Whether you’ve owned a boat for quite some time or you have just recently made the decision to purchase one – making sure that you have a clear understanding of how to mount a transducer on an aluminum boat is not only an important maintenance step, but can also help to save you so money in the long run, too.
The only question is, how do you go about mounting a transducer onto an aluminum boat? If you are currently asking yourself this question, then rest assured that you have come to the right place.
In this article, we are going to be talking you through how to mount a transducer in just a few simple steps. Read on to find out.
What Is A Transducer?
Before we get any further into this guide – we first think that it would be a good idea to provide you with some clearer insight into what a transducer even is.
By understanding clearly what a transducer is, it means that you will have a better idea of how to mount one to your aluminum boat.
So, to cut a long story short, a boat transducer is essentially a type of ultrasonic transmitter that doubles up as a receiver at the same time. Once it has been installed in a boat, it has the ability to essentially facilitate sound pulse into depth, structure and many other things.
In other words, after it has been mounted on a transducer, it is then sensitive enough to be able to provide signals to the fish finder.
Now that you have a better understanding of what a transducer is, how do you go about mounting it to an aluminum boat? This brings us to our next section.
How To Mount A Transducer On An Aluminum Boat: Preparation
Before we talk you through how to mount your transducer on an aluminum boat, there are a few preparatory steps that you are going to need to take to make sure that you are going to be able to mount your aluminum boat successfully.
Let’s take a look at each one below:
Choose The Monitor Placement
First things first, you are going to need to take a moment to make sure that you have placed the monitor in the correct position and place. Just like with all other electronics, when it comes to making installments – you’re going to need to make sure that you are opting for the correct placement of it.
The last thing that you want to do is place your transducer somewhere on the boat that might obstruct other components of it, so make sure that you take the time to find an optimum spot.
Find The Right Alignment
After you have picked the best placement for your transducer, you are then going to be ready to go ahead and select the correct alignment of your transducer.
The alignment of the transducer is crucial because it will ensure that the transducer will be able to provide optimum performance.
It is recommended that you make the transducer lean by just a few degrees in order to help achieve this.
How To Mount A Transducer On An Aluminum Boat: Step-By-Step Instructions
Before you go ahead and mount the transducer, it is recommended that you make sure to have the following pieces of equipment:
- Transom mount
- Power drill
- Electric cable
- Masking tape/clamp
- Mounting bracket
- Marine sealant glue
Once you have made sure that you have all of these things, you can then go ahead and proceed to the next steps:
Step One: Position The Transom Mount
Before you are able to go ahead and mount the transducer, it is very important that you are first taking the time to make sure that you have positioned your transom mount at the proper mounting angle.
Ideally, you are going to want to make sure that you are placing your transom mount starboard side as this is usually the side of the boat that experiences the least amount of turbulence.
By placing your transducer in this area, you will be able to help optimize its performance when you are using it out on the water to detect signals that fish might be nearby.
Step Two: Mount The Bracket
After you have settled on a place that you would like to put your transducer, you are then going to be ready to go ahead and install the brackets into the chosen location.
As a general rule of thumb, you are going to need to make sure that the main edge of the transducer is going to be underneath the transom mount by around one eighth of an inch – so make sure that you are taking this into consideration when installing the bracket ready for the transom mount to hold the transducer.
Step Three: Add The Transducer
After you have mounted the bracket and you are happy with the position and no longer need to make any further adjustments – you are then going to be ready to add the transducer.
In order to do this, all you are going to need to do is simply insert the pivot posts of the transducer directly onto the top of the backet you have installed.
Then, after you have done this – go ahead and push the pivot posts into place until you hear a click, and then rotate downward until they “snap” into the brackets.
Once you have done that, take your cable and connect it to the fish finder, before proceeding to take the sealant and coat your cable in it to protect it from corrosion from the water. Then, you will be ready to begin using your transducer!
Final Thoughts
There we have it! We hope that this guide has been helpful in showing you how to mount a transducer to an aluminum boat. Goodbye for now!
