Fish finder install and transducer location

[D5boone]

Just purchased a garmin echo map fish finder. I will be installing it on an 18 foot ski boat with a swim platform. Any suggestions as to location of the transducer and what have you used as marine sealant as prescribed in the manual. If I understand the directions I drill the pilot holes, fill with marine sealant and then install with the provided screws? TIA.

[skidderman]

Keep it as far away from the prop as you can. Make sure it is level. Just follow the instructions per purchase.

[huntsfurfish]

Buy one of these:

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/135411/bass-pro-shops-transducer-mounting-plate

It will allow you to move the mount a bit(quite a bit) if needed or add another transducer if you want.

Find a smooth area(for water flow) at the transom, the board will give you some flexibility to find a sweet spot.
Mount the board then ducer to the board.

Follow instructions for mounting the ducer.

3M 5200 marine adhesive sealant:

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/3m-marine-adhesive-sealant-5200-white-3-oz-0790215p.html

Or 3M 4200:

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/3m-marine-adhesive-sealant-fast-cure-4200-3-oz-0790216p.html

I think 5200 was the permanent and 4200 was removable.

[D5boone]

Thanks. I’ve read all the instructions but always appreciate experience. As a first time sonar owner do people commonly have multiple units or why would you have more than one transducer.

[EZM]

Thanks. I’ve read all the instructions but always appreciate experience. As a first time sonar owner do people commonly have multiple units or why would you have more than one transducer.

Do exactly, and use exactly what Huntsfurfish recommends. It is rock solid advice from an experienced guy who has probably like me, and has learned from trial and error over the years.

I cannot stress the importance of buying a transducer board, it's mounted once onto the boat, holes are sealed, and never any more holes in the boat. If the transducer doesn't read right, it gets hit by a stick and needs to be replaced, or you have to move it, or add another transducer or whatever .......... you are only attaching it to the board and never drilling new holes in the boat.

I shake my hard in utter disbelief whenever I see a transducer mounted directly to any hull .... use a board ........ it's cheap insurance, reduces the holes in your boat and is simple and smart.

As far as where to mount it, find a place where there is no strake on a place where smooth water will flow over your hull. The next most important thing is to get it half way above and half way below the hull itself. Your hull will likely not be perfectly flat in that spot, so split the difference and keep it as close to 50/50 as you can and you will have a great chance of getting clean readings at speed.

https://i.imgur.com/5FMUSxU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6qUCWRF.jpg

[alxwang]

The instruction from my mount plate said I need to apply silicon sealer on the holes and between plate and transom.

Why do we need a 3M 5200 marine adhesive sealant? Use it as the silicon sealer?


Buy one of these:

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/135411/bass-pro-shops-transducer-mounting-plate

It will allow you to move the mount a bit(quite a bit) if needed or add another transducer if you want.

Find a smooth area(for water flow) at the transom, the board will give you some flexibility to find a sweet spot.
Mount the board then ducer to the board.

Follow instructions for mounting the ducer.

3M 5200 marine adhesive sealant:

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/3m-marine-adhesive-sealant-5200-white-3-oz-0790215p.html

Or 3M 4200:

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/3m-marine-adhesive-sealant-fast-cure-4200-3-oz-0790216p.html

I think 5200 was the permanent and 4200 was removable.

[Ronbill]

I did an install on my 2009 Chaparral 196 ssi a few years ago. You can read about it here: http://forum.chaparralboats.com/index.php?/topic/37818-transom-mount-transducer-in-ssi-or-h2o/&tab=comments#comment-414762.
I installed a Sternmate onto the fiberglass transom first then attached the transducer to it. Not hard to do but read all the instructions and see if you can find some pics of your exact boat model for ideal transducer placement.