Mounting fish finder transducer without drilling

[solar]

I'm looking to get a fishfinder for my new boat. I can mount the display unit at the console. If I drill a hole large enough for the power and transducer cables, I can run them through the console and as out-of-the-way as possible on the way back to the trasnsom. The power can be hooked I believe directly to the battery, and the transducer of course goes on the transom.

Not keen to drill holes in the transom, I found an aluminum bracket that clamps on the transom, and the transducer is then botled onto the bottom of the bracket. There are adjustment screws, so you can fine tune the transducer's position for the best read.

Any experience with this, or do most folks drill and mount the transducer right into the transom?

Thanks,

Chris

[XXXL]

Take a look at SternMate. They make a transducer bracket that adheres on to the transom and offer all sort of different configurations for running multiple transducers. No experience with them but I'm going pick one up when I add the Structure Scan module to my HDS to avoid having to drill more holes in my transom. Alot of other manufacturers offer transducer mounting plates that screw on and then you can mount several transducers to those or if you ever change your sonar you can drill new holes in the plate and not your boat. If you seal them up with quality marine grade silicone it really shouldnt be a problem.

[Mr.J.]

Not keen to drill holes in the transom, I found an aluminum bracket that clamps on the transom, and the transducer is then botled onto the bottom of the bracket. There are adjustment screws, so you can fine tune the transducer's position for the best read.

Chris

Please tell me about this bracket and where you got it. My transducer needs adjustment and I can't do it with the current location so this very much interests me.

Thanks

[cprince]

I'm looking to get a fishfinder for my new boat. I can mount the display unit at the console. If I drill a hole large enough for the power and transducer cables, I can run them through the console and as out-of-the-way as possible on the way back to the trasnsom. The power can be hooked I believe directly to the battery, and the transducer of course goes on the transom.

Not keen to drill holes in the transom, I found an aluminum bracket that clamps on the transom, and the transducer is then botled onto the bottom of the bracket. There are adjustment screws, so you can fine tune the transducer's position for the best read.

Any experience with this, or do most folks drill and mount the transducer right into the transom?

Thanks,

Chris

This is the design I'll be using;



Pretty simple approach!

I have a boat with the mount drilled through the transom, wont do that again. Just makes me nervous. I have a gasket system keeping me dry that is working at this point.

Craig

[solar]

Try here:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Number=387

Chris

[GR8-Scott]

Or at Le Barons ... the Tite-Lok Transducer clamp (left side of the page)
http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_files_sp10/fi ... te_lok.pdf

[solar]

As an update, a buddy of mine has advised me that the mount seen above doesn't hold steady at speed, and can only be used effectively at trolling speeds. Nor do suction cup mounts hold on beyond trolling/slower speeds I'm told. So, one choice is to go with a Transom Saver, which is a mount that is glued on the transom, to which the transducer is screwed so you have no holes in the boat. It does cost about $115 USD however. My friend, a mechanic, says that he has drill-mounted his transducer, and that by using a high-grade silicone caulk used in auto mechanics, he has not had a leak in the past 10 years which seems more than acceptable to me.

So, I may well go ahead with drill mounting. Stainless screws to avoid any corrosion issues, since mixing the wrong metal with aluminum will result in rapid corrosion.

Convention holds the day I guess. I'll post some pix once everything gets done.

Chris

[Dan Smyth]

If you don't want to drill holes have you considered using a good grade epoxy to "glue" it on?

[solar]

Absolutely, and since Transom Saver does just that, its a valid idea and just a matter of finding a glue that is proven for years of marine exposure.

[refteck]

A option I used was a white nylon cutting board, just cut it to fit your application the glue it on and you now have a cheap place to mount transducers with out going through the transom.

[West Lake Willows]

As refteck says. Go with a transducer mounting board. This way you only drill two holes and securely mount your transducer. You can adjust it, or change it at will without putting any more holes in your transom.

Here is a link to the board I use for my rental boats. This is made by Berts Custom Tackle. I know Baitcaster's and Paddletails can order this for you. Their distributer carries it in stock and it costs about $15.

http://www.teclausa.com/bert/products/M ... -board.jpg

Scott