Lowrance Elite 5-DSI transducer mounting question

OK guys so here is the deal.
I have a Lowrance Elite 5-DSI mounted in the dash of my Nitro Z6. Per Lowrance and my dealers recommendations, we did not mount the transducer through the hull(as I originally wanted to do), choosing instead to mount it to the upper step of the transom. Everything seemed to be going great until we opened the engine up and got up on plane, I found out I get no depth reading because the transducer is not in the water. For my home lake this isn't that big a deal because I know where I'm going and what depth to expect. However, if I ever want to go to a new lake, especially at winter pool times, this could be a big problem. I am told that to mount the transducer to the lower step, it would need to be at least 15" away from the lower unit in order to avoid prop blowout and/or engine overheat.

So I guess my question is, does anyone have any experience in mounting a 800 khz DSI transducer to a step down transom and/or have tried mounting it through the hull? If so, any advice or where to mount the transducer or where to go from here? I plan to call Lowrance tomorrow to get some clarification on through the hull mounting.

I don't want to lose the GPS in the dash, but I also don't want to feel like I'm handicapped while running down the lake and afraid I'll get into shallow water without knowing it.

Thanks a ton in advance for any help or advice.

I have my running transducer mounted in such a way it is always wet even on Wide open throttle. Thats what I would do to start.

In case anyone was curious, I talked to Lowrance customer service. According to them, mounting the DSI transducer through-the-hull reduces its performance approximately 10%. Hope this helps anyone who might run across this issue in the future.

UKangler, I am getting ready to get a new unit , the elete 5 DSI is one I think I want but need to know if the temp sensor is built in the transducer cause I want to mount mine on the front and the ducer on the trolling motor and don't want two cables running down the shaft like the ones that have a seprate temp sensor.

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Originally Posted by captin

UKangler, I am getting ready to get a new unit , the elete 5 DSI is one I think I want but need to know if the temp sensor is built in the transducer cause I want to mount mine on the front and the ducer on the trolling motor and don't want two cables running down the shaft like the ones that have a seprate temp sensor.

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Lowrance Elite 5DSI does have a built-in temp sensor in the transducer. I have mine mounted on the TM, with the unit head mounted on the floor at the bow of the boat.

You may also want to read thru my thread on the E5DSI, at the top of this page. You may find some interesting tidbits, and get a better understanding of what the unit can & can't do. The manual is relatively useless, as far as instructions on setting the unit or using it ... and the emulator & simulator programs that are available, are best case scenario oriented (as far as showing screen renditions of bottom & cover) & basically being a tutorial on what each setting does & how it changes the screen readings. It's an ongoing discussion, and any questions or input is welcome.

... cp :cool:

Thanks bro,,, I have and continue to read every word on that thread.. I am still thinking and reading and I may need to think about a more simple to use unit IF THERE IS ONE HAHA..

May there be one ??? I will just keep reading and talking to find a unit that will fill all I want and not over cook what little brain I have.

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Originally Posted by captin

Thanks bro,,, I have and continue to read every word on that thread.. I am still thinking and reading and I may need to think about a more simple to use unit IF THERE IS ONE HAHA..

May there be one ??? I will just keep reading and talking to find a unit that will fill all I want and not over cook what little brain I have.

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I know where you're coming from, brother ... !!

This unit is MY 1st color, GPS, chartplotter, temp reading, split screen capable unit, too ... as I've always used the low end 2d depthfinders. So far I'm liking what I see on it, and the more I use it the more things I find out how to change the settings to get a better screen image. I haven't even begun to get any practical use out of the GPS/Chartplotter portion of the unit, but it's there whenever I do/would need it.

There are "more simple to use" units ... they just don't have all the bells/whistles functions of the newer ones. Then again, even the more technologically advanced units do have a "automatic" function choice, where you don't have to manually choose what functions to use. The only problem with that, is the auto feature may not give you the best choice of functions (that YOU want), but just default to the simplest set of functions that the unit is capable of.

... cp :cool: