Garmin Transducer mount

[docderwood]

Hello,

Anyone here ever mount a Garmin transducer for a GPS/Sonar combo? Garmin says you shouldn't do a transom mount on an inboard, not sure why. Curious if anyone here has tried it and if you had success.

Thanks!
dj

[MN Ryan]

I'd bet it's because the prop would be in front of the ducer (as opposed to an outboard or I/O where the ducer would be located between the hull and lower unit/prop), and prop wash would affect the ability of the ducer to read bottom.
You could try to keep it further away from the centerline, and it might work. I have no direct experience.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[bturner]

I've installed several but don't know if I want to be part of a fish finder installation in a tournament ski boat that gets screwed to the top of the dash.....

That said, Ryan is spot on. Turbulence in the location where the transducer is mounted will result in poor readings or in extreme cases no readings. When finding a suitable location you're looking for an area where there is undisturbed flow. On an inboard this typically is near the center of the boat just forward or underneath the engine. What many people will do is find the water pickup and install on the exact opposite side. Boat designers pick this area due to it's flow characteristics to provide a steady undisturbed source or cooling water to the engine which is the same characteristic you're looking for.

In the old days on IO's we would build an area up around the transducer with clay to create an containment area to temporally hold the transducer in place then use a small amount of mineral oil on the bottom of the traducer to create a temporary seal to the bottom of the boat then go for a ride to see how the location worked. Back then you also had issues with cored hull boats as the balsa coring would absorb the signal and cause issues. What you're looking for is an area of undisturbed water flow with solid fiberglass between the transducer and the water.

[docderwood]

I've installed several but don't know if I want to be part of a fish finder installation in a tournament ski boat that gets screwed to the top of the dash.....

That said, Ryan is spot on. Turbulence in the location where the transducer is mounted will result in poor readings or in extreme cases no readings. When finding a suitable location you're looking for an area where there is undisturbed flow. On an inboard this typically is near the center of the boat just forward or underneath the engine. What many people will do is find the water pickup and install on the exact opposite side. Boat designers pick this area due to it's flow characteristics to provide a steady undisturbed source or cooling water to the engine which is the same characteristic you're looking for.

In the old days on IO's we would build an area up around the transducer with clay to create an containment area to temporally hold the transducer in place then use a small amount of mineral oil on the bottom of the traducer to create a temporary seal to the bottom of the boat then go for a ride to see how the location worked. Back then you also had issues with cored hull boats as the balsa coring would absorb the signal and cause issues. What you're looking for is an area of undisturbed water flow with solid fiberglass between the transducer and the water.

Wow, thanks for the reply and detailed explanation!