I have mine pointed to a side. The left side in my boat. Any direction will work IF correctly done. Transducer will operate fine thru Aluminum & solid Fiberglass.
Check if it works thru a Kevlar hull. If yours is a Kevlar. I GLUED mine in place with a smooth blob of GE RTV rubber. NO air pockets / bubbles between transducer face & pressed in place on the hull. I taped it for a day to setup in place.
It must be below the outside water line and aimed down slightly. Mine easily pings fish 150 away. Any angle from down to almost sideways will work.