Hello all-

I recently purchased a new bottomline fish finder. I am new to this boating thing. I got a boat last year and a trolling motor. It is an aluminum 12'. NO TRAILER! I put it on the top of my car to get it to where I need to go. With that in mind, I need some help.

I need to know how to mount the transducer. I was thinking of making it portable by placing the transducer on a 2x4 and clamoing it onto the side of the boat. I know this sounds hokey, but it is the best I could think of with the way I have to move my boat.

I was looking at the trolling motor mount and saw that I could possibly do the same thing that they have you do for about 1.00. I read in the phamplet that came with the FF and it says something about interference with the trolling motor mount if you run it to the same battery. Anyone have some more info on this issue?

Would it be better to put the 'holes' in my boat? or would I be better off with my hokey idea? I am worried about the transducer getting bang to hell if I mounted it on the bottom of the boat. I know that if I had a trailer, my problems would be solved!

Any help is appreciated, up to and including leads to a trailer(cheap)!

Thanks-

Keith

My buddy did mount his transducer on a piece of steel fabricated to clamp on the stern on all three of his boats works well.

You can also buy through the hull transducers although I do not know about through alluminum?

You might look into fabricating a gaurd also..

just some ideas good luck

I used the same board clamped to the transom trick for an inflatable sport raft. It's a perfectly good idea and will do the job for virtually free.

yes I have the same set up speed temp. and transducer all on a 1 by six held together with a C-clamp
What a bunch of missfits we are.
there is always a right way and then there is my way
I say some day I will get around to the right way LOL

Hey, it's not hokey-------I use a 1x4 and c clamp which enables me to use it on 3 different boats. Don't know about the interference thing because I use a small tractor battery for my bottomline.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

For all the wonderful replies and the reassurance that I would not be the only one running around with a 2x4 hanging off the side of my boat.

We gotta make do with what we got and what is avail. to us.

I never thought of a tractor battery....that is a splendid idea!

Thanks to all of you once again!!! Now I know if I see someone else with a 2x? I will know that it is perfectly okay!!!!!!

You can also mount the transducer on your trolling motor. Check with bottomline, you might be able trade them for one thats made to mount on your trolling motor. If not a couple of big hose clamps should work.

I was looking at their website and saw that they do indeed have a trolling motor mount, but I think it a little steep for 14.95 for some zip ties and a metal mount. From what I can tell, it looks as though you would bolt the transducer to the plate, and then take the metal zip tie(looks like the thing you connect your dryer output hose to)and tighten around the trolling motor. I am going to try both ways. The one with the 2x? and zip tying it to the trolling motor. It looks like I can achieve the same thing with just the transducer alone. I will let you know.

Keith

Hey Chvatal how long you been in the harbor? I lived out in Crescent Valley for about thirty years. Have you tried Crescent Lk. It used to be a pretty good lake to fish but it's been a few years since I have been out that way. Lots of crappie, bass and trout. Give it a try. good place to try out your new fish finder. Good luck on your installation.

That is where I fish. I live about 10 min form there and 10 min from horseshoe. I fished there last year when all the other lakes were hard to fish, due to them being over fished. I never found any crappie or bass, but plenty of trout. One of the reasons that I got the fish finder was the crappie everyone keeps talking about. Any pointers as how to catch these things. The last time I went crappie fishing, it was on the ice up in wiconsin. Don't remember catching them from the boat though I am told we have. What's 15 years? I am suppose to remember the technique and know what to look for? I don't! I tried all the docks andd lilly pads, but the only bass I have caught is at Bay lake from the shore. If anyone would like to go fishing in my boat, 12 foot, I am always welcoming fellow anglers to join me. So the offer is open. I pretty much will fish any lake a couple of times.

Keith

listen man this is what I did to my 14 ft aluminum. I took a 6 inch piece of 2x4 and put 2 bolts thru the wood and bottom right side of the transom with neoprene washers on both sides of the transom and secured the wood. then I screwed the transducer and temp guage to the block of wood, works like a charm. tight lines Ben

Any time you want someone to go fishing with drop me an email. I too am always looking for new people to fish with. Check out WashingtonLakes.com a lot of good info on there.

I think that Cabella's sells an aluminum clamp for just this purpose. My dad put the transducer on his sled with it and it works perfectly.

I think that Cabella's sells an aluminum clamp for just this purpose. My dad put the transducer on his sled with it and it works perfectly.

I put it on a 2x4 and attached that to the side of my boat. I tried it out yesterday and it sees the bottom well. It did not show any fish. I made sure that the fish ID was on and tried all different configurations. NO FISH BLIPS! I know that there were fish there, I saw them jumping. I trolled over and around the places that they were jumping and still nothing. Just a nice bottom. How would I check that this feature is working? Catch a fish and stick it under there? That is my only guess.

I know this may sound dumb, but make sure the transducer is pointing straight down, and is not mounted upside down! My step dad actually did this and all we saw was "Bottom" which was actually the sky and the surface of the water it was beaming up. To test it stop moving or go very slowly and lower your line and a large lure or weight behind the transducer and you should read something. Other than that just make sure it is as near straight up and down as possible and as deep as the manufacture wants and is not angled as this will distort the image. (consult your manufacturer for their mounting specs.) Hope this helps, heres to marking a ton of fish!

I will try that. I know that it is not upside-down. I thought of that to. Only one way this one will fit on there. I mounted it like the picture, just on a 2x4. I will try the big lure or weigh idea and see if that works. If that does not then I will have to catch a fish and stick it under there.