How Should I Mount My Ff On My Kayak?

[Rhino68W]

Alright people, it's time for me to get a Fish Finder. I have an FS12T and I am considering many different mounting options.

 

#1 is the CellBlok due to the fact that I can remove it all and won't have to drill into the kayak except to install a track system. I know someone else said you can't put it in the depressed area on the sides because there won't be enough clearance for the CellBlok. I wouldn't be against mounting it just fore of those depressions to keep it out of the way when paddling, and I could still comfortably reach it. If you have a CellBlok could you please post a photo on how you mount it? This is my top option, I just know it will be kind of pricey for all of the pieces that go with it.

 

#2 is to mount it in the center of the kayak just fore of the hatch on the small flat area. This of course will be good for keeping it in view and out of the way. Another thing is I can keep the balance even because I would put the battery just below it in the hatch. The only problem with this that I can think of is when I am bass fishing and paddling a lot, I set the rod I am using down in front of me and let it hang off the front of the kayak. Will mounting it here get in the way of that? AND, I am not sure how I would mount the transducer arm. Thought about just using a RAM POD to swing it in the water over the left side.

 

#3 would be to mount it inside and shoot thru hull. I know I will lose the temp readings but it does seem like the easiest way to manage it.

 

SHOW ME YOUR PHOTOS OF YOUR FF SETUP! I'm either getting a lowrance 4x or mark 5x. Not sure which yet.

 

[flyfisher]

Before i got my kayak with an electronics pod I tried the arm and i hated it.  It always seemed to move and i had to take it in and out and it would get hung up on grass and other stuff, not to mention the extra drag it created.  I then went with the thru hull method and kicked myself for not doing it sooner.  Sure i lost a little of the temperature readings but once i was on the water it was pretty close to a handheld thermometer i got to check the accuracy.

I looked at a cellblock but it seems pretty pricey for what you get and it also adds a lot of weight to one side of the kayak.  

 

If it was me i would go thru hull with a ram mount for the fish finder itself in a place you can access but it isn;t in the way.  I had mine on my right side on a track so it was out of the way but easily moved when needed.

[Rhino68W]

Before i got my kayak with an electronics pod I tried the arm and i hated it.  It always seemed to move and i had to take it in and out and it would get hung up on grass and other stuff, not to mention the extra drag it created.  I then went with the thru hull method and kicked myself for not doing it sooner.  Sure i lost a little of the temperature readings but once i was on the water it was pretty close to a handheld thermometer i got to check the accuracy.

I looked at a cellblock but it seems pretty pricey for what you get and it also adds a lot of weight to one side of the kayak.  

 

If it was me i would go thru hull with a ram mount for the fish finder itself in a place you can access but it isn;t in the way.  I had mine on my right side on a track so it was out of the way but easily moved when needed.

 

How did you do your through-hull set-up?

[flyfisher]

just found a relatively flat spot on the bottom and made a little pancake of plumber's putty and then squished the transducer into it and then covered it up and gave it one more little press to make sure there were no air bubbles.

 

i know a lot of people use duct seal too but they were out when i bought my stuff.

[Rhino68W]

Do you think silicone would work? Only reason I ask is because I have some already and don't feel like buying anything if I don't need to. I know the Austin Kayak YouTube channel used marine goop. But I don't want that much of a permanent application quite yet.

[buzzed bait]

I would try duct seal before anything permanent or semi permanent.  It will cost you less than $5 at Lowe's or Home Depot.  It is not permanent, can be moved, fixed, etc.  Great for trying out the thru hull method. i used it on my old sit in and it worked great.  Temp readings can be 1 or 2 degrees off, but no big deal.

I now use the CellBlok on my ride 135.  I like it.  The best part is being able to completely remove the whole unit in seconds.  if traveling and i don't want to keep the unit on the boat, i can put it in the back of the truck and lock it up.  If hitting the river and i don't need the FF, i just take it off and leave it at the house.  my only thing is the arm for the transducer can take a little work to get it just right as far as getting the arm in the right position to reduce intereference, but once you get it set, you're good to go. the best part is how it allows you to manage the cables/battery in one compact spot and never have to drill the first hole in the yak!

[Rhino68W]

I would try duct seal before anything permanent or semi permanent.  It will cost you less than $5 at Lowe's or Home Depot.  It is not permanent, can be moved, fixed, etc.  Great for trying out the thru hull method. i used it on my old sit in and it worked great.  Temp readings can be 1 or 2 degrees off, but no big deal.

