Transducer Placement

[JohnnySCV]

Hello, I was wondering who has an opinion about transducer placement as it relates to on the back of the transom vs. a shut through hull. I have a Champion Bass Boat with a 200 HP Merc. It seems that at speeds above 15 MPH the I don't get a sonar reading. The tranducer is placed in "the best spot" possivle according to the manual, but the hull shape of my boats seems to not me condusive to mounting it on the transom. Does anyone know if a shut thru intallation would allow for a sonar reading at higher speeds? The finder says it should work at speeds higher than 15 mph. The finder is a FishElite 640 by the way.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Transducer Placement

That 'ducer should definitely work either in shoot-thru or transom installation. No question about it. Nice boat, but it should not be able to outrun the sonar signal.

describe your mounting location....how far from the bow? how far from the stern?

 

[JohnnySCV]

Re: Transducer Placement

Thanks! The ducer is mounted on the trassom currently. At the lowest point about just over a foot from the center of the boat. I am thinking of moving it into the sump a few inches from the drain plug and running it as a shoot through. I just think that due to the config of the hull I will have too much cavitation for it to work on the transom.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Transducer Placement

15mph is pretty bad though, you'd think it'd work at least until you got up on the pad.

The downside to bringing it inside the boat, is you won't get a surface temp reading. Otherwise go for it.

 

[JohnnySCV]

Re: Transducer Placement

15mph is pretty bad though, you'd think it'd work at least until you got up on the pad.

The downside to bringing it inside the boat, is you won't get a surface temp reading. Otherwise go for it.

Agreed! Although I do have a temp sensor on the trolling motor ducer so I think I'll be ok.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Transducer Placement

Champion I am pretty sure has a place made a transducer inside the hull.
Shoot thru hull works works very well on Fiberglass Bass boats.
Only thing is must make sure it not in an area that has a foam core.
Before you mount with epoxy put transducer in a plastic bag half full of water and hold it down with a bag of sand or something like that.
Go for a test run and move to several difference location and where ever it works best is where you want to mount it.
Check with Champion also as I am pretty sure they have place they recomend.

To mount of course Clean, Clean, and Clean then use a Slooow cure Epoxy.
Mix very slow so your do not stir in air bubbles.
Make something to contain the Epoxy then push the transducer all the way down against the hull and weight it in postion until it hardens.
Two reasons to use Slow cure epoxy. The Slow Cure will allow any air bubble to get out and the slow cure does not get as Brittle so is less apt to come loose.

 

[JohnnySCV]

Re: Transducer Placement

To mount of course Clean, Clean, and Clean then use a Slooow cure Epoxy.
Mix very slow so your do not stir in air bubbles.
Make something to contain the Epoxy then push the transducer all the way down against the hull and weight it in postion until it hardens.
Two reasons to use Slow cure epoxy. The Slow Cure will allow any air bubble to get out and the slow cure does not get as Brittle so is less apt to come loose.

This sounds like great advice, thank you! I am actually going to purchases a shut thru hull ducer with a remote temp sensor from LEI. It is a pain to get into the sump so I'm hoping to get in there once and be done with it.

Thanks!