Install a Bow mount Fish Finder

[getinked3]

I have a 18.5' Lund Tyee II and I have played around with the Idea of getting a Fish Finder or moving my current Fish finder to the bow and getting a GPS for the Dash/Driver seat. Just wondering if anyone has done an install on a bow mount fish finder and what kind of job I am looking to tackle? Is there anything I can get that will have a transducer for the front of the boat or will all my readings come from the rear?

[Sherpa]

I think most people mount the transducer on their bow mount trolling motor.

[getinked3]

Thanks, I watched a couple video's on youtube that looks like the way to go.

[Cove]

Could you share a good YouTube video? I searched around and could not find one.

I have a similar boat, ~18 foot Lund Pro-V. I have a bow mounted motor. I bought a transducer that straps on the MinnKota so I can use my Vexlar Fl-20. The cord runs up along the shaft. It is cumbersome, to say the least! the cable gets easily twisted around the motor shaft as you turn this way and that. Does anybody make a system that runs a shaft down, off the bow, which you can put your transducer on? Would have to pull it up when moved etc.

[Esox_Magnum]

Simplest way to go is buy a trolling motor with a built in transducer. I have used the puck under the motor for years without a problem. Just tie your cables on good and keep from turning 360 degrees and you'll be fine.

[Cove]

Yeah, thanks Esox. I had hooked it up 2 days ago and my son was running the motor. He said, "the autopilot isn't working" and I noted the cable was wrapped tight because of going about 720 degrees!. That prompted my initial post. Since then I did find a YouTube video and got your reply. I went out and carefully set it up and will retrain myself to being more careful and not going over 360 degrees. I set my flasher on top of a tackle box to get it up off the floor 12 inches, strapped it on so it does not fall off and sat there in my garage watching the flasher. Looking forward to the weedlines. So, to the original poster, with the 18.5 foot LUnd, hope you get a good system set up. Thanks for starting the thread. If my MinnKota breaks down I would consider one with a built in transducer but hard to justify the bucks to replace my current one.

[Esox_Magnum]

I ran a Vex on mine up front for a few years, miss having something up front on my new rig but in time that will be solved. I never ran an AP but could see where that could present a problem. Keep an eye out for a used Universal Sonar motor sometimes you can pick them up reasonable and sell yours to recoup the costs.

[getinked3]

Here is the video I viewed that was kind of helpful, other then the fact that he keeps calling it a sounder.... ha

[getinked3]

After much debate, and taking a second look at my set up. Turns out the previous owner ran a second line for the transducer to the bow already. However I think I am going to get a GPS/Depth unit for the Dash and going to run a front trolling mount for the Humming Bird I am currently using. I fish the Mississippi quite often and the GPS is really going to come in handy for some of the back waters that seem to change in appearance from week to week. Not to mention having a more accurate reading from the front of the boat is going to become crucial if the water levels ever come back down...

[getinked3]

Side note... If anyone is an avid hsolist watcher, beware a 2004 Ranger boat ad, listed in ANY MAJOR CITY. It is listed fully loaded for way less then it should be. I had wallet out and ready to hop in the car and drive across the state today until I did a little more research on the fishy (no pun intended) post.

[getinked3]

C raigs List was the suppose to be after avid not what is shown above