I now use the CellBlok on my ride 135.  I like it.  The best part is being able to completely remove the whole unit in seconds.  if traveling and i don't want to keep the unit on the boat, i can put it in the back of the truck and lock it up.  If hitting the river and i don't need the FF, i just take it off and leave it at the house.  my only thing is the arm for the transducer can take a little work to get it just right as far as getting the arm in the right position to reduce intereference, but once you get it set, you're good to go. the best part is how it allows you to manage the cables/battery in one compact spot and never have to drill the first hole in the yak!

Did you just put the duct seal around it and fill the hole with water? or did you just press the transducer down onto the duct seal?

[buzzed bait]

Did you just put the duct seal around it and fill the hole with water? or did you just press the transducer down onto the duct seal?

 

just pressed the transducer down into a hockey puck size piece of the duct seal.  Best part is you can pick it up and move it and make sure you get the best spot before making anything permanent.  Just go to the home improvement store and ask for the duct seal, usually around the electrical or HVAC areas.

[Rhino68W]

Did you have any problems with air bubbles in yours when you did it?

[buzzed bait]

Did you have any problems with air bubbles in yours when you did it?

 

none.  just take your time working the putty and applying it to the area that seems to be as flat as possible in the hull.

[Rhino68W]

none.  just take your time working the putty and applying it to the area that seems to be as flat as possible in the hull.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice man. I am excited to get this thing operational. Might even be able to run it this Sunday on my next bass trip. Now it's time to watch videos on how to set it up properly!!!

[Turtle135]

I am currently running my puck through one of the front scupper holes but when I used a transducer arm I had it set up like this:

 

 

 

 

 

Depending on the water you fish the arms can collect weeds and get hung up on laydowns (which is why I am going through a scupper).

 

 

[HoosierHawgs]

I am currently running my puck through one of the front scupper holes but when I used a transducer arm I had it set up like this:

Depending on the water you fish the arms can collect weeds and get hung up on laydowns (which is why I am going through a scupper).

Do you have to do anything special to go through the scupper?

[BassNut]

I used the duct seal for my tranducer 2 years now.

 

I just made a ring of it, place the transducer inside and add a little water. Bingo.

 

Didn't try just pushing it down into a blob of it on the bottom of the haul.

 

See that, I learned something new today.

 

Say hello to my little friends.

Skye, the G Shep doesn't fit in the haul anymore, but I modified a anarondack chair

to take her with me.

 

Then came Bud, he fits anywhere in my yak.

[Turtle135]

Do you have to do anything special to go through the scupper?

 

Nothing special. I have a Humminbird with the DI transducer (see the shape of the puck in my photo). It fits fairly flat to the bottom of the kayak with the cable routed up through one of my front scupper holes. Plus with the Ride series kayaks the shape of the hull protects that area (although it is not completely protected).

[Ads7633]

On 6/18/2015 at 3:54 PM, Rhino68W said:

Alright people, it's time for me to get a Fish Finder. I have an FS12T and I am considering many different mounting options.

 

#1 is the CellBlok due to the fact that I can remove it all and won't have to drill into the kayak except to install a track system. I know someone else said you can't put it in the depressed area on the sides because there won't be enough clearance for the CellBlok. I wouldn't be against mounting it just fore of those depressions to keep it out of the way when paddling, and I could still comfortably reach it. If you have a CellBlok could you please post a photo on how you mount it? This is my top option, I just know it will be kind of pricey for all of the pieces that go with it.

 

#2 is to mount it in the center of the kayak just fore of the hatch on the small flat area. This of course will be good for keeping it in view and out of the way. Another thing is I can keep the balance even because I would put the battery just below it in the hatch. The only problem with this that I can think of is when I am bass fishing and paddling a lot, I set the rod I am using down in front of me and let it hang off the front of the kayak. Will mounting it here get in the way of that? AND, I am not sure how I would mount the transducer arm. Thought about just using a RAM POD to swing it in the water over the left side.

 

#3 would be to mount it inside and shoot thru hull. I know I will lose the temp readings but it does seem like the easiest way to manage it.

 

SHOW ME YOUR PHOTOS OF YOUR FF SETUP! I'm either getting a lowrance 4x or mark 5x. Not sure which yet.

 

Hey, I just bought a FS12T, and I am trying to figure out the best way to approach putting a fishfinder in. I'm wondering what you ended up going with and how it worked out for you? Thanks!