what can I use to shoot thru an aluminum boat for depth readings on plane

[BBug]

Just purchased a g3 to fish some rivers in MN. It did not have any way of reading depth, on plane, and I have been searching for what others use in aluminum rigs. Most of what I have found seems to focus on trying to read the bottom thru an aluminum boat for structure. All I want is to be able to read the dept, at speed. I would love to have a 6" in-dash flasher like Lowerance use to make. What are people using on boats like  the Tracker, Xpress and g3? I have a 9" garmin that I use to see whats down there, when I roll slowly. I need something I can read to get me there without running  aground. Thanks

[Woody B]

Tracker Classic XL.  I messed with my transducer location until I get a depth reading at (almost) any speed.   Boat will go 35 mph in normal weather.  (Been 39 when it was 22 degrees LOL)   I normally cruise around 30 mph.  After messing with my transducer a bunch I only lose depth from 24 to 26 mph.   It comes back as speeds above 26.   I can't give you a magic transducer location.  I moved it up, down and side to side some until I got the readings I get now.   Lowrance Elite Ti2 with 3 in 1 transducer, but I suspect you could mess with yours and get it to work as well.   

[Jig Man]

Garmin offers some through hull transducers.  They are pricey.  

[BayouSlide]

I use an Alumaducer (http://www.radarsonics.com/AlumaDucer.htm) in my G3 for better depth readouts at speed.

[Deleted account]

47 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Garmin offers some through hull transducers.  They are pricey.  

You can DIY one from pretty much most 2d look down transducers. Two things to keep in mind, you want a good transducer with enough juice, and you want to mount it so it faces straight down while on plane where it won't "see" much turbulence or bubbles, and you want to mount it where it will be in contact with the same surface opposite the water with no gaps or foam in between, as far as mounting it, you can glue it with epoxy, or sit it in a bath of oil, I guess that's more than 2 things...

There are also true thru hulls, but drilling a big hole on the bottom of your boat takes some fortitude. Still have the "hockey puck" from the 26 Regulator, couldn't do it to the 23 Seacraft, went the shoot thru route on her, God I miss that boat.

[Deephaven]

I have 3 transducers hanging off the back of my boat.  If one breaks off or stops working I use the other.  None are through hull as regardless of hull I don't want anything to ever possibly influence the readings 

[J Francho]

By the time you get a return while running on plane, you will have already run aground. 

[A-Jay]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

By the time you get a return while running on plane, you will have already run aground. 

Yup ~

Never understood the need to know depth on plane.

Rather know what it is before I get there.

It's called mapping.

A-Jay

[bigspirit]

5 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Yup ~

Never understood the need to know depth on plane.

Rather know what it is before I get there.

It's called mapping.

A-Jay

Pretty sure they also have a forward facing ducer for running on plane? Thought I saw that one time. It was a thru-hull design. 

[Deleted account]

18 minutes ago, J Francho said:

By the time you get a return while running on plane, you will have already run aground. 

Not an issue when you come off plane and set the spread on the west wall of the canyon after a 3 hour run, and troll the edges cause there's over 1000 feet of water. Anyone using it for navigation is an idiot.

[J Francho]

You use bathymetry and your knowledge of the water you are running. Not sonar. 

1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

Not an issue when you come off plane and set the spread on the west wall of the canyon after a 3 hour run, and troll the edges cause there's over 1000 feet of water. Anyone using it for navigation is an idiot.

Oh yeah, bass heads do this all the time. Not. 

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, bigspirit said:

Pretty sure they also have a forward facing ducer for running on plane? Thought I saw that one time. It was a thru-hull design. 

Not sure ~

But knowing Depth on plane can't help me navigate safely. 

Sort of like driving down a road full of big pot holes,

At highway speed, and looking for them through the floor of your ride.

 Might be a little late at that point. 

A-Jay

 

[Deleted account]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You use bathymetry and your knowledge of the water you are running. Not sonar. 

Oh yeah, bass heads do this all the time. Not. 

No, you run your ridiculously overpowered vessel balls to the wall in a maze of reeds in 3 feet of water until one of the laws of motions takes effect...

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Oh yeah, bass heads do this all the time. Not. 

I keep reading about them fishing "offshore"...  

[Jigfishn10]

Not arguing your point @A-Jay, rather supporting it.

 

Even mapping is not enough for me. If I'm in an area I'm not familiar with, I'm slowing down to learn the are for the next time (unless you were alluding to this). Especially if I have peeps in the boat. 

