Mounting Helix 10 Transducer under/in front of motor?

[mike35549]

I fish in a lot of stumps and trees so I was wanting to mount the transducer for a Helix 10 directly in front of/under my motor right on the center line of the boat, right on the lip of the step down. This way my motor keeps any stumps from hitting it if I go backwards and it being up on the step would keep anything that comes under the boat from ripping it off. I know this wont work when up on plane but I would think should work for 10mph and under. The only thing I can think of is with it being mounted this way would it be possible for the prop to create enough disturbance, or enough turbulence o be created coming around and under the bottom of the boat to effect it. Does anyone have one mounted this way or ever tried it or just know why it wouldn't work. I could always get another transducer for 2d while up on plane if needed. Just trying make sure this will work before drilling holes.

[jimp]

Mounting it on the step down would not prevent a stump from taking the xducer out if the boat drifts a bit sideways, or any angle where the lower unit doesn't catch the stump first due to a gust of wind or wake, etc.

I mounted a 2d xducer on a tin hull with step transom using a "stern saver" (google it). It worked on plane and at idle, but I did not mount it directly behind/under the LU but in the normal position away from the LU.

Might consider a semi permanent/temp mount that would bend/flex before doing any serious damage that you deploy when you get to your fishing hole

[mike35549]

Don't think a stern saver would be of any benefit has far as reducing damage to transducer. I guess I could rig up something you could take off when you got into a lot of standing timber but feel like that would be more trouble than it's worth. Would prob just take my chances before I did that. I was just trying to figure out if it would work mounted directly in front of the lower unit. Which would not be 100% protected I know but would offer more protection than the normal position. But would be worthless if it wouldn't work mounted there.

[rnvinc]

The only issue(s) of consideration with the xducer in front of the lower unit is cavitation created by the xducer housing getting into the water intakes of the lower unit ...

Slow speed would be a non issue ... And if the xducer rises out of the water before cavitation can occur = that's a non-issue also ..
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And of course one would not want the lower unit to hit the xducer housing at full lock turn to either side ...

Rickie

[jimp]

The stern saver would save you from drilling holes in the boat hull, nothing more

[fishin_addict]

I just put my Helix 7 there and will test this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

[mike35549]

I just put my Helix 7 there and will test this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

That would be awesome and if possible can you take a couple pics of it and post them up.