Another Transducer Question

[ralphl]

I'm installing the transducer for a Hummingbird 190C on my 20' pontoon. Everything is pretty straightforward except the Hummingbird instructions tell you to level the boat fore and aft - beam to beam on the trailer, then level the transducer. However, my pontoon - like all pontoons - does not sit level in the water. The stern sits deeper than the bow because of the engine weight, etc. The angle is at least 10 or 15 degrees off level. So, if I install it leve nowl it will in fact, be pointing forward in the water.

Does it really matter or will it just give me a little more of a forward looking cone? Can that screw up depth measurements? Accurate depth is important, since once I locate the fish, I'll need to set my downriggers to that depth. Am I over engineering this? Should I try to compensate for the boat tilt?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Another Transducer Question

Install the transducer so it is parallel with the water with the boat at rest -- IN THE WATER. This will provide a cone whose center is perpendicular with the water. Under way the stern may settle a bit but you are basically looking at depth under way anyway. As you slow to perform searches, the boat will settle back to normal. A drastic forward or rear tilted cone will not provide the most accurate depth reading as well as not showing what's under the boat.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Another Transducer Question

I'm not sure which transducer mount you have, but with mine there is some adjustment that can be made after the install that allow you to alter the angle somewhat so you can fine tune it that way.

Wayne