This electronic device allows you to locate schools of fish underwater and helps you to determine the best spot to cast your line.
How to mount a fish finder transducer? The simple answer is that you have to mount it on your boat so that the sound waves can detect the fish. The transducer must be submerged in water, and if you are using a sonar unit, it must be mounted inside of the hull.
In this article, we will explain what they are, how to mount them on your boat, and what is the best way to install them.
Table of Contents
How To Mount A Fish Finder Transducer?
The fish finder transducer is one of the most important components of your boat’s navigation system. This electronic device allows you to locate schools of fish underwater and helps you determine the best spot to cast your line.
Do You Need A Fish Finder Transducer For Your Boat And Fishing Style?
Yes, There are four main types of transducers:
Standard Transducers
These come in a cone shape and they produce sound waves at an angle from the side of the hull. This enables them to accurately detect the depth of the water and bottom contour. However, it is not very easy to determine the level or type of cover where the fish are hiding out.
Vertical Transducers
This device emits sonar waves straight down like a flashlight. So you can easily detect any underwater object – trees, brush piles, rocks, etc. – even when you’re in shallow water.
High-Frequency Transducers
These are also cone-shaped and can be used with or without a flasher unit (depending on whether you like the fish symbol to show up on your screen). These waves disperse over a small area, so they work great for deep freshwater fishing where you need pinpoint accuracy.
Down Imaging Transducers
This is the newest and most advanced type of transducer, and it emits sonar waves at a right angle to the boat (and parallel to the water) like a radar beam. So you can see what’s underwater in real-time with incredible clarity. Down imaging works great both on deep and shallow water, and it shows fish symbols on your screen even in zero visibility.
Tips For Keeping Your Fishfinder Transducer In Good Condition For Year
Following are some tips for keeping your fishfinder transducer in good condition:
- Keep it clean – The transducer must be kept completely dry. Clean the transducer regularly to remove any salt buildup from your fishing trips. This can damage the device and cause it not to work properly.
- Do not use anything abrasive on a metal fishfinder transducer – Some people will try to use sandpaper to remove the buildup of hard water deposits. This is not a good idea because it can damage the transducer coating and reduce its effectiveness
- Store your fishfinder in a location that is dry and cool – Storing your device where moisture can build up will cause corrosion which will damage the unit.
- Avoid extreme temperatures – The transducer must be kept out of direct sunlight and away from high heat. Direct sunlight can damage the unit, while extremely cold conditions will affect its performance.
- Be careful using your fishfinder in freshwater – If you are planning on using your sonar device in saltwater, then it is important to rinse the transducer with fresh water after each use. This will prevent any buildup from damaging the unit.
How To Identify The Best Spot On Your Boat For The Transducer?
You can always pick one of the pre-marked spots on your boat, but using them may not be the best option because they are often not in the best location. Your fish finder will perform much better if you mount it to the outside of your boat hull instead of inside.
The reason for this is simple. The outside hull of your boat is made with a smooth (concave) curve which reflects the sound waves from the transducer in a straight line toward the water.
The inside hull of your boat is made with a curve that reflects sound waves in a wider radius back towards your boat. You can see this effect if you hold a large ball or Christmas ornament up to the side of your head and speak in a normal voice. You will notice that your voice sounds muffled and echoes.
When you mount the transducer to the outside of your boat hull, you will see a much more accurate fish symbol on your screen. The reason for this is that the shape of the outside hull is the same shape as the waves that are sent out from your fishfinder. The transducer will emit sound waves in a straight line which will bounce off the outside of your boat and reflect back to you.
The inside hull does not have a consistent curve which means that the sound waves will bounce back at a lower angle and have less clarity. So when you position your transducer inside of the boat, it will not give you the best possible location.
Conclusion
I hope this article about how to mount a fish finder transducer was helpful for you guys. I tried to cover all the necessary topics about the fish finder transducers.
FAQs
Q1. What is the best water depth for fish finders?
It depends on what you need to see in that specific area. For example, if you want to see what is underwater in shallow water, then choose a fish finder with Down Imaging.
Q2. What is the best fish finder?
This really depends on your budget and what you are trying to accomplish with your fishfinder. A professional will always recommend a sonar/GPS combo unit because that’s the most complete solution.
Q3. What is the best fish finder transducer?
I would recommend a traditional Dual Frequency Transducer. It may not be as good as a Down Imaging Transducer (they are very expensive), but it should still give you the best possible images.