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Hi AllIve had my Pantera 2 for amost a year now, and I love it! Ive done more fishing and boating since I bought this rig than I ever imagined because it is such a pleasure to use Ive had what I think are the original (1996) sounders on the boat until now. They were pretty basic and everything was in Japanese not Australian so we only ever used 2 settings, and that was “On”and “Off” lol Ive started to install 2 HDS units, an 8 at the bow and a 10 at the helm. Running the cables was a big job, but we got there in the end! The next move is to mount the structure scan transducer, and thats where my questions begin..I dont feel confident enought to drill into the jack plate myself, I dont have the tools or the confidence It seems like thick material that would be difficult to drill.The boat has a step from the bottom of the hull to the transom. I have a hydraulic plate.Q1: Should I mount SS ducer on the step? or below the step on the lowest point of the boat?Q2: If I mount below the step (adjacent to the bung/drain holes) will there be too much water pressure when the boat is planing? Im concerned about water pressure moving the mount. I know it wont read at speed, but my main concern is the ducer moving. I can handle if the transducer only reads at slow speed.I guess I will have to move the jack plate all the way up and down to check clearance before i mount anything. If the plate doesnt drop too low, I might mount the transducer above the step and immediately below the jack plate. Does anyone see any concerns with this mount? Or would it be better on the left hand side out of the way?ThanksTracey
I just mounted a transducer to my fixed jack plate. Mune is made from aluminum and was really easy to drill. I marked the locarion first and then used a smaller drill bit first and then used the bigger size next. The screws I used were self tapping and I put some sealent on them before I tightened them up.I measured the thickness of the jackplate and then put a piece of tape on the bit so I did not drill deeper than the depth I needed. My bracket is located on the very bottom of the jack plate on the left hand side. I made sure the transduced was level and tightened things down. My locator was a Hummingbird 597CI and it reads the speed from the internal GPS. I get good visuals at whatever speed I run. On a movable jack plate you would have tp make sure it was out of the way when the motot was in its lowest position or you might sheer it off.John
Thanks for the reply John. I imagined that you would have to drill right through the jack plate and attach the transducer mount with bolts. I didnt realise self tapping screws were an option. Thanks mate! Ill have another look at doing a jack plate mount. Yes, Ill check for clearance whilst the jack plate is moving, and be sure to leave enough length in the cable to allow for movement as well.Were the screws easy to put in? Just wondering how big the pilot hole needs to be to allow for the screws to go in without burring the head, yet still give a solid hold. Should the screws be very difficult to insert once youve drilled the pilot hole, or go in pretty easily? Sorry for the novice questions. Im a lady who is more talented with a fishing rod than a screwdriver, but I give it a good shot! What length/guage screws would be best for the job?
Tracey, since your obviously Australian there is a time lag on parts to you. Though we would opt for a Transducer Shield Saver and their mounting system or you will be buying another transducer someday.
Look in my profile for the pictures of what John described, Im posting from my phone and for some reason wont give me the option to add pics from my profile. Its on my PIV, but should be the same as your PII. Everything else is how John explained it. If you get a chance to call during working hours over here, call the Transducer Shield people and tell him what jack plate youve got and he will set you up right. Chaz.Last edited by SuicideNemesis on September 19th, 2011, 1:49 am, edited 2 times in total.- Chaz
Heres a couple pictures of the Transducer Shield and Saver LSS mount on my PIV.
Bass Cat Boats wrote:Tracey, since your obviously Australian there is a time lag on parts to you. Though we would opt for a Transducer Shield Saver and their mounting system or you will be buying another transducer someday.Thanks for the input. The transducer cable is already threaded in place, and i was hoping to mount it this weekend. I might have to come up with a bracket for it if im to mount it on the transducer. Is the purpose of the shield just to protect the transducer from obstacles alone, or does it play a part in sheilding it from water pressure? Is the main risk to the transducer underwater obstructions, is this the most common problem causing damage leading to replacement?
Thanks for the pics Guys My boat has a much more prominent step than the boats in these pics. I guess the transducer would be safer up a bit higher. Might be the better option than at the lowest section.Trace
No, your step is less, though these are mounted on the jack plate.
I highly recommend the Transducer Shield Saver!! Their quality and design are top notch as is their support and customer serrvice. I built and installed my own bracket untill I found out about TSS. Do yourself a favor and check them out.Scott
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