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Hey folks,
I plan to get a decent 5 inch Fish Finder with GPS and was wondering if anyone here has figured out/used a dual mount system where one could use the long cable that comes with the Fish Finder to allow one to move it from the console to the front once you are ready to fish? I know two FF would be better, but money is an issue. Any help/suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Rodney
Seems pretty simple if you have enough cable. Get a Ram Mount for your finder and mount on console, then buy an extra ball base mount and install on bow. Just loosen mount from console and install up front. Just going to have to come up with a quick way to store excess cable when mounted on console. If cable is short you can buy extension cables.
Hey, me again. Been reading some other posts about this and I think I am beginning to understand. To only have one with transducer mounted on the transom would limit you a bit when fishing from the front. Is this correct? I guess it really helps to have a console/transom mount with side view for finding the right spot, and one, likely lesson capable, FF up front with transducer mounted on the trolling motor for specific work? I have never had much of a FF, just the very cheap one that came with my used boat. So, I know very little about this. I know much of the issue is learning to use one properly. I will do that! Any thoughts? And, although I know this is a loaded question, any combinations of console and front mount FF you would recommend? Thanks!
This is how I do it on my modified jon boat for river fishing. I have a ram mount base next to the captains seat (I have an open floor stick steer setup) and a ram mount up on the bow deck. I simply undo the sonar from the ram mount base and lock it in up front on the bow when I'm ready to fish. I do have wire running across the bow deck when the sonar is on the front ram mount, but the way mine is setup it's unavoidable. Unless I was to get a second power cable and transducer I'll have to deal with the wire laying on the deck. Works good for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by cray
To me it's all relative to how you fish and how much money you can afford to spend. If you long line or spider rig, one unit would do you just fine. If you do a lot of brush pile fishing or over stake beds then having a setup on the bow would be beneficial. If you chose to go that route then there are a couple of options to make it happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by rdptts101
Cray, I do a lot of jig fishing of trees, etc., for crappie, etc., more in the shallows. I am, however, more ignorant than anything else. So, sounds like a two finder system would be better. Would a side view on the console be really helpful for crappie fishing? And, just a decent down view for the front? Thanks!
Side view is very beneficial for crappie fish. You just have to be patient, learn how to set it up and spend time searching rather than fishing. You will be amazed at the thing you find that you never knew were there. Marking way points on this stuff then going back and fishing it. Di in my opinion is the ticket for trolling motor. You can find stuff with your 2d then shift to Di and see what it really is.Quote:
Originally Posted by rdptts101
:ThumbsUp
I have a HB 999CI. Its setup on the front with a ram mount and a trolling motor bracket.
I use it up front mostly but can take it to the back for searching while motoring.
FIN
Thanks for the replies. Was wonder one last question. If you do a transom mount for the transducer, what limitations do you face when fishing at the front of the boat? Thanks!
1. The data you see on the display will be coming from under the transom xducer - not from under the bow ...Quote:
Originally Posted by rdptts101
2. Waypoints marked with an internal GPS antenna on the bow will be off by the distance between the internal GPS and the transom xducer ...
Rickie
I ran a unit two station system. I don't mind unhooking from the console and then moving to bow and vice versa. You really need two power cords, 2 bases and 2 transducers to be really effective though. This wires are too delicate and too expensive to live on the deck. First I had a 798 with the snap in base. This was slick and fast. Now I have a Helix 10 so it is a little more time consuming unscrewing the Ram knobs and plugging and unplugging. The 798 did all this in one move. Just be super careful. These things don't float. Once false move and your FF is in Davy Jones locker. Like my little league coach said "Use 2 hands damn it!!!!"
Great thread - thinking of doing this myself. One issue for me, is what functionality to
pick (2d, side, down, mapping, etc.) for the bow and which for the console. With this setup,
I could have multiple functions at both spots.
Seems to work for Bushwhacker - anyone else go this cost effective route?
Cray - bit of an aside - for the way the op fishes, if one had to choose, would you say side vu is more valuable at the console?
Might work for spider riggers but I jig fish natural cover and condos . I would go crazy moving back and forth . Understand how money could be a factor . But never regretted spending the money on a 1199 hd ci si for the console to search with and changed my old down scan for a Helix 10 si on the bow . Now they are linked up and makes staying on spot so well only time I need a marker bouy is in high swirling winds . They share waypoints so I keep Helix unit split with SI and map with biggest side the SI and scroll speed down on 1 on SI.