Side imaging on pedal kayak

[Docks Hound]

Hello. I've just ordered a Pescador Pilot and want to install a side imaging fish finder. I know the transducer has to have a clear view to allow the imaging to work and therefore can't be mounted thru hull or in scupper. I plan to use a deployment arm to mount the ducer possibly on the bow or possibly over the side. My question is this.... If I mount over the side and therefore more or less next to the propeller does the transducer need to be lower than the lowest part of the propeller to avoid interference? Or can I just mount lower than the lowest part of the hull? Will the prop wash be seen on the graph in side imaging mode? Next question maybe you folks can advise me on...I'd like to get a 7 inch screen and don't much care about mapping as I mostly fish lakes under 100 acres thus the units I am considering are the Lowrance hook2 7X and the Garmin striker 7sv. Anybody run these on a yak or have any input otherwise? Kinda leaning towards the Lowrance because it's 400 bucks and from what I understand Garmin may or may not use "true" down imaging. Thanks for the time.

Matt

[flyfisher]

whatever is in the oath of the transducer on either side will return an image so you will need to make sure you clear the prop wash and the prop itself.  As far as those units are concerned, i don't have any knowledge on them so I will let others add their input.

[Docks Hound]

41 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

whatever is in the oath of the transducer on either side will return an image so you will need to make sure you clear the prop wash and the prop itself.  As far as those units are concerned, i don't have any knowledge on them so I will let others add their input.

Thanks that's what I was afraid of. Bow mount is obviously my preferred method but having it over the side makes it easier to remove weeds or pull up in shallow water.

[J Francho]

My Helix 5 SI works fine on my Compass and the TD is next to the Mirage Drive.

 

 

Sorry, don't have a pic with SI, but have this with chirp and DI:

 

[Docks Hound]

38 minutes ago, J Francho said:

My Helix 5 SI works fine on my Compass and the TD is next to the Mirage Drive.

 

 

Sorry, don't have a pic with SI, but have this with chirp and DI:

 

Nice setup! That's what I'm envisioning. Are your ducer arm and display mount two different pieces of hardware? Yakattack arm maybe? I dig the helix units for sure just seemed a bit outta my budget. Is the 5 inch screen adequate or should I go 7?

[Docks Hound]

Just noticed that the lowrance transducer is 12 inches long. Might be a deal breaker.

[J Francho]

15 hours ago, Docks Hound said:

Nice setup! That's what I'm envisioning. Are your ducer arm and display mount two different pieces of hardware? Yakattack arm maybe? I dig the helix units for sure just seemed a bit outta my budget. Is the 5 inch screen adequate or should I go 7?

Yes, they are on two screwballs.  They fit perfectly in the gear tracks that are standard on the Compass.  The battery is in a dry bag that goes under the seat, or up front.  This setup can be moved to my other boats easily.  Setting up is a five minute job.

[flyfisher]

Might just be the angle but it looks like your transducer is ahead of the fins unless they were in an extreme position.  I also wonder if there is a difference with a prop drive rather than fin.  

[J Francho]

11 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Might just be the angle but it looks like your transducer is ahead of the fins unless they were in an extreme position.  I also wonder if there is a difference with a prop drive rather than fin.  

It's dead even with the back fin.  In fact, I used to be able to see the turbulence from paddling in my other boat.  With Mirage drive, that's gone.  Unless a prop drive is chopping water, and adding air, it shouldn't be a problem either.  To understand what SI is "seeing," think of the unflattened image like this:

                /\

________/   \_______

 

The triangle in the middle is actually under the bait.  The flat parts are the SI.