How to Mount a Fish Finder Transducer to a V-Bottom Boat

Mount the transducer at least 1/3 of a boat length from the engine.

A transducer is the sonar wave-emitting portion of a fish finder. Fish finders, also referred to as depth finders, rely on the sonar waves emitted from the transducer to get information on the water and its contents underneath the boat. When the transducer emits a wave, it bounces back to the boat and is translated by the unit's computer chip. It is important to keep the transducer at least 1/3 of a boat length from the propeller and engine, as they contribute white noise. Install the transducer on a V-hulled boat the same as any other boat.

Things You'll Need

• Power drill and bits
• Mounting bracket
• Marine epoxy
• Marine silicone caulk and caulk gun

Instructions

1. Clean an area along the side of the boat, 1/3 of its length away from the engine and aft of the boat. Wipe off the installation area with degreaser to prep the surface for marine glue and caulk.

2. Drill the needed holes for the transducer mounting bracket. Apply marine glue to the base of the bracket and place it over the holes. Align the bracket holes to the hull holes and screw the bracket to the hull. Keep the transducer under the draft --where the water meets the hull.

3. Caulk around all screws on the inside and outside of the hull to make the drilled areas watertight.

4. Mount the transducer to the mounting bracket. Run the transducer cable over the side of the boat and along the edges of the craft. Use zip ties to secure the cable to paddle holds to keep the cable up and out of the way. Plug the cable into the display unit of the fish finder.

References

• Fish Finder Store: How a Fish Finder Works
• Humminbird: Installation Preparation (PDF)