Xducer mounting option

[jimp]

Looking at moving the TM xducer to the back on the transom but don't want to drill any more holes in my tracker PT175. I have a Merc 60 2stroke on my boat, and it has a metal plate mounted to the bottom of the main motor mount. Would this be an acceptable place to mount a xducer for use when Longlining? This plate is below the water line when I'm LL'g. The plate I'm referring to is the gray plate that runs the width of the motor mount.

[rnvinc]

Get some 3m double sided tape and stick the xducer on there and try it. ...

The tape should hold it on sufficiently for a slow speed trial like you indicate...

I dont think I would trust the tape for a high speed trial on plane...

Rickie

[skeetbum]

Worth a try.

[waterboy1]

This location appears to be just ahead of the prop and lower unit, not sure how clean the water flow is at that point, may cause problems from bubbles as water gets sucked into the prop. No harm in trying though, would be interested in hearing the results.

[jimp]

I'm thinking some angle iron that will bolt right up to this gray plate as there are two holes (one at each end in the pic) with the angle iron extending out to the sides of the main motor mount whatever I think is needed to clear the lower unit when turning or in the lowest position. The standard transom xducer mount then could mount up to the angle iron with some short bolts, etc. This location is in front of the lower unit/prop but still above the prop. The gray/dull surface you see in the pic all around the black motor mount and gray metal plate I'm considering is the actual outer skin of the transom. The faded red you see in the upper portion of the pic is the red factory paint on my tracker (cell phone pic).

I've seen some people mount SI xducers on their jack plates with various mounts available from retailers, so it's something similar to that idea, just not an SI xducer nor do I have a jackplate. I'm guessing the xducer would be about 2" away from the transom skin itself and be in clean water while LLg.

[wilbur]

This is how mine is but I lose depth over 18 mph.

[CrappiePappy]

I'm thinking that would work ... as long as your transducer signal wasn't blocked by the transom or the mounting plate itself. You probably wouldn't be able to use that transducer when on plane, though, since it could possibly be out of the water, then.

You also may not need to mount the transducer "exactly" center line & in line with the motor's lower unit, if you find that it may get in the way. Mounting instructions usually tell you to mount a transom mount transducer off to one side, anyway. You'd just have to be mindful of the fact that your signal was "off center", too.

There's also the possibility of using a mounting board, epoxied to the transom. This allows you to drill into the board, rather than the transom skin. The pros are : you don't drill holes in the boat - you can move the transducer mounting bracket around until you get the proper positioning. The cons are : eventual deterioration (if wood is used) - it's there until removed (which might be difficult).

... cp

[jimp]

well' here's the end result for the day. Went to Lowes and got some 1/8" alum angle and cut it 18" long, centered it and mounted it to gray plate attached to the main motor mount using the holes already in the gray plate. Then played with the position of the xducer and where it could go based on the lenght of the xducer cable up to the front FF. Now I just have to go to the lake and see what it does.

I could not mount it directly under/behind the big motor as the lower unit would have crushed the xducer when lowered all the way, but the lower unit clears the angle iron just fine with the motor all the way down. I doubt if this xducer will be in the water when on plane, but that's ok as I'm not sitting in the front seat when on plane anyways. This is primarly an experiment to see if the xducer will work like this as I'm not comfy with the xducer mounted on the new Terrova with that head that can spin over 360 degrees and could possibly end up damaging the wire.