Scotty Transducer Mount [Archive] - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FreddoFly

03-16-2017, 06:16 AM

Hi Ed,

I purchased an Ocean Kayak Tetra 10 (not the angler model though) to save $$ up front and rig it my way. I picked up a Garmin 53cv and need to figure out how I'm deploying the thing. I'm leaning more and more toward an "in the water" (i.e., over the side) transducer solution and mounting the FF on the battery box which will be strapped onto the console. This will make the unit more portable too! I'm on the east coast and don't ocean fish. Lake and ponds mainly.

goldenglory18

03-16-2017, 06:19 AM

Harry Hill

03-16-2017, 07:07 AM

Hey Ed, have you mounted a FF to your Ride yet?

I picked up the last Midnight 135 that Andy had, and now I'm playing with ideas for the transducer. The way I had mine mounted on previous Ride's (keel mount) wont work this time as I'm going to put a rudder on this one.

I made a mount for the stern of my P2T that s.
wings up out of the way if it hits anything or when I'm launching out of copper pipe. It works pretty good but I haven't been in heavy kelp yet to see if it hangs up. So far it hasn't been a debris catcher. I would post a picture but for some reason my new computer won't accept bluetooth files from my phone.

YakHanded

03-16-2017, 07:16 AM

Hey Ed, have you mounted a FF to your Ride yet?

I picked up the last Midnight 135 that Andy had, and now I'm playing with ideas for the transducer. The way I had mine mounted on previous Ride's (keel mount) wont work this time as I'm going to put a rudder on this one.

Not sure if this will help much but I have used the RAM version of this scotty transducer mount on my OK prowler for years.

IMO this one looks better, it stays tighter to the hull and will create less drag when paddling. The RAM trans arm definitely collects debris that I have to clear every so often, but it does fold up and is easy to get at.

I mounted mine just in front of the foot pegs, which makes it an easy connection to the actual FF head unit. Also easy to remove everything and store for transport.

Also nice to be able to turn off sonar and get transducer out of the way when launching/landing in the surf.

I always got better returns from the transducer directly in the water than through the hull so any hassle it causes was always worth it to me....

my 2 cents!

FreddoFly

03-16-2017, 07:43 AM

Not sure if this will help much but.... my 2 cents!

Thanks for this post. I'm looking for what "works" / "worked". You post told me what I wanted to hear. Portability, the transducer can be lifted out easily, and what I find I'm hearing a lot is it's always better is having the transducer "in" the water. Mine reads water temps and I want that accuracy.

Being new to kayak fishing I splurged on my FF but I was able to afford it and plan on using it a lot. I hate being on a lake and "wondering" if I'm over/near fish or not. I'll even be able to chart depths/drop offs, structure, etc. which can only be a plus.

There are many side mounting options available so I'll keep looking and reading what experienced guys have to offer. Thanks!!

Amish Ed

03-16-2017, 10:03 AM

Hey Ed, have you mounted a FF to your Ride yet?

I picked up the last Midnight 135 that Andy had, and now I'm playing with ideas for the transducer. The way I had mine mounted on previous Ride's (keel mount) wont work this time as I'm going to put a rudder on this one.

Yes, I'm using a MFG Micro Liberator w/TDA for the Transducer. On the Trident I had it mounted to a Yakattack gear track, so it fits the Ride no problem. My back is jacked up at the moment, I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.

What happened with the Thresher?

Freddofly, transducer in the water is definitely the way to go. Sounds like you have the FF/battery mounting decided, you just need to decide on the transducer mount. I would venture to say that the space needed for the mount will determine which one you choose.

FreddoFly

03-16-2017, 11:21 AM

Freddofly, transducer in the water is definitely the way to go. Sounds like you have the FF/battery mounting decided, you just need to decide on the transducer mount. I would venture to say that the space needed for the mount will determine which one you choose.

Thanks Ed... I'm not 100% of the FF/battery but leaning that way (portability!).

For the transducer, it's about 6" long and I need a tough mount (I imagine)...

https://s25.postimg.org/wxlvt65jj/garmin_transducer.jpg

Amish Ed

03-16-2017, 11:36 AM

Do you have a pic of the transducer w/the mounting bracket on it?

goldenglory18

03-16-2017, 11:51 AM

Yes, I'm using a MFG Micro Liberator w/TDA for the Transducer. On the Trident I had it mounted to a Yakattack gear track, so it fits the Ride no problem...What happened with the Thresher?

Good call. I totally forgot about that company.

