Thru hull transducer placement question

[wrhatt]

I have a 2000 22' Pathfinder. I'm looking at a thru hull transducer that glues the mounting bracket to the inside bottom of the boat. It is then filled with liquid and the transducer snaps into the mounting bracket. I'm trying to figure out the best placement for this unit. Would you recommend down by the drain plug level which is the lowest point or would up on top of the pocket work where the live well drains? I would like for the transducer to work while running on plane. Thank you

[jason p]

Just a suggestion and I don’t mean to answer your question with a question but why not do a true thru-hull transducer? Best possible performance and you’ll gain temperature readings as well. Believe it not once you come to grips with drilling a 2.5”+ hole in the bottom of your boat it’s an easier install than a shoot-thru-hull transducer and way better performance. If you go thru BOE marine they’ll even rent you a hole saw and the proper wrenches to instal it. 

[wrhatt]

I have not had good experiences drilling holes in my boat and will exhaust all other possibilities to a problem before drilling. But, should it come down to drilling, would the bottom of the boat be best or would the top of the pocket work?

[jim33042]

I would say bottom  of boat, top of pocket could have turbulence causing a misreading.

[Bamaskeet]

I suggest you reconsider a shoot thru transducer.  I believe Pathfinder installed them under the leaning post years ago.  Transom mounting has been very successful.

 

 

[wrhatt]

It is currently transom mounted. The problem is, I was driving 7 hours to the Keys and ran over something that bounced up and knocked the snot out of the transducer breaking the mount off the transom. I just figured it was safer to mount the transom inside the boat. However, I'm  looking at your transom mount and that could take some punishment. So that could work.

[smilemaker]

bama is on the right track but has the transducers in the wrong  order.

the larger transducer should be in the pocket down low. this gives the sidescan unobstructed view port and starboard  and will actually work  on plane. the smaller transducer only shoots down so it can be on the main transom and not be bothered by the engine to the  port.

[jason p]

16 hours ago, wrhatt said:

I have not had good experiences drilling holes in my boat and will exhaust all other possibilities to a problem before drilling. But, should it come down to drilling, would the bottom of the boat be best or would the top of the pocket work?

The bottom, that’s where they’re designed to work. If you installed it in the pocket you’d lose bottom readings once on plane. Not sure about your particular model but there may be a spot in the bilge somewhere with a round depression, the factory doesn’t put core material there to facilitate the installation of a transducer. 

[bernieNC]

Thru hull, not shoot thru, as Jason P says is the way to go. Reads at speed, reads water temp and and won't snap off. Mine is mounted more "out board" in front of tab. Clean water in that area and up from the keel a little to avoid bottom contact (oyster bars).

 

 

[Bamaskeet]

6 hours ago, smilemaker said:

bama is on the right track but has the transducers in the wrong  order.

the larger transducer should be in the pocket down low. this gives the sidescan unobstructed view port and starboard  and will actually work  on plane. the smaller transducer only shoots down so it can be on the main transom and not be bothered by the engine to the  port.

I’ve tried it both ways and having the shoot down transducer next to the drain plug works the best because I get bottom readings at all speeds.  The side scan transducer is mounted 1/4” above the bottom of the boat so you don’t get a huge rooster tail and you only use side scan at slow speed.

[Miss Jazzy]

I still have the factory shoot through and the old Lowrance hooked up and working, mainly as a back up to my HDS. If you do go the shoot through route you can still get water temp. You can see the small wire running with my s/c wire. That’s a temp sensor. I will say the old one does not read nearly as well as the transom mount. 

[smilemaker]

i have the larger sidescan in the pocket.

sidecan downscan and conventional all read on plane. the downscan digital readout is supposed to be the more accurate reading between sonar and downscan on plane. even though  the sidescan reads on plane it cannot compute the information into a clear picture. 

[bernieNC]

21 hours ago, wrhatt said:

It is currently transom mounted. The problem is, I was driving 7 hours to the Keys and ran over something that bounced up and knocked the snot out of the transducer breaking the mount off the transom. I just figured it was safer to mount the transom inside the boat. However, I'm  looking at your transom mount and that could take some punishment. So that could work.

I to do not like stuff hanging on my transom if I can avoid it. That is why I went thru hull.

[Malbrew]

On 8/20/2020 at 9:38 AM, bernieNC said:

Thru hull, not shoot thru, as Jason P says is the way to go. Reads at speed, reads water temp and and won't snap off. Mine is mounted more "out board" in front of tab. Clean water in that area and up from the keel a little to avoid bottom contact (oyster bars).

 

 

do you have a step hull?  I can't tell.  I'm putting a thru hull transducer on my 2600 and trying to figure out a proper placement which would allow operation at speeds.

[bernieNC]

3 hours ago, Malbrew said:

do you have a step hull?  I can't tell.  I'm putting a thru hull transducer on my 2600 and trying to figure out a proper placement which would allow operation at speeds.

I do not

[jason p]

On 9/8/2020 at 1:15 PM, Malbrew said:

do you have a step hull?  I can't tell.  I'm putting a thru hull transducer on my 2600 and trying to figure out a proper placement which would allow operation at speeds.

There's an area in front of the step where the factory doesn't put core material in the hull lamination, this is specifically done for thru hull transducer installation. Not sure exactly where this is on a 2600 but someone here does, or call the factory and ask.