jsettnek Posted June 8, 2009 Posted June 8, 2009 I'm installing a Lowrance HDS on my boat. I've been struggling with this since yesterday. I have a stepped transom on my Nitro bass boat. The best area (also recommended by a dealership) I have to place a skimmer seems like it could possibly hit the roller on the trailer when loading or unloading. I'm not sure though. I imagine since the boat floats it would not hit it but I'm torn on whether to put it there or sink another $70 into a cone type transducer and mount it in the bilge which is not what I really want to do. Has anybody dealt with this before? Here's a picture of my transom. Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted June 9, 2009 Super User Posted June 9, 2009 it took me a while to decide where to mount my transducer as well i ended up moving the transducer up to made sure i dont knock it off loading and unloading the boat. hope the pic helps. Quote
TommyBass Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 As long as you make the bottom of the transducer pretty much flush with the bottom of the boat you shouldn't have a problem. Like Catt's picture depicts... I would recommend moving it to the side of the roller and using the bracket to properly angle the transducer... as long as you think the area will still be under water. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 skunked_again, you installation will not work when on plane. The transducer has to be in the water. The correct installation is the seam on the sides of the transducer should be even with the bottom of the hull which means that the bottom of the transducer is below the hull about 1/2". The best installation is a shoot-thru either with the skimmer or a puck style transducer. The shoot thru with skimmer installation is in your manual. Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 skunked_again, you installation will not work when on plane. The transducer has to be in the water.The correct installation is the seam on the sides of the transducer should be even with the bottom of the hull which means that the bottom of the transducer is below the hull about 1/2". The best installation is a shoot-thru either with the skimmer or a puck style transducer. The shoot thru with skimmer installation is in your manual. i know. the reason i moved the transducer up is i would have had it hanging under the boat and dont want to buy side shooter transducers every few months cuzz im a stump hitting fool. also per the instruction the transducer had to be 15" away from the prop at all times and after thinking and some measuring that was the "best" place. it reads great at 25 mph so thats all i need. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 Yes, skunked_again the SI transducers do need protecting, they are expensive. Do you use a dual beam shoot-thru with the SI unit for on-plane use or use another sonar unit for that purpose? Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 Yes, skunked_again the SI transducers do need protecting, they are expensive. Do you use a dual beam shoot-thru with the SI unit for on-plane use or use another sonar unit for that purpose? i dont use anything on plane. being able to "see" the bottom on plane is less importain to me than taking a chance of killing another transducer. i fish the same 6 lakes most of the time so i have a good idea of what im running over. Quote
jsettnek Posted June 11, 2009 Author Posted June 11, 2009 Thanks everyone. My big concern with putting it outside the bunks was that I can't see the screws from inside battery compartment. It has a solid construction in that area. I'd probably be ok cause I was planning on using a quality marine sealant. The other thing is I really rely on the trailer's self-correcting abilities and I could see knocking that thing off a couple times a year. So I ordered a shoot thru cone transducer. I may still put the skimmer on in an area that will work at slow speeds for when I'm idling around. Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 12, 2009 Super User Posted June 12, 2009 skunked_again, you installation will not work when on plane. The transducer has to be in the water.The correct installation is the seam on the sides of the transducer should be even with the bottom of the hull which means that the bottom of the transducer is below the hull about 1/2". The best installation is a shoot-thru either with the skimmer or a puck style transducer. The shoot thru with skimmer installation is in your manual. "C'est fini! Stumps huh, I fish Toledo Bend & Sam Rayburn aint never lost a transducer See that little nut & bolt going horizontal? Don't over tighten it! Quote
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