transom ducer location

[eyecatcher01]

Wanting to mount transducers on transom in front of my kicker and just curious if i will experience interference if running the kicker and viewing from those ducers. I know humminbird wants ducers atleast 15 inches from main engine prop but think that would more for high speed operation and the turbulance....so wasnt sure if the kicker would cause enough water disturbance trolling (forward or back trolling) to clutter the entire viewing area or not. I have a lund 2025 so there is plenty of room to get atleast 15" from main engine but will be directly ahead of the kicker and wanting to put a minnkota vantage on the transom this winter. thanks in advance for any input

ryan

[gofishwalleye]

Not sure of that location but I was told that my original transducer location near my big motor could interrupt water flow for the water pump pick-up screen, just a thought.

[RDJ]

You may not have too much trouble when going forward but will loose your signal when back trolling due to air bubbles and turbulence.

[REW]

Eyecatcher 01 -
Mount the transducer using the following method.
1. Get an assistant driver.
2. Have both the driver and yourself wear life jackets.
3. Have the driver start the boat, and run its through it speed paces of 0 - maximum speed. While the assistant driver is doing this, you need to be peering over the transom of the boat, checking the wake for clear and turbulant spots in the various areas of your boats wake.

4. To finally mount the transducer in the correct spot, take a pipe, 2/2, 2/4 or equivalent and mount the transducer on the end of the pole, or stick.
5. Finally, with the boat standing still in the middle of the lake, use a c-clamp to clamp the board to the transom, with the transducer in a candidate mounting position. Adjust the depth finder for optimum response.
6. With the transducer mounted in a candidate position, run the boat through its paces from 0-maximum speed, as well as backing from 0-normal maximum reverse speed.
Verify the operation of the depth finder.

If you find some mode of operation, where the depth finders fails to give you a good reading, move the transducer to candidate location 2,3, 4 etc. until you find the best overall spot for the location of the transducer.

This method really helps from drilling a bunch of holes in your boat.

Normally, you want to mount the transducer in a location, where there is MINIMUM turbulance, in either a forward or reverse boat direction.
Normally, this is a spot that is away from any motor, away from any braces, rivets, chines or strakes.
Some boat hulls make this a very easy task, and for some hulls it is nearly impossible to find that perfect location.

Good luck and post your results.

REW

[orchard frank]

As mentioned, clean water flow is what you need. I have the transducer for one of my dash units mounted on the kicker side, and it works okay, but I mostly use that screen as a full screen map, and normally have the depth sounder function turned off. It does, however, work okay when I choose to use it. One factor in my set up is that the kicker is mounted on a Panther Lift, so the lower end and prop are farther away from the transducer.