Breaking TM Transducers

[senile1]

How often do you have to replace your trolling motor transducers? The lakes I fish the most contain a lot of timber and brush under the water and I find I am replacing my TM transducer once a year on average because of the beating it takes from bumping wood under the water. Sometimes, I replace it more than that. I've accepted that this is the way it is, but maybe I just need to learn how to drive.   

[GTrombly]

Have you tried a transducer shield?

[Wayne P.]

If you are just using the unit mfg trolling motor adaptor for a transom mount transducer, Transducer Shield and Saver has a mount to use that transducer or if you break off the part on the transducer that attaches to the mount, the Shield will work with that also.

They have one for the puck style also.

There is another protector available also ----Wee Vee.

This is a Humminbird Side Imaging transducer mounted with the Transducer Shield and Saver:

[senile1]

Funny.  I thought about the possibility of making a shield and I never googled to find a manufactured one.  In my lakes, this is definitely a good idea.  Of the two of these which one can handle the most abuse?

[K_Mac]

Senile 1, I had trouble with breaking mounts and pinching cables several times over the years. It does look like there are some good options out there. I never tried one. : When I bought my last TM I went with the built in transducer. That is money well spent IMO.

As far as learning to drive, if you ain't getting into the thick of things, you're probably not doing it right...good luck.

[senile1]

Yeah, I agree K-Mac.  Once you're in thick timber and you are casting and maneuvering the boat at the same time it's easy to bump underwater timber.  I never claimed to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. 

[NBR]

I went through a transducer every year or two until I bought a TM with a built in transducer. That must have been 4 or 5 years ago and it's still fine.

[Wayne P.]

For regular 2D transducers, the Transducer Shield and Saver is best since it is metal and surrounds the transducer and uses a hose clamp for attachment. Check their site for the proper model for your transducer.

For the SI transducer, the Wee Vee is more of a bottom contact protector and the Transducer Shield and Saver is a sturdy mount. A combination of the two is the optimum protection.

I fish in stumps almost every week and cable damage is the most concern since the cable going around the motor exposes it to side impact.

The solution to that is this:

[senile1]

That's a nice setup Wayne.  Thanks for the information.  And thanks to GTrombly also.

[scbassin]

I was breaking 2 to 3 a year & while at the B/M Classic in Greenville I picked up a Wee-Vee. I have not broke one since.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I had your very problem until I bought a shield bracket too.  Mine wasnt as fancy as Waynes but it worked.  It was a plastic bracket with some fingers sticking down that protected the transducer. 

Since then I never broke another transducer on my old boat.  Just cut cables.     Now I tape all the cable tight to the motor so the limbs and crud dont get caught.  So far so good.