Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

[Underblog]

Being new to pontoons, I thought I would query the collective wisdom and ask: Where and how do you all mount the transponders for your depth / fish finders?

I am also open to suggestions for brands or models that work particularly well on pontoons. I thank you all in advance for the help!

Eric

Good Dog Island
Burntside Lake, MN

 

[WoodenPontoon]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

My boat is an exception, but I am using a "read through the hull" depth finder. Most pontoons have a bracket on the back of the (port) log to attach the transducer to. If you are installing a fish finder, the sensor often will include water temperature as well as depth.

Welcome to th forum!

Dan

 

[5150abf]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

Yup, you will need to have a small bracket welded to the one of the tubes, should be fairly cheap but you don't want to mount it directly to the tube.

 

[Underblog]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

Would marine epoxy work for this application? Would save me a trip to the welder.

 

[WoodenPontoon]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

I don't believe that epoxy will adhere very well to the aluminum.

Try to find some HTS-2000 aluminum brazing rod by "New Technology Products". I just ordered some and was unable to break my "welds" with a hammer. Check in your local hardware store.

Good Luck,
Dan

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

My toons are the older style and dont have the bracket and their isnt any shops around I would trust to do the welding so I made this from a 8 foot piece of alum from home depot.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

I woudl be really leary of trying to braze anything to a tube unless you had s good bit of experience, if you get it hot enough to melt you risk a hole or worse.

I deal with real welders all day and some of them have problems.

 

[junkman41]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

has anyone ever tried mounting the bracket on the toons with JB weld ? I used it on alot of other things on a car, but never on aluminum

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

I would go with having a bracket welded on, but if you decide not to do that, I have mine mounted on the transom have it works fairly well.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

My toons are the older style and dont have the bracket and their isnt any shops around I would trust to do the welding so I made this from a 8 foot piece of alum from home depot.




View attachment 135253

Nice innovating. Looks good.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

I would go with having a bracket welded on, but if you decide not to do that, I have mine mounted on the transom have it works fairly well.

View attachment 135786

What you got there a Merc 850? Decided to scratch the trim tab ay?

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

Nah....88' 115...I have the name plate back on now......that old tower of power runs like a champ!

When I bought the rig (used) it did not have a trim tab.....it never seemed to need one as it goes straight enough without it...go figure!

 

[junkman41]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

thanks guys

 

[L.A.Wise]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

We seem to get ourselves into some quandries, don't we. I had to have some welding done on my 'toon, so I decided I'd just take care of my wishes with my needs. The first photo shows the area near the transom, guess they call it the "pan". The previous weld had cracked so this needed fixed on both sides. I didn't have any place to mount my transducer of pitot tube, and I want to run two separate depth finders. So, I took it to a welding shop and $50.00 later I had these results. This was money well spent in my opinion. You may have got the same amount of welding done cheaper, but I'm satisfied. Oh, yes, also had to fabricate the two mounts I needed. I would rather pay up front and get something done right than to save the pennies and spend the dollars later.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Mounting Depth / Fish Finder

One of the keys to mounting a transducer effectively is not just how to mount it but where. If you clean the aluminum with aluma prep and then scuff it to bright white with a stainless steel brush followed by a wipe down with acetone you can attach the bracket with 5200 or JB Weld. On a toon I wouldn't be too worried about it ripping lose like I would with a planing hull boat. However, welding on a bracket is the best way.

Where you mount it is critical. Most boats are limited in options so 99% of the time they're mounted on the transom of the boat. Mounting it up further forward and away from prop/hull cavitation and ignition interference is much better. If you don't beach you toon you could mount it midway and on the bottom of one of the toons and probably get really good results. You could also build a bracket and mount it between the two toons, I've seen that done with really good results.