Portable Transducer Bracket

DoZZa · 26 July 2011, 00:22

Hello all,

I am trying to find a UK supplier for a prtable transducer mount.

I have seen a couple of threads on here showing these being used on the back f the transom.

Here is a couple of links to those posts.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/where-t...tml#post340218

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/where-t...tml#post341746

Anyone know where in the UK I can buy on of these or is it a case of having one made?

Thanks.

DoZZa

9D280 · 26 July 2011, 14:00

Are you meaning a fixed one or one that can be retracted for beaching etc?

If fixed, they are available as an option for most sounders, try your local chandler - they may if yours is new do a swap / trade - in for a transom mount version.

If it's to lift it clear when towing / beaching etc, I have toyed with using dinghy jib block track & mounting the transducer on the carriage instead of a block. I havent done anything about it yet in the absense of a sounder.....

MikeCC · 26 July 2011, 16:24

What fishfinder unit do you have?

Or are you looking for a new one that has a transom-mount transducer?

jyasaki · 26 July 2011, 16:43

Dozza: I think you're looking at a custom made length of aluminum bar with the Xducer at one end and a clamp at the other. Could probably rig up similar with wood or PVC.

As far as I know the only commercially available portable Xducer mount is the suction cup type sold by Humminbird (though I also haven't really looked into it much; wouldn't be surprised if there were others.)

jky

DoZZa · 27 July 2011, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

Are you meaning a fixed one or one that can be retracted for beaching etc?

Yes it is to enable removal for stowage and so I dont break it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

What fishfinder unit do you have?

Or are you looking for a new one that has a transom-mount transducer?

I have a Raymarine A70D, which has quite a large transom mount transducer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Dozza: I think you're looking at a custom made length of aluminum bar with the Xducer at one end and a clamp at the other. Could probably rig up similar with wood or PVC.

As far as I know the only commercially available portable Xducer mount is the suction cup type sold by Humminbird (though I also haven't really looked into it much; wouldn't be surprised if there were others.)

jky

I looked at the suction cup offerings, but to be honest I dont have much faith in things like that.

There are some brackets available to purchase in the USA, one make that I keep coming across is a Sully portable transducer mount.

However, I have managed to find a UK tackle shop that stocks pretty much what I am after.

It should be arriving in the next fews days so I will let you all know how it goes.

Here is a link to the item in question. Its at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for your help

DoZZa · 28 July 2011, 18:26

Well the bracket arrived today. It will do the job.

But for me it is not good enough, I have a perfectionist nature, which can be a bad thing sometimes!

The problem with this bracket is the movement allowed at the end where the transducer is mounted, if it moved a couple of mm I would not have had such an issue, but due to the way the rod is held in place, the transducer end is allowed to move a couple of cm in every direction. Not ideal for the transducers performance from what I have been reading.

So I have had to order one of the brackets from the US, should be here within a couple of weeks so we will see if that is an improvement.

The one from the US looks a lot more solid, which should resolve any excessive transducer movement.

Thanks again.

jyasaki · 29 July 2011, 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoZZa

The problem with this bracket is the movement allowed at the end where the transducer is mounted, if it moved a couple of mm I would not have had such an issue, but due to the way the rod is held in place, the transducer end is allowed to move a couple of cm in every direction. Not ideal for the transducers performance from what I have been reading.

Might be surprised. A standard low freq. transducer has a cone of about 20 or 25 degrees, as I recall (HF generally wider), and shows the nearest structure within that cone. As long that +/- 10 degrees covers roughly straight down, you're fine.

jky

DoZZa · 29 July 2011, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Might be surprised. A standard low freq. transducer has a cone of about 20 or 25 degrees, as I recall (HF generally wider), and shows the nearest structure within that cone. As long that +/- 10 degrees covers roughly straight down, you're fine.

jky

Interesting, so a little movement is not a bad thing then.

I have one question about the transducer location.

Can it be completely submerged into the water, or does it need to be half in and half out of the water as the manual states.

I am having a hard time trying to understand why the transducer cant simply be completely submerged in the water.

Thanks

jyasaki · 29 July 2011, 22:06

Has more to do with hydraulic force, I think. If completely submerged while running, the force of water pushing on it is pretty high, which means it needs a sturdier mount, which means its more likely to break if you hit something...

FWIW, my transducer sits about a foot and a half underwater at rest. It works fine. At speed, it's about even with the hull bottom, so gets about, oh, perhaps 3/4 submerged (talking about the bulb containing the transducer face.)

jky

DoZZa · 04 August 2011, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Has more to do with hydraulic force, I think. If completely submerged while running, the force of water pushing on it is pretty high, which means it needs a sturdier mount, which means its more likely to break if you hit something...

FWIW, my transducer sits about a foot and a half underwater at rest. It works fine. At speed, it's about even with the hull bottom, so gets about, oh, perhaps 3/4 submerged (talking about the bulb containing the transducer face.)

jky

Thats all I needed to know, thanks very much for your help

ssobol · 21 August 2011, 18:31

I got the Airmar portable transducer mount for testing my transducer placement. It is a metal bracket and a suction cup. Didn't really expect that it would hold that well but might be good for testing the transducer placement.

Put it on the boat and ran it all day (speeds from slow to flat out). Stayed on without any problems.

The mount is about US$30 with shipping in the US.