Transducer Installation and Mounting
Before attempting any installation, determine first which of the mounting position is right for your boat. Always remember that the transducer installation is the most critical part of a sonar installation.
Transducer Location
The location of your transducer must always be in an area of water that has smooth flow. If not, the interference caused by the bubbles and turbulence will show on the sonar’s display in the form of random lines or dots whenever your boat is moving.
Your transducer should also be installed with its face pointing straight down.
Keep your transducer cable away from the other wiring because electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can be displayed on your sonar's screen.
Most of the time, you should install your transducer wherein its centreline is level with the bottom of your boat hull. This will usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protect you from bumps. There are times when you may need to adjust your transducer slightly higher or lower.
Types of Transducer Installations
Transom Mount
The transom-mount transducer is the easiest to install among the other transducers. It's the most popular and it performs best when it is slightly below your boat's hull.
A plastic transducer is recommended on aluminium or steel-hulled boats.
Mounting your transducer directly behind the ribs is not encouraged. On all hulls, you should mount your transducer at least one foot away from your engine’s lower unit to prevent air bubbles.
See to it that it doesn’t interfere with the trailer or hauling of your boat. Don't mount it closer than approximately one foot from the engine’s lower unit.
There are two extremes that you should avoid. Don’t let the edge of the mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull and don’t let the bottom (the face) of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull.
Shoot-Thru-Hull Mount
Shoot-Thru-Hull-Mount means your transducer is bonded to the inside of the hull with epoxy. Ideally, your transducer is placed in the aft third of the hull close to the centreline. The installation must be made in an area of the hull that is made from solid fibreglass, with no air bubbles or separated layers. If the hull is of multi-layer or "sandwich" construction, you need to remove the inner layer of fibreglass and the wood or foam core to expose the outer layer of the hull.
Bolt-Thru-Hull Mount
With the Bolt-Thru-Hull Mount system, a hole is cut in the hull and your transducer is mounted through the hull by means of a threaded shaft and nut. If your boat hull has a dead rise higher than 10 degrees, fairing blocks made from wood or plastic must be fabricated so that your transducer will mount in a completely vertical position.
Trolling Motor Mount
The PD-W "pod" transducer is designed for mounting on an electric trolling motor. It has two slots for a hose clamp (which must be purchased separately). Skimmer® transducers can also be mounted on a trolling motor using the TMB-S trolling motor bracket. It's curved to fit the contour of most electric trolling motors.