Thresher had a twisted hull. No one is really sure how/why it happened, but of course Andy took care of me and got me into the Ride instead. I liked the Thresher, but I LOVE the Ride (and I better considering it's my fourth Ride I've owned now.... LOL)

Amish Ed

03-16-2017, 12:11 PM

Good call. I totally forgot about that company.

Thresher had a twisted hull. No one is really sure how/why it happened, but of course Andy took care of me and got me into the Ride instead. I liked the Thresher, but I LOVE the Ride (and I better considering it's my fourth Ride I've owned now.... LOL)

That's weird that the hull was twisted. Glad you got into something you love though. I'm loving mine too.

goldenglory18

03-16-2017, 01:41 PM

That's weird that the hull was twisted. Glad you got into something you love though. I'm loving mine too.

Yeah, super odd and one situation even Wilderness had actually never even seen before. Again, I'm so happy to be back with Wilderness and their service. Malibu was great, but Wilderness is home.

The Ride is such a great platform, I'm glad to see it recreated into the Radar for future use. I'm very comfortable and confident in the Ride. I'm just somewhat concerned about talking it BTB...

Amish Ed

03-16-2017, 02:34 PM

Yeah. I think it would launch fine, but I wouldn't want to try and land one in any kind of surf.

MITCHELL

03-20-2017, 07:29 AM

I ended up using a ram mount and flat aluminum bar on my cobra hope there's no interference with metal....on a hook 5

FreddoFly

03-20-2017, 07:39 AM

Do you have a pic of the transducer w/the mounting bracket on it?
Hi Ed...
Nope not yet. I could toss it together for another picture or two tough so maybe tonight I'll get that done.
Thanks!

Dave Legacy

03-20-2017, 08:40 AM

I almost didn't get an over-the-side transducer mount, because of a lot of negative feedback from the various forums. Ultimately I'm glad I took a chance on it, because I haven't found the negatives to be that serious. It does pick up some debris that I will periodically need to clear, but I left my transducer arm a little long and the debris has a tendency to move up toward the surface and clear away from the transducer.

I bent the rod in such a way to allow it to sit very tightly to the hull, and I don't really notice much drag. Since I'm paddling (not gracefully either!), not pedaling, I don't really notice the water noise that some complain about. I also swing it up on deck when I'm getting from point-A to point-B. This works well for traveling on the water, but I undoubtly miss out on noticing stuff I might not want to miss! Obviously one wouldn't want to choose this method of transducer mounting over a hull that has a designated recessed mounting point, but it's a good alternative for those of us who don't have that luxury.

I think the Scotty might have an advantage over the RAM arm if it doesn't have slop/flex in it. My ram mount wants to rotate a bit when underway. It's fine because it rotates into the hull, but the spline system on the Scotty I'd imagine really holds it in place well?

I ended up using a ram mount and flat aluminum bar on my cobra hope there's no interference with metal....on a hook 5

A genuine RAM transducer arm is nothing more than an aluminum stock rod with a corrugated plastic cable conduit over it, so I doubt you should have any issue.

MITCHELL

03-20-2017, 10:59 AM

Can't wait to try it out

FreddoFly

03-20-2017, 11:06 AM

Do you have a pic of the transducer w/the mounting bracket on it?

Hi Ed (All),

Here's the image Ed. I didn't attach the transom mount on this because I think I'll be making a couple of bushings and getting a long SS bolt to go through the whole assembly and onto the end of an over-the-side mount. The bracket isn't heavy at all. SS hardware adds up though... Thoughts?

BTW - The extra threaded inserts in the transducer are for the trolling motor mount option....

@ Dave L: You mentioned "debris" ... Are you referring to the transducer picking up stuff in the water like weeds or debris on the sonar (bad signals or something along those lines)?

Thanks all for your help as I sort this out.

https://s25.postimg.org/qxhmzkzgv/garmin_transducer_mount.jpg

Dave Legacy

03-20-2017, 11:23 AM

FreddoFly

03-20-2017, 11:32 AM

Yeah, you'll literally pick up strands of eel grass, kelp, etc that will drag like a streamer off the arm. so far it's all migrated up the arm to the surface and hasn't been hard to clear or obstruct signal. Just annoying!

Ah - I hear ya Dave. This ought to be fun!

The rotation you mentioned.... How does that occur? Is the rod twisting? The RAM Mount shouldn't be slipping I imagine. Would you fill me in please?

Dave Legacy

03-20-2017, 03:04 PM

Ah - I hear ya Dave. This ought to be fun!

The rotation you mentioned.... How does that occur? Is the rod twisting? The RAM Mount shouldn't be slipping I imagine. Would you fill me in please?

