installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

[jasperpso2]

i just purchased a new fish finder.. a garmin 140, opinions? anyways - i am wondering where on the boat i should mount the transducer? the transom is pretty small, i suppose it would fit, but it will be tight, and i cant imagine the water being very calm that close to the prop.. is there a better option? possibly way to stick it to the side(or back) of the pontoon. i wouldnt put holes in the toons obviously, but possibly double sided tape or ??? opinions??

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

I have a side scan depth finder so I have transducers on both sides.

port


starboard ( I needed a new live well pump, these were the pics I sent my buddy but they show the transducer mount and speed )

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

Mine is the same as Jeff's, on the lower section of the bracket at the back end of the pontoon.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

The only logical place for the transducer is at the back of one of the tubes. If there is no bracket any local welding/fab shop can add one for a few bucks. Do not mount the transducer on the motor pan -- there is way too much turbulence in that area and the locator will not read well.

 

[jasperpso2]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

The only logical place for the transducer is at the back of one of the tubes. If there is no bracket any local welding/fab shop can add one for a few bucks. Do not mount the transducer on the motor pan -- there is way too much turbulence in that area and the locator will not read well.

i agree that seems like the only place, but there is no bracket on my pontoons, and i cant see myself having anything welded on, so i might just take it back for a refund.. i havent opened it yet.. is there a non welding way to stick that transducer on there? a waterproof double sided tape? jb weld?

 

[cooterdude]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

if you could find a local supplier for these you could hose clamp it to your pontoon
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/294949314/Hose_clamp.html
i run a 2 transducer setup on my jhonboat one is hard mounted to my transom the other is hose-clamped to my troling motor
ill keep looking for a local supplier and post if i find one

 

[lncoop]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

Just curious. Is there some compelling reason you don't want to have a bracket added? You can have one welded to the back of one of your tubes for very little money. The typical setup is a small piece of aluminum bent into a three sided rectangle. It provides you with a flat surface to bolt the transducer to or a cavity to hold a livewell pump. Very handy.

 

[jasperpso2]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

i just dont like the idea of someone welding and possibly blowing a hole in the pontoon.. i think i would rather go without then weld on the toon unnecessarily.. maybe that is silly, but... the unit came with 2 sided tape to attach to a trolling motor.. i just cant see it lasting.. i would like a depth finder more then a fish finder, is there a simpler option then this type of unit?

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

i just dont like the idea of someone welding and possibly blowing a hole in the pontoon.. i think i would rather go without then weld on the toon unnecessarily.. maybe that is silly, but... the unit came with 2 sided tape to attach to a trolling motor.. i just cant see it lasting.. i would like a depth finder more then a fish finder, is there a simpler option then this type of unit?

Here's my port side picture again. Click the picture for large picture.



The 4x4 is bolted to the back of the pontoon deck edge and the thin wall tubing is bolted to that. The transducer is bolted to the tubing.

All "boat" drilling is above waterline and no welding required.

Jeff

 

[jasperpso2]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

Here's my port side picture again. Click the picture for large picture.



The 4x4 is bolted to the back of the pontoon deck edge and the thin wall tubing is bolted to that. The transducer is bolted to the tubing.

All "boat" drilling is above waterline and no welding required.

Jeff

somehow i let this pic escape me on the first read, i kept looking at the other side were your livewell pump is.. i also have a livewell pump, but someone installed in in the transom housing and plumbed it by drilling a hole in the transom assembly bottom.. anyways, i like the looks of this, and will try to fab up something like that i think.. thanks for the repost, i am aparently pretty dense to get to sometimes.. lol

 

[lncoop]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon

i just dont like the idea of someone welding and possibly blowing a hole in the pontoon.. i think i would rather go without then weld on the toon unnecessarily.. maybe that is silly, but... the unit came with 2 sided tape to attach to a trolling motor.. i just cant see it lasting.. i would like a depth finder more then a fish finder, is there a simpler option then this type of unit?

Can't really convey tone in this medium, so please take this in the spirit intended. That is silly. Didn't you just have some leaks welded up on those very toons? The only way to mount the transducer and be assured that it will be there six months from now is to have a bracket welded on the back of the toon. It's cheap, safe and reliable. Go ahead and have it done and while you're at it have one added on the other toon. I promise you'll thank me later. Now Git 'er done!

 

[Danny Schock]

Re: installing fish finder/depth finder on pontoon



Here's my port side picture again. Click the picture for large picture.



The 4x4 is bolted to the back of the pontoon deck edge and the thin wall tubing is bolted to that. The transducer is bolted to the tubing.

All "boat" drilling is above waterline and no welding required.

Jeff

I like this idea plan on installing it this saturday. Great advice,thanks.

 

[gpfishingdude]

My transducer didn't work out well on the back so now it's mounted on the trolling motor on the bow. I bought the trolling motor mount for attaching the transducer.

 

[Silver Eagle]

It's to bad your pictures aren't numbered.The one picture with the green wire looks like a good place for your pick up. That's where mine is on my 24ft StarCraft.I did notice one thing though, your rear tie down straps are in the wrong place. Tomorrow I'm going down to Maryland to put gas in the boat.While there I'll take some pictures of the rear of my boat. When I get back on Sunday I'll post them for you too see.

 

[old jim]

The fish finder/depth finder transducer that came with my pontoon was attached to the bottom
of the transom pod. The only problem I had with that was one day I got into some weeds. Messed
the finder pretty good. Put the boat in reverse for a short time and all was good. old jim

 

[GA_Boater]

Why all the posts in a four year old topic? Please let this go back to sleep. Thanks.

 

[BrianMc]

No Title

Why all the posts in a four year old topic? Please let this go back to sleep. Thanks.

Could you elaborate on why we need to let a 4 yr old post go away? At almost 13,000 views it seems to be an important topic that continues to draw hits,which is what you guys are looking for right? The software I use allows you to set how old a topic can be before it's closed automatically,if you don't want it brought back up.

Back to the topic at hand, I agree with having brackets welded on. The caps are plenty thick,and easy to work on if you find a pin hole pressure testing after the weld job. I just welded on generic type brackets that could double as a step,and could have other brackets bolted or riveted to it for multiple accessories. I usually mount 'ducers so they're 1/8"-1/4" beneath the hull to catch "clean" water. Hard to do on a round tube,so I made an offset bracket to kick it off to the side without a strake for less aerated water to run in. This works up to about 20 mph before I totally loose the depth reading. This setup has survived 2 seasons now without tripping the factory break-away bracket.

 

[GA_Boater]

Because we have rules to follows. Is that a good enough reason. :closed_2: