Hobie Cat Forums

Hi, finally I have my Ai and completing the option, try the solution for mounting the transducer outside,i have a Humminbird 797.
I thought of mounting it on Aka left rear.

Anyone installed the transducer with this solution outside ?

Can you help,please ?

Thanks

I have a Humminbird 798 mounted on my AI. I can take more pics if required.





Doesn't like high speeds and tends to pop up but works well most of the time. Also have to be careful folding the ama in as the bolts will damage the hull if you're not watching.

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YES I THANK U !!!!!

Ok, here's some more pics of my transducer install

2x stainless U-bolts covered in 2 layers of heatshrink tubing.


Heatshrink covered plate (supplied with U-bolts) holds U-bolts onto aka.


Top plate which bolts onto fixed U-bolts. 2x right angle pieces of aluminium painted black.


Rear of mounting plate. Note nuts for small bolts holding aluminium are recessed into wooden plate. Use lots of varnish!



If you adjust the big bolt the transducer stays down unless at high speed. Sonar picture is going to pretty crap at high speed anyway. I just flip it up out of the water.



Custom aluminium bracket holding actual transducer with a larger bolt.





The yellow part is plywood with a narrow taper on the trailing edge. I covered it with fibreglass matting and expoxy "bog" at the top and bottom. Yellow plastic tape holds the cable along the leading edge.


I'd like to find another way to mount the actual transducer and remove the nut and bolt heads. This would result in much better water flow and less drag.

Hope this helps.

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Cowsgomoo,

Thanks for the idea. I've been running my transducer on the outside of my paddle kayak for a few years now. Like the fact that I get a better temp reading since temp changes due to upwelling are often times less than a degree different.

When my TI arrives, I'm planning a similar transducer install but thinking of using rubber insulated stainless steel clamps to secure a saddled "L" mount. To help reduce drag, I was planning on shaping a foil where the boom enters the water.

My kayaking outfitter mentioned that my TI might be arriving next week so I'll take pics and post when I get everything together.

Aloha,

c2y

Cliffs2yak,

I hope Kelly was given good info on the timing, as he has one in that container for me too!
Although mine could take another week or so, to be shipped over to Maui.
I look forward to getting my hands on it, putting it through it's paces and finally pimping it proper.

Let us know what you think when you get your.

Also, any accessories that you have ordered with yours?

I can't wait to see how well it handles our wind and waves.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

reconlon,

Called Kate earlier this week to check on it's arrival and Kelly mentioned in the background that it'll probably come in next week sometime. Haven't preordered anything except emailing Kelly about reserving a cart for me. Hopefully the ones with the heavy duty wheels will be available when the TI comes in. If not, then I'll rely on a two man carry to get it on top of my truck rack to get it home. Will post up when I get it and looking forward to how you'll rig yours.

cliffs2yak

Cowsgomoo thank for pics,

They inspired me to create change. I had thought to mount a U-inverted internally to Aka, with the option to slide the bracket up and down.

I just realized I post photos.

Ciao da Italia.

what size u bolts did you use? these are just what i need for my rodholders

I installed my transducer inside the hull of my AI just forward of the mast support. I used 3M 4200 to glue it in place and have had no problems with it.

I have already glued one in my new tandem in the same location but used the epoxy that came with the transducer.

Jerry D.

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Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI

Good spot for a look down depthfinder. Much more protected. The sidescan needs to look both sides.

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I'll have to measure them tonight. Funny thing was that theboating place didn't have any and I got these from the general hardware.

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check out Mad Frog's gear:
http://www.madfroggear.com/
I have been using their Liberator mount with transducer deployment arm on my Pro Angler with excellent results.

The Liberator looks like a nice system without the hassles of getting wet to deploy your FF.

Here's one that was working surprisingly well on my TI when going tandem. I used a 6 1/2 inch length of 1 inch (1 1/4 inch dia) threaded plastic tubing and machined one end to receive the transducer. To install, I route the transducer cable from the bottom of the scupper hole followed by screwing in the threaded pipe. I usually install when I get the boat in the water and uninstall before beach landings. Not the easiest to deploy but it's cheap, quick, and dirty:






c2y

I have finally tested my transducer installation and it works great. I used the epoxy that came with my transducer to stick it on the inside of my hull just in front of the mast. The only down side to installing it inside is that if you have two boats you need two transducers. It cost me about $50 to buy the second transducer when I bought my TI.

Cowsgomoo said something about side scanning. I'm not sure what kind of fish finder he has that uses side scanning.

It is nice to have the transducer as far forward as you can get it when you sail in areas like I do where there are very shallow areas that come up fast. You can see the sort of wall coming at you on the fish finder and turn in time. If the transducer was on the back of the boat I'd be aground before I could see it coming.

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Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI