Mounting A Transducer On a Minn Kota Terrova - Precision Sonar Cable Guard

[Happybeerbuzz]

Anyone else have a Minn Kota Terrova that they have mounted a transducer on?  I just got my boat with a new Minn Kota Terrova.  I want down imaging on it so I cannot use the Universal Sonar that comes with the Terrova.  Because of the Terrova's iPilot feature and the lift assist feature, running the transducer wire down the shaft isn't an option.  Is the Precision Sonar Cable Guard the best/only way to circumvent the problem?  

[Way2slow]

I haven't researched it yet but the guy at Bass Pro Shop says there are a couple videos on how they run the cable up the channel in the shaft.  I'm waiting for the Garmin 73's to go on sale to do the same thing.  Garmin is supposed to be discontinuing them and I'm told we should see some pretty good deals them. 

Apparently it requires taking the head off but I'm not concerned about that.  I've torn up too many transducers running them up the shafts of my old MG's and don't care to take that chance with a $250 transducer so my plans are to glue the cable in that channel.  

[Way north bass guy]

My Helix 9si is mounted on the motor with the wire run up the channel, but it is a Gen1 so the cable is a bit smaller diameter than the mega units. Doug vahrenburg has a good YouTube video on exactly how to do the install, it’s pretty simple and only takes an hour or so to do. As long as whatever unit you choose has a small enough cable, it should be quite easy to do. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

I bought my TM in late 2018. I read that the newer Terrovas have lift assist which prohibits running the cable along the channel.  Otherwise, I would just do that.  I don’t know for certain though. 

[slonezp]

Have you used the boat yet? Maybe your dealer will buy the motor back from you. You can then get the Terrova with the built in DI transducer 

[Way2slow]

But you can't get the side scan.  If he wants side scan in the front, the only practical way to get it is the Xducer mounted on the TM, and to make it practical or even usable, it just about has to be on a motor driven steer system like the Terrova so it's steady enough to get a useable image.  I'm sure some can do it with a cable steer, but I usually find the cable steer to be too jerky unless you are holding it in a steady direction.

 

I have side scan but the Lowrance Xducer is so large, on the rear of the boat is about the only place to mount it.  I can network it to my bow unit but then the image you are seeing is already 20ft behind you.  That why I'm going to try the 73sv with the 52? Xducer and see if I can't get real time side scan up front.  So far, it looks to me like the Garmin unit is about the only one that's even close to being practical to mount on the TM, that gives a good image.

[Jig Man]

I am not running that particular motor.  I have the ulterra because I have broken ribs that haven't healed properly and needed the automatic stow feature.  I run Lowrance units and put the total scan transducer on it.  I bought the mount and the cable guard from them.  It works great for me.  I'd buy it again in a heart beat.

[slonezp]

47 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

But you can't get the side scan.  If he wants side scan in the front, the only practical way to get it is the Xducer mounted on the TM, and to make it practical or even usable, it just about has to be on a motor driven steer system like the Terrova so it's steady enough to get a useable image.  I'm sure some can do it with a cable steer, but I usually find the cable steer to be too jerky unless you are holding it in a steady direction.

 

I have side scan but the Lowrance Xducer is so large, on the rear of the boat is about the only place to mount it.  I can network it to my bow unit but then the image you are seeing is already 20ft behind you.  That why I'm going to try the 73sv with the 52? Xducer and see if I can't get real time side scan up front.  So far, it looks to me like the Garmin unit is about the only one that's even close to being practical to mount on the TM, that gives a good image.

Understood. Im running side imaging off my Terrova with the cable run down the channel. I don't have lift assist and dont know if that impedes routing the transducer cable. He mentioned down imagining in his original post which is why i suggested the new motor.

[Way2slow]

Well, I also keep forgetting, there are difference conditions for different locations and keep trying to associate everything with my particular conditions .  There are plenty of places I dang near need a plow on the front of the boat to get through where the brush is so heavy.  I even break props off the TM and as mentioned before, I have destroyed numbers Xducers where the cable gets ripped out of them and repaired broken single coax numbers of times.  With these multi transducer unit, that's not going to be so easy.

[Happybeerbuzz]

10 hours ago, slonezp said:

Have you used the boat yet? Maybe your dealer will buy the motor back from you. You can then get the Terrova with the built in DI transducer 

I have used it. I didn’t know such a

beast existed. ?

 

Also I did end up getting a second Helix with side imaging which will be nice but my original plan was just for down imaging. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

8 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I am not running that particular motor.  I have the ulterra because I have broken ribs that haven't healed properly and needed the automatic stow feature.  I run Lowrance units and put the total scan transducer on it.  I bought the mount and the cable guard from them.  It works great for me.  I'd buy it again in a heart beat.

Is there a separate mount in addition to the cable guard or is it in a kit?