Anyone Have Experience With The Stern Saver T-Ducer Mount?

[Trailer]

I hate the idea of drilling additional holes in my boat for the transom mount transducer and I saw the "Stern Saver" at http://www.sternsaver.com/

 

This looked like a great set up. The only concerning thing would be that it is held by glue.

 

Has anyone here used one? Do you think it is a good idea?

 

I have thought about a shoot-thru mount but I'd like to utilize the temp reading.

 

Thanks.

[Shane J]

I'm sure that epoxy will hold it just fine. Looks like a good idea. I was just pondering how I was going to mount a transducer on my aluminum jon boat, and this would be perfect, but $50?!? There's gotta be a way to make this sort of thing cheaper, and just buy the epoxy to mount it. Maybe plexi? 

[slonezp]

I'm sure that epoxy will hold it just fine. Looks like a good idea. I was just pondering how I was going to mount a transducer on my aluminum jon boat, and this would be perfect, but $50?!? There's gotta be a way to make this sort of thing cheaper, and just buy the epoxy to mount it. Maybe plexi? 

You can buy ABS plastic online for a fraction of the cost. Google "cutting board material" Glue it and/or screw it to the aluminum hull and you can mount the transducer. You will have the ability to move the transducer if need be, or add additional. Here's my setup minus the transducer.   

[tnriverluver]

The manuals to my new Lowrance DSI units state that the transducer will not work through hull mounted in an aluminum boat.  JFYI.  I asked about these mounts a while back and everyone was pleased with them when I had raised the same question about glueing on the transducer.  I have one sitting in a box waiting for the temps outside to warm up enough to mount it.

[Shane J]

Yeah, Slonezp, that's kinda what I had in mind. Thanks for the tip.

[Trailer]

I'm sure that epoxy will hold it just fine. Looks like a good idea. I was just pondering how I was going to mount a transducer on my aluminum jon boat, and this would be perfect, but $50?!? There's gotta be a way to make this sort of thing cheaper, and just buy the epoxy to mount it. Maybe plexi? 

Yeah, $50 sounded high to me. But I do like the concept.

[Trailer]

Other than cleaning, would you need to do any other prep to the aluminum surface of the boat? Lightly sand?

[Fishes in trees]

You'd have to research compatibility with your unit, but I know that you can shoot a signal through an aluminum hull.  Vexilar makes a product called the Alumaducer.   I've got one - had it for a few years now.  It works good.  Prior to getting the Alumaducer I was breaking 1 or 2 transducers every season.  That got expensive.   Research it and it might work in your application.

[slonezp]

If you can see in the pics I have countersunk screws. Just clean up the area with alcohol or similar. Put a bead of marine silicone over the screw holes, if you use them, a bead on the bottom and around the perimeter and you're good to go. Has lasted me since 2004 when I bought the boat with no leaks. I installed a SI transducer last year and had to relocate it which was easy because of the setup I have. 

[slonezp]

You'd have to research compatibility with your unit, but I know that you can shoot a signal through an aluminum hull.  Vexilar makes a product called the Alumaducer.   I've got one - had it for a few years now.  It works good.  Prior to getting the Alumaducer I was breaking 1 or 2 transducers every season.  That got expensive.   Research it and it might work in your application.

I have heard alumaducer will not give you a good temp reading. Is that true?

[Fishes in trees]

So far as I know, yeah.  The temperature probe is separate from the transducer, just like any other thru hull installation.  In my case, I don't have temp on the console because I tore up the temp probe on a stump a long time ago and I don't miss it enough to replace it.

[Trailer]

If you can see in the pics I have countersunk screws. Just clean up the area with alcohol or similar. Put a bead of marine silicone over the screw holes, if you use them, a bead on the bottom and around the perimeter and you're good to go. Has lasted me since 2004 when I bought the boat with no leaks. I installed a SI transducer last year and had to relocate it which was easy because of the setup I have. 

I can buy a lot of silicone for $50 bucks. Maybe a few more holes won't hurt.

[slonezp]

I can buy a lot of silicone for $50 bucks. Maybe a few more holes won't hurt.

Just get a good bilge pump

[Trailer]

Just get a good bilge pump

Funny you say that. I bought a brand new Tracker Pro Team 175 TXW in January. Fished a few times and thought "let's try this bilge pump and see if it works". I hear a funny sound from the livewell and look only to see it filling my livewell. Turns out they had the wires crossed from the factory. Quick disconnectors, took 2 seconds to fix.

[Angel1]

It's a great idea, but didn't last long on my aluminum boat. After 8 trips the glue bond broke and my transducer was damaged. It probably works better on fiberglass.

[GotaLimit]

So Angel1, what did you do after it came off? Drill & screw mount one? I have aluminum hull also amd just bought a Lowrance HDS 7 with side scan & down scan imaging, which means 2 transducers to mount and am looking for ideas to mount them.

[riverbasser]

I bought one off amazon for $20 buck went with the one you screw on. Its still saves many holes since anytime I change or move my TD I don't drill any extra holes in boat. It also looks very clean when finished. I didn't like the strictly glue on versions. Just don't think glue on 2 flat surfaces will have much strength. If you do go that route I would cut a small checkered pattern about a 1/16th deep into the Mount to give the epoxy some extra hold for lack of a better word.