mounting transducer

[steveooo]

My thoughts on the transducer, although this topic has been covered pretty extensively.

The best possible location for a transducer is in the water. That will give you the best readings.

If you can't do that, you will want it to shoot through the least amount of material as possible.

Transducers will not shoot through air. Any material that has bubbles in it, or has the chance of a bubble getting under it will degrade the signal to some extent. How much it degrades the signal is up for debate. IMO we make a bigger deal of it than it really is. Prior to my current install, I used Marine Goop on several kayaks. Every Gooped transducer I would pull up to transfer to another kayak, had little tiny bubbles. I also got great readings from those transducers, dispite all the bubbles. I was able to see small jig heads and track them to the bottom in 100 feet. I wasn't exactly using the best fishfinders on the market either.

If directly in the water isn't an option, I think you will have good results with whatever method you use (wet mount, goop, putty) unless you have a very large air bubble under the 'ducer.

I get good results in my current install, but if someone doesn't want to cut a big hole, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Goop install done properly, because I've seen how well it works.

[oneyedeer]

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...light=portable

sensible and portable

[bellcon]

Steve nailed it pretty good
I have a "gooped" install in my tandem, been in there for 7 years, no problems so far.
I have it thru the scupper in my Trident 15, yes it makes the water drain slower for sure. I drilled the retaining nut and put better gaskets and straps on the rod pod to deal with big surf issues. Great way to go.

On my PA I went with the simple version of a wet mount.
I love it, the image is as good as in the water. I have dropped the transducer over the side to check.

The main benefit of this install is that the cables never come off of the back of the head unit.
Battery goes in a dry bag right next to the transducer, cables are run under the PA hatch. Piece of cake and never exposes those cable or head connections to water.

I made this out of some dense packing foam, and gooped it down, only takes a sponge full of water to get a great signal:

[TJones]

with the default settings i am getting good signal . i can see jig underneath , but i was looking at a lot of surface clutter or junk in water column . is that normal ? plankton ? or is this due to the putty ? the arm has some very distinctive advantages . i ran the mad frog which probably is not as nice as the ram mount . using it with the 898 si transducer created way to much drag so i dumped it along with the 898 . 898 draws to much power to run 12 hrs. might not be an issue with a pro angler . . to much weight on my revo with me and a 12 pack.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by TJones

with the default settings i am getting good signal . i can see jig underneath , but i was looking at a lot of surface clutter or junk in water column . is that normal ? plankton ? or is this due to the putty ? the arm has some very distinctive advantages . i ran the mad frog which probably is not as nice as the ram mount . using it with the 898 si transducer created way to much drag so i dumped it along with the 898 . 898 draws to much power to run 12 hrs. might not be an issue with a pro angler . . to much weight on my revo with me and a 12 pack.

Do you have your FF on max mode or clear mode? Max mode you will pick up more and it will look cluttered, set it on clear mode and you'll get better readings.


Installed with Electrical Putty, surface clutter, but noting bad anywhere else. Again, if I wasn't using an si type FF I would always use the Putty installation.
It's clean, easy, and very cost effective.

[StinkyMatt]

Clear, easy and cost effective......these may not be the criteria some anglers are looking for.


I bet that there is at least one guy out there that wants .........great performance.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by StinkyMatt

Clear, easy and cost effective......these may not be the criteria some anglers are looking for.


I bet that there is at least one guy out there that wants .........great performance.

I see your point, but I've never had one Fish Finder not show correct readings. I tested it with a guy who had his transducer in the water and mine in the hull, and the readings were exactly the same, including temp. Don't knock it until you've tried it.