T15 Cuda install w. Ram Mount

My lovely wife found me an Eagle Cuda 350s/map for Christmas!  This is a great unit, that I've mentioned before, that includes GPS mapping and sonar for a great price.  I'll spare you the rest of the details about the unit.

I did finally manage to get it installed, and I'm ready to hit the water with it tomorrow.

started with a RAM Mount.  Most fishfinders sit too far away from the seating area when installed in the Sonar Shield of the Trident 13 and 15. The Sonar Shield was also designed to be ideal for Hummingbird fish finders.  This is an Eagle, so things are going to be a bit different.

The RAM Mount is bolted to the front and off-center of the Sonar Shield.  This location gets the Cuda the closest to me as possible, while keeping in the Sonar Shield confines.  Being off-center allows the whole thing to fold up and store underneath the Sonar Shield when not in use.  Do note, the fish finder head unit should be removed when transporting your kayak. <
Ram makes a ball mount specifically for Eagle fish finders, but my local dealer did not have any of these.  No worries, just cut out some polyurethane and make it all work.  Someday I might buy the specific mount, but, so far, this seems plenty good for me. 

Passing the cable through the kayak is a tough part.  Now, I would ideally have a waterproof cable pass-through (you can pick them up from West Marine) drilled and mounted into place.  I will get one very soon though.  The Cuda needs a 5/8ths inch hole drilled to pass the cable through.  I then filled with silicone on both sides.  This is by no means the right way of doing things, but it will work on flat water for a week or two.  I offset to the side a bit because I have other things i might try to install here as well... you'll have to wait for that one...

The battery, in this case a Cabela's 7amp Marine Battery (on sale, with charger, for $20!) fits well inside of the Trident's factory battery case.  The grommet in the front does well to pass through the battery cables, and my install is such that I can charge my battery while it's still in my kayak.  This battery is MORE than enough to power the Cuda, and I figure it will take many days of fishing before the battery dies.  This is great, because I have the plans on a couple things that will suck more juice...

I went with a dry mount setup for the transducer.  With this setup the transducer can easily be removed and put in another kayak.  The foam is cut to shape of the transducer, and just a hair smaller to provide a good snug fit. The foam is held in place with marine goop to make sure its not going anywhere and provides a water tight seal around the transducer.  Why water tight?  When it comes time to go fishing, I pull the transducer out, put a couple tablespoons of water inside the hole in the foam, reinstall transducer, and fish.

Sweet instalation and RAM mount mod

" I offset to the side a bit because I have other things i might try to install here as well... you'll have to wait for that one..."


I hope your not thinking what I'm thinking.....

Isaac, do you have any pics of it folded down in the sonar shield area (with the lid still up obviously), where we can see how it would be stowed during a surf launch?  I'm curious as how it lays in there. 

The ram mount seems to really help "POP" it out and get it within better reach.

I'll be home in a couple hours and get that pic for you.

All folded up and ready...

Sweet instalation and RAM mount mod

" I offset to the side a bit because I have other things i might try to install here as well... you'll have to wait for that one..."


I hope your not thinking what I'm thinking.....

I cannot confirm, nor deny, the existence of a custom fiberglass 12" sub box for my tank well....

Slick!  I wonder if you have enough room in there to add one more RAM arm in between the Cuda and the first RAM arm, so you can really get that thing to reach.  

I may change mine around in the future to use RAM mounts as well.  Great idea!

Get ahold of K and either G, H or I and bump that baby out into your lap.

Between the FF and my aquadpod, I wouldn't mind a couple K's and G's.

I think I'm good to go for now though

Actually, one of those I's would be just tall enough to stick over the edge of the sonar shield area, then a K and G would extend that well over the rod pod..

As is now, I still get some coverage from the sonar shield lid when flipped on top of the FF...

Stereo system eh?  That will scare the fish off.

I was thinking a beer holder with extended arm lol.

Nice job on the setup.  I really love those RAM mounts.  I didn't know they existed until I Demonick kept mentioning them 

Stereo system eh?  That will scare the fish off.

You could always use whale mating calls and see what you come up with.

Z

That would totally be worth a shot!

Anyone know of any local retailers that have a good selection of RAM components? I'm needing a few of those from the picture above in the same 1" size to complete the remodel of the cockpit of my yak. I feel like the only place to find those are online. Maybe some nice camera stores?

Online is the best bet.  Fishermans only has Lawrance mounts.
Cabela's has a lot of RAM stuff, but they don't even know what they do and don't have.  Bought a Rev. 2007 rod holder there and the gal said they didn't have any RAM rod holders, just electronics mounts....

Online is the best bet.  Fishermans only has Lawrance mounts.
Cabela's has a lot of RAM stuff, but they don't even know what they do and don't have.  Bought a Rev. 2007 rod holder there and the gal said they didn't have any RAM rod holders, just electronics mounts....

Yeah I feel you on that.  I was in there looking for a mount for my GPS and couldn't find anything suitable, asked an employee for help, and they were clueless, then I caught the RAM mounts out of the corner of my eye two aisles over.  Turned out they had one specifically made and ready to go for my GPSmap 60CS  (there was a whole wall of RAM mounts for all types of GPS)

Yeah, I've been working with Cabela's for a couple pieces along with a couple of other various sites. It's such a great product, even though it is a little more spendy, I hope that more stores catch on to them.