I went bowfishing for the first time a couple weeks ago and I enjoyed it except for the generator noise.. after a few hours I wanted to throw that thing in the lake. I rented a 3500 watt and we had it set in the bottom of the boat.15 foot jon boat. I was thinking something as simple as ear plugs would help but I was wondering how yall do it.

We get used to it! I've been tossing around the idea of rigging another muffler to the RV flange on the exhaust of my champion 3500. Anybody done that, double up on mufflers?

At our camp on the river, the generator exhaust goes into the water.

Its super quiet but I dunno if it would scare the fish.

either get used to it or do like I did and buy a Honda.

My Opinion on how to resolve the issue...

1. Buy a Honda: Quiet but still can get annoying... but once you start shooting it like its not there
2. Noise Cancellation Ear Muffs: Cuts the Loud Noise but you can still talk and hear softer noises... gets kinda hot on the ears in the summer
3. Ear Plugs: Cant hear crap... but your ears dont sweat in the summer
4. Exhaust to the water: May make for some slow fishing... you will be able to shoot the dumb fish but not advised for redfish... you spook the baitfish and the reds follow em...

I have a Honda and wear noise cancellation... As you see I got an airboat so my earmuffs are with me at all times... I wear them sometimes others I dont... depends on how the action is during the night...

P.S. I am so ready to go to MH lights... maybe even go with the green MH.

I use two Honda 2000 very quite you can stand over them and have a normal convo with someone

I have 2 champion Denny's one is a 4000 and a 3500 both aren't loud I actually here my Gtr at idle over the genny!! Both put together is still 1500$ cheaper than a Honda!! Plus a honda 3000 will only run 2500 watts of continuous power so with that said a 2400$ genny would run my lights!! The 3500 watt genie has over 100 hrs on it I bight the 4000 genny cause I thought the other went out but I only over filled with oil lol!! I font know What genny you have but the newer ones are pretty quit!!

I have the champion 3500 and im runnig 2750 watts. It's quieter then the 5000's but it still sucks. I would still like to add a 2nd muffler to see if it helps.

I wouldn't pay the money for a Honda to get it splashed by salt water and abused. $275 champion is just about disposable.

running a genny on the floor of the boat is going to bounce the sound off the walls of the hull and make it louder... if you can get it to sit over the rail it will help...

Honda or Yamaha is the way to go if you can...

a genny rack is a good idea to sit over the motor and this is how I run my set up... but if you fish in brush and overhanging trees its not the way to go... you can run some 1in EMT over the outlet on a Champion 3500 so you can get the exhaust to go over the rail also... do not dump it back in the water... too much back pressure for the motor..

Lol some comments!!

The reason you pay 900 for a honda geny is because it last an it's quite! Been having two for 5 years running in saltwater and not once had a problem! Just ordered another for my dads and I offshore boat and you can't beat a geny for 900 and have quietness along with durability in salt water!! Now again these we r running HPS and LED's of these geny if you run halo's then you dod need a big nasty loud heavy geny

We bought a 5000watt Honda and mounted about 6inches above the rail. You hear the thing but like others said after a couple hours you dont even know its their.

What y'all paid for a Honda generator I got in my whole setup!! I shoot just as much fish as any mofo on here!! I got 2 275$ generators and one is 2 years old and I never missed a night yet!!

Exactly right if you take care of your chit and don't leave laying around like trash it want get messed up! Bringing your Honda genys to get repaired 3 times is for sure your fault! My genys stay on the push pole deck no salt water gets to them!
Three times is a joke and not taking care of them the right way is the reason they have been to the shop 3 times!
My two genys have been thru. Guide service for a year, multiple saltwater Bowfishing tourneys, multiple tuna tourneys and numerous nights with friends not once have I bought another geny or had to get them fixed! I'm a neat freak so I do take my stuff out my boat after every trip and clean them up tho!
I guess that's why I have gotten this Many years out of my hondas.

Beats having a headache after listening to a big loud nasty geny all night of even having to yell to talk to someone plus the weight not to
Mention a big geny has! But everyone is different so if it works for you then fish hard! I will stick with my honda's for the best night of quite fun red shooting

This one is on a work boat out of the weather hence the day in day out statement. I just fukin cannot take the abuse of running everyday in a boat that works regardless of weather conditions. If I need to I can draw you a picture. This unit will see more hours of service in a month than most privately owned units see in a lifetime.

That is why I said in the first post I made everyday service or something like that. It is one of the small 3k generators

I take care of my sshit. I don't trash any of my stuff. I dont get stupid with my boat. I can't afford to break it or have down time. That's the same reason I don't have a snorkel on my 4 wheeler to play in creeks. My $275 generator gets a fresh water rinse and a spray of silicone as soon as I can after bowfishing. You know what, its still rusting on the exterior. Bottom line is it catches salt water spray and from trying to get fish in the boat but it still runs every time. . My generator sits in front of my center console, so i guess it's my fault but i didnt want a poling platform ( storage issues) A honda wont hold up any better in my set up. Honda gennys are awesome ,but like DDM said, we both have rigged out our boat for bow fishing for less then a Honda genny. I will shoot as many fish as any other guy. I might be deaf, but I'll get my fish. More power to you if you can afford a Honda, I'm just not spending that kind of money just to bowfish with no other use for it.

Did a tax right off for my honda I bought it for the store we own to back up some off the compressors, Its been 3 years and never had to bring it to the store so I just keep it at the house and get some use outta it. I agree they are expensive and you don't need a honda to shoot fish. They are nice to have and u get what u pay for.

I have a camp that has the top of the line genny in it!! Northern light!! as for fishing all I need is a 275$ gen!! You being a Honda to my camp you will be lucky if it last a year!!

I got 2 champions !! I don't do tourneys !!

I also have a Champion $275 @ tractor supply They are no where near as loud as the coleman 5000's we used to use. The champions are pretty quiet with no load but I push mine pretty hard so it's not too bad. I rigged mine with 250 watt halos and use the smaller Genny. We started years back with the 5000's pushing a crap load of 500 watt halos. You are better off with the 225 ultras then you are with the 500 watts if you roll with the halos. We learned that through experience.

Bluetick coon hound,
Give me more scoop on the tourney. I would definitely consider going. What does LBA stand for?

Dam I might be interested in that!!

i guess ill try to make that tourney too.

12v led silent 4-6 hrs then crank lil 1000watt genny and batt charger.

IMAG0046.jpg

How many batteries do you run

2 12v in series.

and yes,10 sets of limbs,spare clutch,a trim unit,2 spare props,plenty switches,relays,motor oil,hyd fluid,spare filters,a case of grease,fuel filters,extra wire,crimps black tape,duct tape,tie wraps,250# of tools and my podna is a mechanic.thats why i got all that storage space in my boat,i have a gtr on the back.the way we drink sometimes those high rails are very necessary.