Depth finder transducer location

[Dunaruna]

I need to set up a depth finder so that it shows the contours of the lake bed at the FRONT of the boat, does it matter if the transducer is mounted on the side of the hull? Will it effect the readout? <br /><br />Aldo

 

[imported_JD__]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

If you don't mind me asking, what is the purpose of mounting it there? Most transducers are hydro dynamically shaped, mounting it perpendicular will cause the 'ducer itself to create turbulence. It will be pretty much useless at any speed faster than trolling. AS you know, with just a little acceleration the bow comes out of the water. No water, no readout.<br />JD

 

[karrick]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

You could always mount it to a bow mounted trolling motor. I assume that this is not the answer you're looking for.....

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

This one sort of confused me as well. The countour of the bottom remains the same, no matter where you have your transducer mounted. If it is forward looking sonar that you are trying to juryrig I don't think you're going to have any success at all, although there have been some units made for forward looking they have never been popular. A couple of models were made by Pinpoint but I do not know if they are still in production. Furuno also makes a unit that can be directed to look all around the boat, but it is extremely expensive (and powerful) and not really suited to a small boat - its in their lineup of commercial equipment.<br /><br />By the way, and I only ask because this is something that I really don't understand at all, why do so many fresh water guys want more than one fish finder? I see where some guys want one mounted on the bow and one on the stern or maybe in the middle somewhere, but why? I also saw a fellow post once that it was imperitive that he have two fishing finders, one on the bow and one aft, and that both had to have speed and temperature. I could understand that he might be in an area where the bottom might change fast so that the front of the boat would be over a hole while the back was not. I could also understand why he might want to see temperature fore and aft because in some places the temperature change is like a wall in the water, but when it came to speed it had me stumped. Unless his boat was much different than mine it is not likely that the front of his boat would be going any faster or slower than the back.<br /><br />Thom

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

Thom – I don’t think it has anything to do with fishing. Probably collision avoidance.<br /><br />Aldo – what you are looking for is called forward-looking sonar. The wide beam transducer(s) are mounted forward at an angle such that you get an image of what is in front of you sweeping down to below you. Interphase (USA) has a product line that uses a pseudo-phased array technology. Actually, it is a series of transducers in a single housing that switch on and off. EchoPilot (UK) is making a system that uses varying frequencies to accomplish the same thing. I have tried for about a year to get any info from EchoPilot...nothing. Just got a hold of the US dist. Intresting product. Worth looking at for collision avoidance. The EchoPilot can be used as a fishfinder but only if you are looking for whales. <br /><br /> http://www.interphase-tech.com/ <br /> http://www.echopilot.com/

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

Sorry for the confusion. Its a 45ft houseboat. Maximum speed about 8 knots. The lake is very big and the shore line very irregular (picture a mountainous area and fill it with water). I am trying to set up a fishfinder so that I can view the lakebed as I approach the shore, I want to avoid sudden shallow outcrops (am I making sense?). I will be approaching shore at crawling speed. Problem 1: The transducer need to be underwater, only the pontoons are underwater. Problem 2: Having the transducer at the rear of the boat is useless, it will warm me of shallow water after the front of the boat is high & dry. Problem 3: The only way to mount the transducer on the front of the boat is to put it on the side of the pontoon - hence my original question.<br /><br />The boat takes about 2 ft water (motor leg doesn't matter because its so far back). Hitting an outcrop in itself usually doesn't do any damage (the pontoons are very well made & protected) but often the weight of the boat makes it difficult to reverse off the outcrop. Beaching at a crawling pace is the best defence against getting stuck (allow the pontoons to make a gentle 'V' shaped indentation in the shore).<br /><br />I am not interested in 'fish finding' (well, mostly), only lakebed contours & depth. 18rabbit, I've looked at the forward looking sonars but I don't think I would be going fast enough to warrant one and besides, I've priced them <br /><br />Aldo

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

Originally posted by JD__:<br /> Most transducers are hydro dynamically shaped, mounting it perpendicular will cause the 'ducer itself to create turbulence. It will be pretty much useless at any speed faster than trolling. <br />JD

Good point. I could make a 90 deg bracket and mount the transducer at its correct orientation but the bracket itself could cause turbulence.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[CTD]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

I would make a bracket for the front set up so the transducer is always underwater out of the turbulence of the bow wave. I would make it with a hinge about half way down and make some type breakaway to hold it straight but allow it to bend if something is hit.<br /><br />__________________0_________X<br />------------o----------o <br />top o is the hinge, X is the transducer, bottom o's are screw eyes. tie some fishing line between the screw eyes to hold the bracket straight, make it light enough to where it will break if hit. Try different sizes until you get it right. Hard drawing on a computer hope this gives you some ideas. Had to put the dashes in to get the o's to stay in place

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

As far as the dual fishfinders go, my buddy has two on his bass tracker. You don't realize how nice it is until you use it. If you're driving along at the helm, you can watch the first fishfinder for general bottom contour, structure and fish. If you're going to be up in the front on the casting deck operating a trolling motor, then you have the second one to watch that's directly attached to the motor you're trolling with. I suppose you could get a swivel mount for the first fishfinder as well but what's another $100-$150 in the world of boat ownership?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Depth finder transducer location

ThomWV, and others, I hope the word 'houseboat' hasn't turned you off this thread. I still need and respect your opinions. Please.<br /><br />Aldo