Garmin striker 4 portable for Kayak

[Americanzero]

So I am trying to decide on what to do as far as electronics on my kayak. I think the striker 4 kit seems like the best deal, but I am hoping folks who have bought the portable kit can answer a few questions. I tried contacting garmin directly and it was a mixed bag getting answers. Ultimately I’m trying to see if it’s worth buying the $200 portable kit, or if it would make more sense to get the $135 non portable kit and buy a battery. I know a 12v battery isn’t going to be $60, but I don’t know if the standalone is capable of hooking to a small battery without modification. I also wasn’t sure if the portable is easy to mount to the kayak, as I don’t want to leave it in the shell it comes nestled in. Also, allegedly the kit comes with a mount for the transducer to shoot through the kayak, and/or garmin sells it for $25, but it looks like it’s basically just a piece of closed cell foam which I could mcguyver up on my own. Does anyone have experience with these units/bundles that can shed some insight?

[casts_by_fly]

What kayak and how are you going to mount it?  I don’t like shoot through transducers. Look up the switchblade setup.  You can have a removable rail mount setup that is simple and compact. 

[Americanzero]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

What kayak and how are you going to mount it?  I don’t like shoot through transducers. Look up the switchblade setup.  You can have a removable rail mount setup that is simple and compact. 

I’m running an old town vapor 10 angler, and I would have to mount it inside. I jump a lot os stumps and rub limbs