Tite Lok Transducer Holders & How to make fishfinders portable?

[Finessegenics]

Hello everyone this is going to be a lengthy post. I’m typing this up towards the end of my graveyard shift so I’m hoping I’ll have some responses to wake up to. I plan on making the purchase today. And I apologize if I sound like a complete noob...I’m new to boating ? So let me begin;

 

I recently purchased my first fish finder, very basic, just a Lowrance Hook2 4x with the Bullet Skimmer transducer. I got a good deal on top of  the fact it’s already very affordable. I am looking for a way to mount the transducer without drilling any holes into the boat. I’d like for it to be easily removable and “portable”, so that’s why I didn’t go the route of putting it on a piece of starboard. 
 

I came across the tite lok transducer mounts at my local outdoors store. The model which is available is the High Speed Transducer 5HS798 (the one on the far left in the picture below). I have a few questions concerning that model and was hoping someone on here has some experience with that model or something similar. 
 

first off, is the high speed model meant to be mounted on the transom or off the side like the way the kayak guys do it? When I first saw it I assumed it was meant to be clamped on the transom but now I’m not so sure since they also sell a specific “transom mount” one. 
 

secondly, how the does the transducer itself actually stay in place? The salesperson at the store wasn’t much help. He said I needed to buy a separate bracket for it but did not specify which. I didn’t push the matter further because I was already confused and I plan to go back today anyways. If I do need a bracket does anyone know which one would suit my transducer? Tite lok sells some of their own and I’m assuming I’ll need one of those.
 

Last, this specific model says it can stay in the water when moving from spot to spot . I’m sure it’ll be alright since I’m only on a 12 foot aluminum with a 15hp. Just wanted to make sure it’ll actually be ok at full throttle. 
 

And if you don’t have experience with these sort of mounts, do you have any ideas on how to make a fish finder portable? 
 

thank you!

Edited June 14, 2020 by Finessegenics

[Scott F]

Save yourself a lot of money. Find a scrap piece of 1x2 lumber about 18 inches to 2 feet long. Screw the transducer mounting bracket to one end of the board. Get a C clamp from the hardware store big enough to clamp the board to the transom. While the boat is on the trailer, line up the board with the transducer on the transom with the bottom of the transducer lined up with the bottom of the hull. Clamp the board in place.  It’s not the prettiest install, but it’s inexpensive and portable. 

[Finessegenics]

Anyone else?

 

Also want to add a picture of the transducer in case that helps 

 

 

[schplurg]

I agree with Scott F, that or something similar.

 

You could also make the mount/board semi-permanent and use a wingnut to remove just the transducer when you need to. Lots of easy cheap ways to do this.

 

J Francho (I believe) posted a thread recently about a magnetic mount, but I don't know if it will work through an aluminum hull. Magnet goes inside, the transducer and mount go outside. Something like that.

 

The thread:

 

[redmexican5081]

I ran a full season switching between a boat and canoe with a similar fish finder. I used a piece of 1.5 x 1.5 angle aluminum that was ~2 feet long I got at Home Depot. I used a c-clamp on the transom of the boat and I mounted it to the stabilizer of my canoe with an exhaust clamp that fit the 4 inch pipe the stabilizer was built from.  I never had any problems switching between the 2 different vessels. 

[Finessegenics]

I ended up getting a suction cup mount for the transducer. It has pretty mixed reviews as expected but most were generally positive. I’m worried about the suction cup accidentally coming off and the prop then slicing up the transducer. Or worse, the cord from the transducer damaging the motor...But we’ll see...gonna keep an eye out the most I can. Gonna make sure the transom is scrubbed and clean before each outing and all problems should be avoided. 

[J Francho]

14 hours ago, schplurg said:

J Francho (I believe) posted a thread recently about a magnetic mount, but I don't know if it will work through an aluminum hull. Magnet goes inside, the transducer and mount go outside. Something like that.

The person that shared it with me was using it on an aluminum rowboat.

[kjfishman]

I used a home made suction cup mount for years on an a 14 foot aluminum boat with out any issues.  I mounted the fish finder to a plastic letter box with the battery inside. Still using the box to hold the battery for the Lowrance finder on my kayak.

 

[Quarry Man]

I took the prop off an old 36" transom trolling motor and zip tied the transducer to that. works flawlessly.