Tranduser mounting on Pontoon ?

[1 Gearhead]

I mounted my transduser on the aluminum factory box bracket that comes on the back of the ponoon . I loose all readings (depth and returns ) around 8 to 10 mph I quess . Is this something I should just get use to , This is my first pontoon . I didn't have this problem with the same units on my v bottom jon boat . There is a strake down the center and bottom of the toon can I offset the tranducer with a aluminum bracket to get away from it . I'm not sure with a pontoon anything would help. I slow down to look anyways for fish but like to see depth at higher speeds for safety reasons . What do you guys with pontoons do ? Thanks

[seven-ought]

unfortunately my pontoon is older and doesn't have one of those brackets like yours so I used a piece of 3/4" galvanized pipe and mounted it to back of the deck on the last cross member between the transom and the right toon. It works very well but it does throw a lot of water onto the top of the gas tank on the right side. I've got to fix that.

The trick to fixing yours is probably an addition to your bracket to get the transducer back a few more inches and below the toon a little. There is lots of turbulence behind those toons. Check out this link. I plan to do mine like this as soon as I get someone to weld me a bracket onto each of my toons.

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/pr...ly.php?id=1536

[jerry9497]

I like the bracket but I think a log or something would eventually get it. I dont have a strake going down the center bottom of my toons, with my HB383 I didnt have any problems but the side scan wasnt as good. on both...they were mounted on the factory plate, and half the thickness of transducer below bottom of toon.(about 1/4 inch) I do fine up to around 15-20mph then it loses bottom. Transducer needs to run in some clean smooth water, you can mount transducer where ever that is best. maybe off to one side. there is no inherent down falls of a pontoon for fishing, to me only beef is gas mileage, hauling and speed. other than that they are heck of a fishing platform You passed me the other day your boat look good. couldnt tell how it was set-up but I'm sure you can fix any problems there. I used to fish from back of mine but with enclosure I started fishing off the front. good luck with new boat Gearhead.

[jerry9497]

and I finnaly sqeezed a price out for the custom toon. Remember, this is a kit and has to be assembled, does not come with motor or controls.
A 25' custom tri-toon with a 8x8 enclosure sit in the middle of boat, controls forward, enclosure, walk on roof 8x12 with ladder, no roof over rear, thats a great start.... thats gona run about 28K. before I add on a gaint livewell and baitwell built in alluminum. and the upgrades I want on the console. add atleast 15k for motor and controls 4k for HD trailer. that will be an easy $50,000 pontoon boat. However, there would be very few boats that could hold a candle to a toon set up and built like that.
the picture is of a boat they built, not a boat set up as descibed.

[1 Gearhead]

Jerry you could just fish for months with out coming off the water in that thing . I can lower my tranducer some more ,I was leaving it up to protect it some . I'll see if that helps before off setting it .Thanks

[BUCK]

I have mine set about 3/8s of and inch below the backet. It reads fine . But my toon only goes 16 mph.

[jerry9497]

Originally Posted by 1 Gearhead

Jerry you could just fish for months with out coming off the water in that thing .

for 50,000+ yea, I would have to live in it, wouldnt have to worry about it being crowded either

[River Lizard]

I know this is an old post but I ran across it and thought I'd throw in my 2 cents as a pontoon owner. My depth/fish finder works good up to around 14 mph then I lose fish ID but not depth, that works fine. I could probably turn up my sensor and recover the fish ID but then once I slow down, I'm going to get a lot more false readings I believe.

I would recommend making some type of guard bracket to mount on the base plate that's above your transducer but yet sticks out farther than the transducer so if for some reason you back into something, it will help protect your transducer. I've already lost 1 transducer bracket on the back of my pontoon from gliding into a post.