Tips for Garmin transducer install

[Curious]

So I'm getting ready to mount my transducer.  I don't know what the model is but it is for the Garmin 541s and I paid around 70 or 80 bucks for it at WM:





Besides what I read in the directions, (not in the path of the prop, or in the path of items on the hull that may cause the water to become turbulent, as near to the center of the boat as possible), are there any other tips from those of you that have done this before?  Should I mount it directly to the transom or exopy a piece of plastic to mount to such as the stern mate?  Left side or right side?  Drill a hole in the transom to route the cable through or go over the top?  I can't believe I am about to drill more holes into my beloved Nidacore!!!  The honeymoon is over... :cry:

Luckily, there are no obstructions and the only lifting strake is way up near the bow so I shouldn't have any trouble getting clean water.  Should I run the boat first and look at the transom at cruising speed to see if there is any turbulance?:





Thanks guys

[Capt. Bob]

There's where mine sits.



Seems to work fine. Better at higher speeds but well none the less. Key is the angle of the transducer in the water. It took a couple of adjustments to mark fish properly with my Lowrance but yours is a Garmin and everyone hates Lowrance. That's why I bought one.

Good luck.

[Curious]

That's right about where I was thinking!  Is it an optical illusion or is there "an obstruction on the hull that may cause the water to become turbulent" right in front of yours?

[seabob4]

Optical illusion.  Depending on how far outboard the ducer really is from the pickup...

[Capt. Bob]

You're both correct but it seems to work just fine. It may be that the WAC sits low in the water (she ain't a flats hull) that the raw water pick up you see doesn't affect the transducer.  

The PO had his mounted there so I just exchanged my transducer with his old one. I didn't drill any new holes in the transom, still.....

It works better than any sounder I had before. As stated earlier, it is clearer (less noise) at speed so the raw water inlet may indeed add to that but it's not much at all.

[seabob4]

Don't fix what ain't broke, CB...

[Capt. Bob]

I ain't.

[Curious]

Cool, thanks guys.  The instructions say that if you can't rectify turbulance problems you might have to reposition the transducer.  Personally, I'd only like to do this ONCE if possible!

[MarshMarlowe196]

Your hull looks to be the same 12° hull as my 19-6, but I get the FF models confused, seems some are the deep vee, some are the modified (12°) vee. Anyway, this is where mine is mounted and it works great before and after I mounted the stern wells. These old aqua hulls are fairly basic, and don't have much variation that could create turbulence. Your mounting spot looks good to me.

[seabob4]

Jessie's location looks perfect.  See my additional comments here...http://www.theaquasportboatclub.com/vie ... ?f=7&t=552

[Curious]

Thanks guys, yes 12 degree hull.  Good thing is no obstructions or strakes.  And according to Bob it wants to be about 1/8" below the hull bottom on the inboard side.

[Curious]

Got it mounted:





Pretty sure I got it where it needs to be in relation to the hull bottom.  Ran the line through the hole in the transom and ran it up front with the rest of the rigging.  Once I got it in place I applied a liberal glob of 5200 in the transom hole.  Once it was all cured I realized....  What if I have to adjust the height?  The damn cord is glued in place! Oh well, maybe I got lucky the first time.  

[seabob4]

Well run her and see how she does!  If you have to adjust, mark where you want to adjust to on the hull, remove each screw and apply a fresh dab of 5200, then re-install the screws and tighten down to the new location.  5200 will seal un-cured below the waterline...

[Curious]

Yeah but if I have to lower it I kinda screwed myself because I 5200'd the cable into the 3/4" hole up higher so I don't have any slack.