My ram ball is actually a wedge mount that I put in an existing flush mount rod holder. My theory is that due to the design of the wedge mount, being held in by friction alone, there are many points along the way that allow minor degrees of "wiggle". Add up all those minor bits of "wiggle" and you end up with something noticeable. To be honest if I were to smack the arm on something stationary I would much rather prefer the arm give than my hull having to be the weak point!

It is minor though and I've often thought that if I was using a fixed ball it wouldn't happen. RAM clamps offer a little play though in general if one puts some leverage on them. If you put too much pressure on them they will also permanently indent.

FreddoFly

03-20-2017, 04:37 PM

My ram ball is actually a wedge mount that I put in an existing flush mount rod holder. My theory is that due to the design of the wedge mount, being held in by friction alone, there are many points along the way that allow minor degrees of "wiggle". Add up all those minor bits of "wiggle" and you end up with something noticeable.

Thanks Dave! I've seen what you explained and suppose a ball mount on my kayak would stay nice and tight if I went with a RAM Mount. I want to look at all options and have no problem fabricating my own too but time will tell. I'll be paddling as well; no peddling and no motor, so drag shouldn't be a big deal for mostly lake fishing.

PapaDave

03-21-2017, 05:58 AM

Thanks Dave! I've seen what you explained and suppose a ball mount on my kayak would stay nice and tight if I went with a RAM Mount. I want to look at all options and have no problem fabricating my own too but time will tell. I'll be paddling as well; no peddling and no motor, so drag shouldn't be a big deal for mostly lake fishing.

A RAM mount will not stay in one place if there s a load put on it. I used to use those exclusively but since have changed over to the Scotty mounts as they will lock in a position.

FreddoFly

04-06-2017, 05:04 AM

A RAM mount will not stay in one place if there s a load put on it. I used to use those exclusively but since have changed over to the Scotty mounts as they will lock in a position.

Thanks PapaDave! Do think I need to be concerned with flex in the arm affecting the sonar being that my transducer is not tiny? Please let me know - thanks! For the Scotty 141 I've been checking out, I just need to be sure I can get that 4" track mounted so the arm will get into the water OK.

Amish Ed

04-06-2017, 09:07 AM

Sorry, just saw this. That transducer is a beast! Email John at Mad Frog Gear (http://madfroggear.com) and see what he thinks. I'm sure he could help.

FreddoFly

04-06-2017, 12:29 PM

Sorry, just saw this. That transducer is a beast! Email John at Mad Frog Gear (http://madfroggear.com) and see what he thinks. I'm sure he could help.

Yep - it's not small but I'm not sure from what I see online that the Mad Frog Gear offering will get around my gunwale and hull nicely, but then maybe it can. I'll need to get some pix of the kayak mounting areas and contact John and maybe the Scotty folks too. I'm not hearing a lot of love for the RAM transducer offerings. Thanks for the reference!

Amish Ed

04-06-2017, 12:52 PM

Getting past a wide gunwale is no big deal. The piece that attaches to the plate has pre-drilled holes. The arrow points to where the piece was cut. I have a Ride 135 which has pretty wide gunwales and at 2 holes is just enough. Just measure the distance you would need and let John know.

FreddoFly

04-06-2017, 01:17 PM

PapaDave

04-11-2017, 06:34 AM

Thanks PapaDave! Do think I need to be concerned with flex in the arm affecting the sonar being that my transducer is not tiny? Please let me know - thanks! For the Scotty 141 I've been checking out, I just need to be sure I can get that 4" track mounted so the arm will get into the water OK.

I don't think you will be going fast enough for the arm to flex all that much, even with the larger transducer. Most transducers are made to cut through the water and not have much drag on them. The only thing that would produce drag would be weeds or kelp that got stuck on the arm or transducer.

FreddoFly

04-11-2017, 06:54 AM

I don't think you will be going fast enough for the arm to flex all that much, even with the larger transducer. Most transducers are made to cut through the water and not have much drag on them. The only thing that would produce drag would be weeds or kelp that got stuck on the arm or transducer.

Thanks for the reply... Fishing season opened here in NJ and I was able to talk to a couple of guys coming off a lake on Sunday. One had a RAM transducer arm with a "large" Lowrance transducer and no issues at all he stated. The guy one had a FeelFree kayak and that has a through hull configuration thingy that lifts out and all self contained (nice to have I imagine).

So I've got this small Ocean Kayak Tetra 10 to rig. Thanks for your input (and all others here too!) as it's "ALL" quite helpful! I'm thinking and leaning towards Yak Gear track (only .9" wide) because the top of my gunwales is just a pinch wider than that and mount the arm to the track. Now to figure on a length. I suppose longer is better for other mounting options while out there and not being locked into a shorter track...