Where to mount Lowrance 337 GPS Antenae

[shouldbefishn]

Just reveived my 337 on Friday. Anyone have a suggestion of where or where not to mount the antenae? (Lund 18'Fisherman) I don't want to go drilling holes only to find out I don't like it there. Also, I am wondering on what kind of swivel to mount the monitor on. RAM makes a unit but it looks like it sets up high and may hit the windshield. What about a Johny Ray?

[dockehr]

shouldbefishn,

a picture would be worth a thousand words but here goes: the RAM mounts rotate to such a degree that the "upright" post can be positioned so that it is almost parallel to a horizontal surface such as your console.

The positioning possibilities of a RAM mount greatly exceed anything you could achieve with a Johnny Ray mount.

Try to get to a retailer that has sonar/gps units mounted on RAM mounts to see for yourself what the possibilities are. I have the LMS-332C as well as the LCX-25C ( which is much heavier than the 332C) and I have no problems with the unit set, when necessary, in the horizontal postion.

dockehr

Dr. Roland E. Kehr, Jr.

Lindy Tackle

[SteveWilson]

I have my Lowrance antenae mounted aft starboard near the navigation light plug on my 18' Fisherman. As for mounting I use two Johnny Ray mounts on the dash for my Globalmap 3300 and X-125 finder.

[Northlander]

My puck is mounted on my dash behind my windshield and I use nbothing but Ram Mounts for everything. Electronics, Rods etc. As Doc. says you can position them in many more ways than other mounts.

[shouldbefishn]

Thanks for all the posts. I like the behind the windshield option but was worried about interference. Obviously not a concern.

[Crankin619]

Lots of folks also mount the puck up on the nose of the boat. Best reception, this is the way they come from the factory at Ranger. I do however have mine on the console but just have plexi wind shields. One other spot would be in the rear of the gunnel, not sure if you have riggers there though. I will second a ram mount. Nothing better for your graph. You can tilt it any way to make for better visablity.

[Dave]

I recently saw a setup where the guy bent up an aluminum bracket and mounted the GPS antenna right above the Lowarance unit, not individually on the boat. The whole unit, display and antenna, can then be taken off the RAM mount and plugged into the truck's DC outlet for portable use during winter. Slick setup having everything mounted together.

[BIG DS]

Any glass or metal in the way of the antenna will block the signal or at least weaken it to the point you may loose your lock from time to time. Plexi and lexan don't seem to bother as much. The most popular location by far is the bow of the boat.

[SteveWilson]

Quote:

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The most popular location by far is the bow of the boat.

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. Once you put a Minkotta, finder, and anchor chock on the bow deck of an 1800 Fisherman you really don't have enough unobstructed room to mount a GPS antenna. It works better aft starboard, easy to mount, very easy to wire, and it's out of the way. The only time you need to watch things is if your trolling, but then you have to watch what your doing anyhow when trolling.

[Northlander]

I agree the nose of my boat is full of stuff so it was put behind the windshield wich is just plexi I assume. If you have a full windshield boat with all the trim etc. I would mount it on the nose if room, if not on one of the back corners. Have fun those pucks can be a bugger to get on, especially in thicker carpet.

[shouldbefishn]

You all have me changing my thoughts now. I think I will explore the bow idea. As small as that puck is I should be able to make it work there. I can see where getting those screws through might be fun.

Another question, How important is it to go directly to the battery? Do you get interference by going to the fuse box? The manual recommends directly to the battery.

[Crankin619]

Not sure how this would work in the Bow, but I just use two sided velco on my dash. I run hard in large waves and it has never moved. Maybe just screw down the one side of the velco onto the floor through carpet.