Transducer mount on port or starboard side?

[mr_jman]

I just bought the Humminbird 899 SI fish finder and although the instructions encourage placing the transducer on the starboard (right) side of the stern, can it be placed on the port side instead? My setup would work a lot better with it on the left (port) side but not sure what that does to performance and the side imaging. Can some of you with side imaging chime in?

I have a 1988 Lund Pike tiller model.

[bobbymalone]

I don't see why it would make any difference which side you put it on.

[Northlander]

Whatever side dont matter unless you have a transom mounted trolling motor or kicker. Then go to the other side. If you have both go to the side with the trolling motor rather than kicker.

[mr_jman]

Thanks, that was my reasoning for wanting to put it on the port side is that I want the trolling motor behind me on the starboard side. I have limited space while running the tiller as it is, and squeezing the trolling motor on the port side really limited my fishing area.

[Finns]

I think it might have something to do with the prop wash from main outboard.

[gunner55]

That's how it was explained on the last one we installed.The prop wash can cause interference at higher mph.It also said to note which way your prop rotated.

[solbes]

The structure scan overlay feature works best if your 2D and 3D 'ducers are within 12-18" of each other. So I would co-locate them on the same side. I would think port or starboard would be fine, whatver works best for your boat.

The prop wash idea sounds interesting, but I have a hard time believing it would extend laterally more than an inch or two. You just want the transducer to have clean water underneath. Horizontal alignment and especially vertical position vs bottom of the hull would be more important IMO.

To my knowledge, 99% of outboards today rotate in the same direction. The exception being twin outboard setups where you want a counter rotation gearcase to balance out the torque.

[Tom7227]

Would the motor itself block the side imaging to one side? For instance I would normally use my left hand on the tiller and so I would likely fish out the left side of the boat as that is the way I am facing. So would I want to have the transducer on that side of the motor?

[Chris Haley]

Put it on the port side if it's a tiller. I never use my side imaging to both sides anyway. Since I'm a tiller guy I have my side imaging go out to the port side. I also adjust it to 70ft. as the definition is so much better. Plus I'm pretty sure I can't cast much more than 70ft.

[CAMAN]

The prop wash idea sounds interesting, but I have a hard time believing it would extend laterally more than an inch or two. You just want the transducer to have clean water underneath. Horizontal alignment and especially vertical position vs bottom of the hull would be more important IMO.

.

I read that too when I installed mine 5 or 6 years ago and thought the same thing. When moving forward how does prop wash extend laterally AND forward? I installed it the way they said but don't believe it makes much difference as long as it's at the correct height and in smooth water. Now back trolling is a whole different situation.

[deacon]

side can make a big difference for me ended up being Starboard side with best imaging. direction of prop rotation can create turbulance to cause interference