 

Being more of an ocean boater, I try and go out at low tide as much as possible to get visual of where rock and obstructions are so when high tide comes, I know when to back off the throttle. 

 

Funny, this came up last Saturday on the water with my family. I pointed to where rock was under water. I was told that they couldn't see the rocks. I casually drove to the area to show them. 

 

Good thread and responses here.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Not arguing your point @A-Jay, rather supporting it.

 

Even mapping is not enough for me. If I'm in an area I'm not familiar with, I'm slowing down to learn the are for the next time (unless you were alluding to this). Especially if I have peeps in the boat. 

 

Being more of an ocean boater, I try and go out at low tide as much as possible to get visual of where rock and obstructions are so when high tide comes, I know when to back off the throttle. 

 

Funny, this came up last Saturday on the water with my family. I pointed to where rock was under water. I was told that they couldn't see the rocks. I casually drove to the area to show them. 

 

Good thread and responses here.

Yup.

Tides, inlets, shifting sand bottom channels are a completely different animal.  Rapid, uncharted and unexpected depth changes are common place.  Also, and you probably already know this,  USCG channel markers/ buoys can and often do, MOVE during heavy weather. Channel marker Position checks post storm are routine.

Never happens on plane though.

A-Jay

 

[Jigfishn10]

13 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Yup.

Tides, inlets, shifting sand bottom channels are a completely different animal.  Rapid, uncharted and unexpected depth changes are common place.  Also, and you probably already know this,  USCG channel markers/ buoys can and often do, MOVE during heavy weather. Channel marker Position checks post storm are routine.

Never happens on plane though.

A-Jay

 

Actually, no. I'm not that experienced...I had an idea that they may move, but never had it confirmed. I always thought that they were pretty much embedded into the ocean floor.

 

Just learned something here.

 

Thanks mi amigo.

[gim]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Rather know what it is before I get there.

It's called mapping.

 

I won't run my boat on plane unless I already know its deep enough for it.  Its a safety thing for me, not to mention the risk of running my lower unit into something is catastrophic.  Basic sonar and mapping are a must for me.  Most of the time I fish waters that I know pretty well, and my GPS leaves a trail from my previous trip that I simply follow.  I've always wondered how recreational boats can get away without these features all the time while cruising around in shallow water.  Its an accident just waiting to happen.

[BBug]

hey thanks for all of the great information. I do use mapping but as good as it is, sometimes its not spot on. I have always used some sort of sonar device to back up any information on the map. Just my comfort zone. I have also found that many times I have seen blips on my screen when on pad that turn out to be a small change in the bottom that ends up holding fish. Once again, something not on the map.

What everyone is saying about using sonar as your only source of knowledge on the water is a given. I don't run blindly along and I also don't move around in new water until I know everything that is out there. I understand the reasons for your replies and concerns. I have been running fiberglass bass boats for over 40 years and never run aground using sonar, prior to onboard mapping. I have a transducer on the stern for detail. Just looking for options for when I am on the run.

[Bdnoble84]

On 8/19/2022 at 8:06 AM, Jigfishn10 said:

Not arguing your point @A-Jay, rather supporting it.

 

Even mapping is not enough for me. If I'm in an area I'm not familiar with, I'm slowing down to learn the are for the next time (unless you were alluding to this). Especially if I have peeps in the boat. 

 

Being more of an ocean boater, I try and go out at low tide as much as possible to get visual of where rock and obstructions are so when high tide comes, I know when to back off the throttle. 

 

Funny, this came up last Saturday on the water with my family. I pointed to where rock was under water. I was told that they couldn't see the rocks. I casually drove to the area to show them. 

 

Good thread and responses here.

This is the approach im taking with the river i live next to and am learning. The area i am in is sketchy and has taken many a prop. We have had extremely low water the last 2 summers. This has allowed ne to putz the channel and get a really good feel for the layout. Last time water was up a foot compared to time before and having explored enough. I was able feel confident planing out from the dam five miles back down to the boat ramp. Some of the section were only a couple feet deep but i had been through them enough to know they were clear. 

[WRB]

Mounting a transducer inside the boat on the hull bottom you loose water temperature reading, important factor to know.

Tom

[flyfisher]

On 8/19/2022 at 8:57 AM, A-Jay said:

Not sure ~

But knowing Depth on plane can't help me navigate safely. 

Sort of like driving down a road full of big pot holes,

At highway speed, and looking for them through the floor of your ride.

 Might be a little late at that point. 

A-Jay

 

I am having flashback to my old jeep CJ with holes in the passenger floor nad literaly doing exactly what you said but of course highway speed meant anything over about 30 lol