Trolling motor mounted transducers and boat mounted transducers

[tsaints1115]

This is probably a dumb question and I've dug around the forum before asking it, but. I see that Minn Kota has the Us2 transducer built into some of it's models and that it is compatible with numerous manufactures fish finders. It looks tidy and convenient. Here's the dumb question. While you are fishing obviously it will work quite well. But when you move at a higher speed such as trolling or in moving from one fishing area to another you are going to come to a point where the trolling motor has to be pulled back into the boat. What is used for depth/fish finding then? Is the Us2 used in ADDITION to a boat mounted transducer that can be used at higher speed? Do fish finders have multiple inputs for multiple transducers? Do you not use one at higher speed (I've been on boats where they do use one and this is part of my confusion)?

I'm a new boat owner and want to equip it with the right choices for me in electronics but I also don't want to have to spend money twice either.

Thx

[Shellback]

If the transducer isn't in the water, it's not reading depth. You would need an additional transducer mounted on the hull, and a switch to select which transducer for the head to read from. Or a complete second unit.

[Cray]

Like Shellback said 2 depth finders or a head unit with A/B switch. Depends on type of boat and depth finder. Could buy 1 unit and 2 mounts if you have consol steering and just move head unit back and forth. I have a stick steer so could run one unit on A/B switch just chose not to. A lot of this depends on waters you are fishing and most important is your budget restrictions.

[tsaints1115]

I live near a river but plan on going to nearby lakes also. I know that I will go with an iPiloted TM. Yes they're pricey but the things that it can do will make fishing especially when I'm out on my own more enjoyable so I think it's worth it. Up till now I've been the back of the boat person in everyone else's boat and all the hard work was on them. The situation I'm thinking of is when one is at faster than trolling speeds searching for brush, rises,etc. Eventually a speed will be reached that the TM will have to come out of the water if not simply for the strain placed on it if not for anything else.

In the situation mentioned of multiple mounts assumeme there is two sets of input wires set up to just unplug at one and move to the next? Or does one just ruadequatete length of cables to reach both?

[Cray]

first if you are going to get Ipilot with transducer you will have to purchase a finder that minkota offers a adapter cable for to hook to trolling motor, not sure but think their universal transducer is more compatable with Humminbird than Lowrance. when you purchase a depthfinder it will come with transome mount transducer,power cable and mount. all these parts you would use to mount at console, then you would need a second mounting bracket, power cable and the minkota adapter cable for your unit to mount on the front of boat. for most finders the bracket and power cable are avaliable through Bass Pro or manufacturer. BPS will be cheaper. the adapter cable can be sourced from Minkota or off Ebay, cabelas and other sources you will just have to find out which cable you need for the finder you purchase. I would sugest that you source cable for any unit you are interested in before you purchase finder to make sure it is compatable with Minkota. Hope this helps.

[Eagle 1]

I put a eagle cuda series on the back ( have tiller steer ) to see when in travel mode .

[EnonEye]

tsaints I've got the US2 on my TM and use it on my front FF. I've got a GPS/ff combo near my console with the hull mounted transducer and use that while motoring to my spot and then put the TM down and sit in the front while fishing. I love this set up. Hope that helps answer your question.

[tsaints1115]

tsaints I've got the US2 on my TM and use it on my front FF. I've got a GPS/ff combo near my console with the hull mounted transducer and use that while motoring to my spot and then put the TM down and sit in the front while fishing. I love this set up. Hope that helps answer your question.

It does, Thank You.

I dont know if I was going the two FF route, certainly not at first. Would FF with ethernet connections be able to use one or multiple transducers, switching to which one you wanted to take the reading from?