Mounting Transducer to aluminum boat transom

I just received my new Lowrance Elite 7Ti with the totalscan transducer for Brian at BBG Marine (it was a pleasure doing business with him and I will post a separate thread about). I also ordered a transducer mounting plate from BPS to avoid drilling unnecessary holes in the transom of the boat. I have several questions about mounting the plate and the transducer to it. The mounting plate comes with two mounting screws but I have read that you can mount it rock solid with just marine adhesive/sealant, specifically 3M 5200. Has anyone done this or can anyone confirm that this will work? Next, I assume the mounting plate is between 1 inch and 3/4 inch thick, making the screws that came with my unit to long, what screws should I purchase to mount the actual transducer to the plastic mounting plate? Specifically, wood screws, metal screws, self tapping etc., I'm just not sure how well the mounting plate material will accept and hold a screw......

I was going to fabricate and bend a piece of aluminum plate to mount the head unit on (my boat is a 1648 lowe, tiller steer), i was going to attach the plate to the gunnel rail and the rib just forward of the rear seat where i drive the boat from. Then I thought about a ram mount directly on the rear bench seat (there is plenty of room between the side of the boat and where my boat seat is if I used a ram mount). I've read the ram mount helps protect the unit from shock and vibration. Any thoughts?

I can only tell you what I did with the plate. I used stainless steel sheet metal screws long enough to go thru the plate and into the transom 1 inch. I applied Marine Grade Goop into and around those transom holes just before I attached the plate.
3M5200 is an excellent sealer but I don't think it is designed to be an adhesive. I would never hang a transducer off the transom without screwing it onto it some how.

I can vouch for the above. I have the same unit on my 17 foot aluminum boat. It took a lot of research and courage, but I ended up mounting mine on a spring back bracket made my transducer shield and saver. It's a spring loaded bracket that will flip up if you hit a stump and not rip it out of the transom.

Just take your time, mock fit it and mark it all out with a sharpie. Measure several times and drill and attach with stainless tappers. I filled the holes with marine silicone, then coated the screws in silicone before running them in.

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Here is the Spring back bracket from Transducer Shield and Saver that Mathew mentions above ...

Transducer Shield and Saver Product Categories Spring Back Bracket

Rickie

I think I have all the hardware figured out now.... Maybe.
The transducer installation manual shows the cable being on the end of the bracket away from the boat..... That can't be right can it???? I would've figured you want the cable end toward the transom????

Quote:

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Originally Posted by uaagr

I think I have all the hardware figured out now.... Maybe.
The transducer installation manual shows the cable being on the end of the bracket away from the boat..... That can't be right can it???? I would've figured you want the cable end toward the transom????

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Here's a pic of my setup. Hope this helps you.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7f870f2050.jpg

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I used 5200 only, no screws, on mine with no problems so far and it has been on for over a year. I used the cabelas transducer board, taped around it after I determined best location, scuffed up the aluminum, really scuffed up the plastic board, cleaned both surfaces with acetone, applied 5200 to board and duck taped in place until it cured for a few days. I have two TD s on it. I had two holes from the initial TD mount so I put the screws back in place with 5200 to seal them and then drilled shallow holes in the boat side of the board aligned to the screws so the board sits flat on the transom.


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My transducer is the long total scan one... Anybody have a pic of this transducer mounted?

Uaagr,

If you Google image search total scan transducer you can see what it looks like mounted. They are pretty long and vulnerable to stumps so I would defiantly mount it on a spring bracket.

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