. With the battery on the pole there is nothing to unhook when you pull the pole off the boat: the whole sonar rig, pole, head, transducer and power, comes off as one piece and goes onto the next boat, the kayak, or the dock.

• Custom molded to snap onto the First Mate XT pole. No drilling, no straps.
• Holds a compact 12V pack and keeps the lead short.
• Turns the pole into a self contained unit you can move between boats.
• Keeps the deck clear of a cable running to the cranking battery.

Which battery and cable go in the transducer pole battery box

To keep shipping low and the battery fresh, the box ships without one. Buy the recommended battery here: 👉 Get the 2600mAh Battery on Amazon

Due to recent shortages in battery options, this recommended battery has shorter leads and needs a small extension cable so it reaches the power head. We recommend one of these two:

This cable has a built in ON/OFF switch -> https://amzn.to/4wOsxf5

This cable is just an inline cable -> https://amzn.to/4zh40RM

The XT’s own 12V cable uses a 5.5 x 2.1 mm plug, so any pack with that barrel connector will fit. If you would rather run off the boat’s battery, the cable that comes with the First Mate XT does that and you do not need this box at all.

Why almost every XT ships with a transducer pole battery box

Most of our pole orders add this box. Nobody likes a wire running down the gunnel to the back of the boat, it is a trip hazard, it catches line, and it means the pole is tied to one boat. For $25 the box takes the wire out of the picture. Pair it with the universal transducer pole mount and the pole is a portable unit; pair it with the ice tripod and it goes on the ice with no boat at all. Real setups using it are in the customer installs gallery, and the rest of the XT accessories are here.

Transducer pole battery box specs

Transducer pole battery box questions

Is the battery included?

No. The box is the holder. The recommended 2600mAh battery and the short extension cable are linked above.

How long does a charge last?

The XT draws under half an amp, and customers report two to three days of fishing on the recommended pack. Your mileage depends on how much you spin the head.

Do I need the extension cable?

With the currently recommended battery, yes. Its leads are short. Either linked cable reaches the power head; the switched one lets you power the head off without unplugging.

Will it work on the ice?

Yes. This box is what makes the ice tripod setup possible, since there is no boat battery to plug into out there.