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LUVTOFISH.basscatowners.
I am thinking about putting the above on my 02 Classic (limited funds prevent putting more money into it than that) at the console as put HDS5-X/no GPS on the bow last summer. Anyone with best idea if better to mount with epoxyd puck in the bilge (which seems like a nightmare with my 2002 Classic, even getting to the right place or position to mount at?) or to go ahead and “fish” the transducer ” skimmer ” back out and through to the rear and down to the bottom edge of hull? Which might give the best pictures, water temp, speeds, etc. i.e. perform better for me at which location? Now, since I have done neither before and am leaning toward installing with the skimmer transducer any suggestions as to exact placement on the hull at rear? Seems like exact placement would make a huge difference in how the unit will work and I dont want to mess up the installation and have to redo it – no more bracket holes in that area than absolutely necessary! I dont know how much of the skimmer has to show nor where to place to avoid any type of interference that prevents from working correctly. Anyone with any pictures of theres that would give me idea where to locate the transducer skimmer? Hoping for answers/recommendations before I find myself getting in over my head too far. Thanks for any information anyone has available. If any pics that might help my email address is: [email protected] Posts here or thru email would help.
Anyone? I really need to know where to make this transom placement on my boat before buying as dont want to experiment. Any help from someone here would be appreciated. I am sure these or similar have been put on a number of Cats, just like to get very good idea of where to place. Thanks!!!
Maybe another question should be: is the transom mounted skimmer type or the epoxyd puck in the bilge thru the hole type the best route to go. I have a friend that will help me get it done whichever way works to get the best performance out of the GPS unit at console???
Bobit all realy depends on your preferance. I prefer the in hull transducer as I do not have to worry about snaggin g on something and getting damaged. they are not hard to install and I put two different ones in my 03 sabre over the years. I ran an external temp sensor and mounted it to a small hole i drilled and then tapped the threads on. worked great and no holes in boat.depending on what transducer you already have you may not need to replace, you might check with lowrance first. One more is if you are replaceing an older 5″ unit with the hds unit you will likley need to enlarge the opening in your dash slightly, not difficult just something to be aware of.Treat everyday like it might be the last
Thanks…dont have transducer yet as making sure of what/how I am going to do it first. Previous graph was a pinpoint from 10 yrs. ago, removed about one year after I bought boat. I do use the power cable from that one for a Lowrance HDS5 Gen1 model from last year – one my partner has for his boat just for the GPS only when in fog or needing the “perfect” Pt. A to Pt. B line when in really shallow waters…in Calif. Delta tidal rivers. We have the power available to it but not the transducer, now I am wanting a complete unit on my console (so we dont have to keep switching from boat to boat with his) of my own also want the water temp to work. Seems general preference is epoxy in the hull but just not sure how to proceed with installation as far as exact location, etc. Dont know about the new ones but these 10 yr. old models are not easy to get down to bottom center of bilge to epoxy in the puck and trying to not make a mistake on exact location. Thanks again.
Does your classic have a factory jackplate? If it does use short screws and mount the skimmer transducer on the lower part of your jackplate. I mounted a skimmer on one side and structure scan on the other side of the jackplate. No holes in boat that way .Just be careful drilling and with your screws. The plate is thick enough and I have had good luck this way.When I say the lower part I mean the flat braces on the lower transom.
Yes, has the factory manual jack plate. I have seen these on pics, does that type of mounting bracket come with the skimmer type or do you have to make something to work? Assume that would be the inside of flat part of jackplate mounting bracket? Also, that does not put transducer in direct water flow as would be above the step pad section – doesnt the skimmer supposedly supposed to be half/half below and above the bottom edge of some part of the hull, without being at odd angle? How do you get accurate speed reading……duh, assume that is the GPS – not speedo.Do you know of where there might be pics of this mount? So you just drill small enough holes to install the bracket solid so that it will adjust to where I just indicated. Sounds far easier than the bilge area because in my 10 yr. old boat there is very, very little room to work with and quite difficult to get to the rear of the bilge floor area. That way the temp gauge would be the one that would be part of the skimmer. Thanks, looking at anything and everything but concerned about the HDS unit working right and hope not have to go thru and redo it. I do not installed in that location it would be just off center of motor when motor tilt all the way down. Does there have to be some kind of distance between motor and skimmer in their closest postion to each other? May be dumb question but have never done a rear transducer before.
Heres mine it has worked great for me.
Looks simple and even for me easy. Be gone fishing tomorrow and will be at BPS to check out the HDS5 unit a little more on Sat. as not sure if I should go for the Lake Insight or Navionics as I fish the Calif. Delta tidal waterway system over 90 % of time and may have my boat on a lake no morethan twice a year. Love the Ca Delta – lots of big fish in there. The pic you shows looks pretty straight forward……ran the cable up the inside and assume down with all the motor wiring and up to back of unit at console. Did you keep transducer cable away from/shielded in any manner from all the bundled wires?Have heard should try to separate as much as possible or is that only from the trolling motor wiring? My bilge so cluttered up I think that would be extremely difficult to remove the current old transd. puck and clean that area well enough to be able to install a new one. After 10 yrs. that bilge area in my particular rig is a very hard place to get to, especially toward the rear where the older puck is located…………………..Thanks for the pics and information all…………BOB
Bob based on my experience removing a transducer that haas been properly glassed in is next to impossible.I would not worry about sheilding the wires from your ducer from those coming from engine, should be no noticable interference.good luck and let us know how it turns outTreat everyday like it might be the last
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