Most Kayak Friendly fish finder

[NewAngler]

I'm trying to hook my kayak with a fishfinder, and don't want to get one that wont mount well on my kayak. Any suggestions here? I also don't want to break the bank.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

it depends on the level of FF you are looking for... for basic cheap one... you can run with something like this:

They have these from the very basic 110 model (basic B&W display) up to the 140C (same size screen, color and more information available).

Otherwise look for a "through hull" setup where you can just tape it to the bottom and use whatever FF model you want...

[J Francho]

I'm trying to hook my kayak with a fishfinder, and don't want to get one that wont mount well on my kayak. Any suggestions here? I also don't want to break the bank.

Any FF with a transom mount TD will work in a kayak. Add this kit, and you're in business: http://www.captdick.net/NEW%20PRODUCTS.htm

Clamp on units are a pain, and get in the way.  Just mount the head unit in a convenient location.  Mine is on the "dash."

[mudkart]

The humminbird 565 or 570 are great for the price (higher resolution = better), and you can use them w/ a suction cup transducer. You'd have to work out something for the battery though. The 12V gel cell used for the portable models is compact and relatively light. The portable model itself can be removed fom the satchel it comes in and mounted. I found a slightly used 565 portable on the bay for ~ $100, but had to buy the battery separate, so total it came to ~ $140 (I already had a battery charger, which adds to the list price of the portable sonar packages). Disclaimer: I use this w/ a scanoe, not a kayak.

http://store.humminbird.com/products/313973?product_id=7818b356941ba3b7b253de2be0621c66

[J Francho]

Radio Shack sells deep cycle 12v home alarm batteries (Cat. No. 23-27) that work perfectly for this.  I have a battery shelf in my boat for the batt, but a drybag works as well.  Make sure you install a fuse.  The Schumacher Battery Companion 1.5 amp trickle charger has done the job for me for two years now.

[NewAngler]

Oh man, there is more to it than I thought. I'm looking at a cuda 128  or 300. I will need a battery, fuse and kayak kit for theae I assume?

[J Francho]

And a charger.

You can do the TD yourself, the kit is just really easy. Many simply make a small square dam out of styrofoam, glue the "box" to the hull, add GOOP, and press in the TD. You know the site to ask this question....

[NewAngler]

Yea. I'm going there next. But d**n, I wish you were next door neighbor.

[J Francho]

There's always an open spot on my roof rack, if you ever get up here, LOL.  I've tried to dig up the link that has Chad's and someone else's pics of the DIY install, but can't find it.

[Smiths.R]

I've got a question for you Francho.  What would you suggest for a kayak user who wants to take up as little space as possible.  I will use my boat for duck hunting in the fall, so I don't want to permanently attach a battery to the boat, as it will take up room for decoys, gun etc.  What do you think?  I really dont' think I want to get one of those side mounted units...Need your help!

[J Francho]

I take my FF off all the time, to use on a rowboat my buddy has on a restricted lake nearby.  Takes 5 minutes, six bolts.  You wouldn't permanently mount the battery anywhere, have to remove it to charge it.  Heck, I can't put my kayak on the roof rack with the battery in it, puts it over 90 lbs., which more than I can handle.  Even if you don't remove it, the HB units Leave you with just the base, and nothing else in the way.  Any unit will be fine, within your budget, though I consider GPS a must have now that I've had it for a couple years.  Starting to feel the same about cover.  My buddies all swear by Garmin 300.  Decent unit for the price.  Saw the new HB 385 this weekend, really nice unit.  I'm still on the fence about a SI unit, and I'm probably getting an Aquaview.  There's no limit, really.

[Wayne P.]

J, you may want to reconsider a SI unit over a video camera. The SI units will give you somewhat picture quality views of the water column and won't be affected by the water color or time of day or night. Another plus is you can see stuff quite a ways from the unit without being directly above it which may scare the fish.