Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

[johnjsa]

I just bought a 1997 Nitro 700 LX. I want to replace the Humminbird depthfinder at the console with a Lowrance which includes GPS & not sure about mounting the transducer. The existing transducer is mounted in the bilge which I like since there are no holes in the transom. The Lowrance transducer is a skimmer type & the manual says you can mount as shoot thru hull. What would you all do?

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

I would consider either of two other Lowrance transducers (Airmar units - P74 or P79) which may be better suited for your shoot thru-hull application. You may check them out on the Airmar website by searching for Lowrance in-hull transducers.
http://www.airmartechnology.com/2009/marine/product-search.asp?Type=FF

 

[John_S]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

Transom transducers are hard to find the right location at high speeds. Many bass boats have a shoot throw type. Given the HB worked fine, you should be able to find a good location in the bilge. Test before epoxy.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

Transom transducers are hard to find the right location at high speeds. Many bass boats have a shoot throw type. Given the HB worked fine, you should be able to find a good location in the bilge. Test before epoxy.

This is a very good point. A friend of mine used petroleum jelly to remove any air gap as he tried various locations. Of course you then need to really clean the thing up good before gluing, and in the end the location did not work and now it's on the transom... But at least he did his due diligence.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

Flood the area in the bilge with water where you want to test the transducer. This prevents air from getting between the transducer and hull. Use a heavy plastic bag filled with sand to hold it in place during the test. When you find the perfect spot, clean it and dry it, then epoxy it to the hull. Use all of the epoxy to make sure there's no air between the device and the hull. Use the heavy bag to hold it in place for 24 hours.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

All of my boats over the years have been fitted with Eagle/Lowrance locators and all of them had the transducer stern mounted. None of them failed to operate properly at speeds up to 45 MPH.

 

[skargo]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

I have a transom mount for my main setup, and a shoot through for my backup.
I used a butter tub filled with water and weighted down to test locations. Found on that worked, epoxied it down and it works GREAT. I have it matched up depth reading-wise with my main setup.

 

[Reel Kahuna]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

On my center console, the transom ducer broke off the bracket so when I replaced it, I bought the Lowrance shoot thru. Relatively easy to epoxy it in the bilge. However I fish in waters 30' or less and quite satisfied with the Lowrance ducer. If you're fishing in deeper water then the Airmar unit maybe the way to go...it cost twice as much as the Lowrance but some will say its twice as stronger to marking fish .

 

[John_S]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

None of them failed to operate properly at speeds up to 45 MPH.

My Eagle would track to about that, but above 45 it was unreliable, but that was on a V hull not a bass boat pad. While I don't know what he is powering the Nitro with, I made the assumption that it was old reg limits of 18'/150hp, where 60mph can be easily hit. If his boat tops out at 45, would still try the bilge first.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

Just sayin' ... At 45 mph if the depth finder reports shallow water, you'll be in the next county before you can stop. You'll have to paddle back to the previous county to retrieve your drive.

 

[johnjsa]

Re: Transducer Location - Shoot Thru Hull/Transom

My boat can run about 52 with just me. I am going with the shoot thru hull location in the bilge area.