Where to put the transducer

[panfried]

I recently added a new Lowrance 510c to my boat. The instructions say to put the tranducer between the ribs for best performance. I have a 16 ft Alumacraft. It has one rib down the middle (keel) and then one on each side of that. There is one more set of ribs (one on each side) but they are actually on the side of the boat. So in order to keep the transducer away from the motor i pu the tranducer just outside of the 2nd rib. It works great at slow speeds but not at all at high speed. Should i move the transducer over, putting it between the keel and the first rib? That would put it much closer to the motor and i am thinking i may have cavitation problems.

[Sandmannd]

Not sure if that's your problem at night. Make sure the ducer is level. Do this with the boat on the trailer. Also, make sure the line that goes around the middle of the ducer is even with the bottom of your boat. Those are two things that really made a difference for me.

[jwhjr]

I also have a 16' Alumacraft, and I have the transducer mounted closer to the motor as you've described. I don't have any issues with cavitation, but I have it lined up the way that Sandmannd suggested (level and with the line in the middle even with the bottom of the boat).

[Surface Tension]

If your sure its not mounted behind a rib and causing cavitation then check some other things. Put a straight edge on the hull. The ducer should be a hair below that line. Also if the ducer is tilted behind the boat at all it'll cavitate. That angle should be just a hair froward. That'll ensure the full surface of the puck will have water on it. If you have a V-hull which carries back to the transom, the ducer should be flush or below the lowest point of the V.

[deacon]

I think the slight tilt forward is very important. Sometimes you just need to adjust slightly a few times to get perfect, can be a pain in the a$$.