Installing a transducer on a trolling motor?

[SkeeterJohn]

While out carp fishing with topwater one discussion we had was about trolling motors and installing a fish finder on the bow of your boat... The discussion was based on how to install the transducer and run the cable up the shaft of the motor.

I have a Minn Kota Power drive model which uses a "grip-glide" style stow and deploy mechanism...



That started us thinking on how the heck you'd do a recommended installation of clamping the cable to the shaft... with this type of motor you can't clamp anything to the shaft because it glides through the stow and deploy holder.

Before everyone jumps in and says oh just go and buy a universal sonar model.. please remember we don't want to be going and spending another $1000

Any suggestions on how to run the cable so that it won't get hung up on weed too much.. I'm sure someone out there has run into this problem. I think this is the main reason i've held off on getting another finder


The only way i could think of was to clamp the cable below the lower joint and above the collar at the top... the trouble is this is going to mean a fair bit of slack around the main portion of the motor shaft.

[Trophymuskie]

John I have done this multiple times before they came out with the built in sonar I now have, thank god as the old way is a pain but can be done.

You are right the best way to do it it tying the cable ( I found electrical tape to do the job just fine as it limits slippage you can get with the plastic ties) just above the foot of the motor and then just above the body, I would reccomend that you pass the wire through the hole of the release handle as it will help keep the wire closer to the shaft. Now here is the fun part you have to make sure you have enough slack in the cable to be able to have it down all the way and in the stowed position. But you want to make sure the section along the shaft is tight enough not to get in the way of the prop. Another most important part is to be very carefull every time you deploy or put away the motor as that's when your going to break the cable, lord only knows I have done this many of times.

Good luck with your project. You may consider getting a spare transducer as sooner or later you will break the cable and they are impossible to patch up. I used to break one a year except for one year I did it twice. but that is fishing 100+ times per year.

[topwater]

John
I was talking to a guy today at the boat ramp in Kars and he had one riged just like TM said tie-raped tiight to the motor and the bottom of the shaft the through the release handle some slack and them tie-raped above the top sleave. He said it dosen't collect as many weeds as you would think. From the motor he weaved it so it ran through th middle of the coils to keep iy neat

[SkeeterJohn]

Thanks Trophymuskie.. it's nice to know it's possible and useable... a spare transducer is a small price to pay compared to swithcing motors... perhaps it's something to bear in mind next time i purchase one.