Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

[andy1canada]

Howdy from Canada!

I've purchased this (1995?) GPS/Dual Sonar unit and am about to install it in my 19'-cuddy. You guy's have probably heard this one a million times but I'm hoping for some sage advise so I can get the install done right, from the get-go.

My unit includes the speed/temp sender unit as well as the optional "Y" -cord to connect the two transducers with the dash . I've got the GPS reciever mounting location figured out OK, but I'm not so sure on the best location for the two transducers (50 & 192 khz). Both are sort of puck-shaped with the wire coming out of the verticle side and they're meant to be mounted inside the boat on the bottom of the hull.

My problem is that my boat has no access to the aft-bottom of the hull except for directly in the bilge and I'm concerned about electrical static noise from the engine if I mount them there. My mechanic suggested I make an SS-bracket and simply mount both the transducers outside the boat on the transome. Sounds good to me, but I'm not sure if these transducers are meant to be submerged.

Can they be submerged?

How close can the two transducers be mounted together?

If I decide to mount them inside the boat, am I okay to mount them in such close proximity to the engine?

Please 'chine-in' and thanks in advance for your time and trouble!

Cheers,
Terry

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

Hey... anybody home!

Help!

Terry

 

[Boatist]

Re: Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

Yes they can be submerged with no problem. The puck style transducers are for inside shoot thru hull or mounted on a trolling motor. Problem is if you mount them on the transom they will not do well above trolling speed. They are just not made to run in the water at high speed. They would create too much turburlance to work at planing speeds.

I not a fan of shoot thru hull transducers but with that style I do not think you have much choice. Mounting under the engine is fine but must get the bilge supper clean and test before you epoxy them down with slow cure epoxy.

To test get yourself a PVC couplings big enough the transducer will fit inside. Clean the bilge and with some silicone seal stick the couplings down to the hull. Put a transducer in each one and then fill with water. Use a bag of sand on top of the Transducer to hold it down to the hull then go for a test ride. If it works good then you can epoxy it down in that spot. If it does not work then try another spot.

You can probably still buy the dual frequency High speed transom mount transducer for that unit from LEI.com.

Good luck and let us know how it works.

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

Howdy!

Thank you Boatist!

I'm right on it and will let you know what happens.

Cheers,
Terry

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

Howdy!

Before I dive into this install/test-thing, thought I'd ask if anyone out there has successfully transome-mounted these (dual) puck-style transducers on a 'home-made' bracket of some sort?

Thanks again for your time and trouble!
Cheers,
Terry

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

Brackets won't work. It has to be mounted on a solid and air-free surface. Hard mounting is the only way it will work. They give you a reading from the first thing they bounce off of. My sonar uses a shoot-thru-hull transducer. I used regular "knead" type epoxy ("tube in tube",fast set), mixed it well, made sure the spot was super clean and roughed up a bit, and it does a great job, reads my depth at 60+mph. Your goal is to try and mount it in a location where the direction of sonar beam travel is as perpendicular to the water's surface as possible. You also have to make sure it is far enough aft, i.e. in a place where the hull does not leave the water on plane. For me, I had to be within 21" of my transom, and it's right under my engine next to my bilge pump (no problems).

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Lowrance LMS-350A... Help!

Howdy!

Thanks BJ...

Looks like 'hard-mount' is the way I'll go.

I'll post later to let you guy's know how it worked out.

Thanks again!

Terry