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Hello All,
Would like to hear some opinions on mounting a transducer on a trolling motor.
So what my plan is a new Minnkota V2 45lb thrust trolling motor on my 12 ft homebuilt jon boat. I like the idea of being able to upgrade to the Copilot in the future.
I realize that this is overkill but I'm trying to look a bit into the future. I hope there is a larger, bigger, wider jon boat in my future.
So is it advantageous to mount the transducer at the front of the boat or does it matter?
Thanks,
Lee
A transducer on the trolling motor, mounted on the front of the boat, will show where you are fishing, a transducer located on the back of the boat will show where you HAVE FISHED.
IMHO ... it depends on what unit you're using.
SI can be used on the TM ... but you have to be moving at a good clip to get the best images, and any variance in the direction (movement) of the TM will skew the image at that moment.
DI can be used on the TM ... and you can be moving at a slower speed, but TM movement will skew the image at that moment, as well.
2d can be used on the TM ... and works very well. Your 2d cone angle sonar ping will give you the same image, even when TM is being turned. You just have to learn to interpret the 2d images, rather than having a picture quality image from a SI or DI unit. The cone shape of a 2d sonar will show bottom structure out in front of your TM, whereas the SI/DI units won't. But, also with a cone ... you lose a lot of water area coverage from the cone shape of the sonar ping, unless you have a wide angle transducer.
A lot also depends on "how/where" you'll be fishing ... as in where your baits will be, in relation to the area being covered by the transducer. Like "Flycaster" says ... front mounted = where you are ... rear mounted = where you were.
... cp :kewl
+ If decided on trolling motor beware of possible RFI issues introduced by TM.
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'm not quite ready for to do this yet but I have the info I need to make sure I get it right the first time.
Regards,
Lee
On a Jon Boat I would think about a separate mounting location for the bow transducer. Podunk makes several options. da 'ducer apparatus - Podunk (po dungk) A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. . . .
With the transducer mounted away from the TM you should have less interference. Much less smearing do to the fact that it is not mounted on the bottom of the TM.
I do not have the room for Podunk's mount so I did something else completely but I like it, It is functional. I have almost no smear, No TM interference and I get great Images for several reason one is the fact the ducer is in virgin water.
Attachment 176302
Thanks for your thoughts on this. Will check out the Podunk equipment and see what they have.