Cabellas " fishin buddy"

Hey man, This is the new eagle 250df 50/200  $150.00 from eangler.com  (thanks for the link bro)
Will the transducer be good to shoot through my hull? Or does the thing need to be put down a scupper? OORR, glued with goop to the inside of hull. If this is cool, I'll be needing battery info next!!


Display:



4.5" (11.4 cm) diagonal screen
Film SuperTwist LCD
240x240 pixel resolution
Backlit screen and keypad
16-level grayscale
Sonar:


Depth capability to 800 ft (244 m) with 300 watts RMS power
High-performance, low-profile 50/200 kHz Skimmer dual-frequency transducer with built-in temp sensor delivers an extra wide angle of fish detection area with high sensitivity settings - Operates at boat speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts)
Advanced Signal Processing (ASP) automatically adjusts your settings for the best sonar picture
Patented GRAYLINE separates fish from nearby structure and bottom
Advanced Fish I.D. shows underwater targets in different sizes of fish symbols
FishTrack displays target depth readings above fish symbols
Surface water temperature readings come from a built-in temp sensor in the transducer
Zoom with zoom bottom tracking and easy zoom-in/out control
Performance:


Easy to connect/disconnect with uniplug cable connector
Internal back-up memory for key sonar settings
Completely sealed and waterproof, even for use in harsh saltwater environments
Full one-year warranty

 I think I was the first yak fisher to use goop to stick down a transducer (at least I was the first to post it at yakfishing.com in 95). Its still stuck and works great though the hull.

 Clean the spot with alcohol, scuff the area with 80grit sandpaper, clean it again, put down a quarter sized dollop of goop, and squish the transducer flat into the middle of it making sure you don't have any bubbles. Let it set overnight.

 All that said, check out http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/articles_view.asp?Kayak_Articles=39 for bunch of ways to skin that cat.  Most are much easier to remove.  I have not tried them as mine is still stuck.

Thanks Fishes, just wasn't sure the transducer would work through the hull as it is a "skimmer" type.
Any particulars on what type of battery? Ones used for motor cycles? Or is their a marine grade to look for?
Pretty ignorant here as you can see.
 I'll go back and referance the web posts in your link.
Thanks again.

 .....Perfect info!
I am now very confident about the purchase and installation.

In my humble opinion I think that a motorcycle battery is over kill. I use a 12volt sealed lead acid battery. It is the kind you use in home security systems for back up. Picked it up at Radio Shack for $24. The ones I saw at walmart our the same but have a plug on them. You might be able to use it if you could find another plug (female ) I know of guys that use AA batterys in series with a rigging they make from components from radio shack. One of the guys from NCKA has it on that website.
I use a black and decker charger with a float at 1-2amp. (trickle charger) works great. I have had the battery for 4 years and it is still working good.

What I want to know is how do you get a transducer designed to shoot through the hull. I have seen them on line for other models but how do you know if that is what you are getting in with the ff you buy. What are they called.
Matt

Yup.  Sealed gel cell (aka sealed lead acid).  I have a 7 Ah and it runs my FF for about 3 days of fishing.  If you're willing to charge every time you can downsize it a bit.  Make sure you get a charger with auto shutoff when it's fully charged or else you can damage the battery by overcharging.

Charles (charliefl66) told me a good idea too.   You can buy a high candlepower rechargeable flashlight and they usually have a 12v batter of this type, but lower than 7 Ah.  The flashlight doubles as a charger and you can use it as a flashlight when not using it to power your FF.

-Allen

Thanks guy's, I will start looking at power sources now that i have some of the basic knowledge and needs covered.
Floatin, I shopped all over and found plenty shoot through the hull type transducers, they all cost hundreds!
If POLE says this will work on my boat,this will work on my boat.(he is one of my mortal Gods you know)

FFTW, I was just thinking how cool that is that you did this >10 years ago and here we still are discussing the same thing.

Boxo, I think the through hull transducers you are talking about are not the same "through hull" application we are talking about.  There are specialized through hull transducers that do cost more, but I don't think they are needed here.

Transducers work by detecting differences in density.  A fish "mark" is really the air bladder of the fish registering.  Our plastic hulls and goop have similar density to the water (at least as far as the transducer is concerned).  The reason you don't want air bubbles as the FF will detect those and they will mess with your signal.

BTW, I use a bit more than a quarter size glob of goop.  I use enough to cover the bottom of the transducer and then some.  Note that it isn't permanent.  I've moved transducers before.  You just need to get under it with a large screwdriver and pop it like an abalone.

-Allen

MMMMmmm abalone!!!! I can't wait to see the new regs, I read there was some change for ab's I wonder if it is a good change. Pole have you heard anything.
The differance in transducer from what I saw was the shoot through is more barrel shaped with a flat bottom. The skimmer type have a  rounded bottom. The flat bottom would be easier to get level so your not shooting off to the side a little bit. Thats the only benefit that I see.
Matt

    Thanks Pole,
 All of the TTH transducers were of the commrecial type, big and heavy!
 The density similarity explains the why of it all, The beam will shoot through.
 Thanks to all of Ya'll for helping make this sport safer and more fun for me. But Pole, YOU DA MAN! 

The old fishin buddy. When I ran a lodge in northern Ontario we had 18 boats and rented out those fishin buddies to the guests. The used these for jiggin Walleye and casting for pike. Its been my experience that as long as you are just looking for a depth reading these will work. Occasionally youll have to put up with it going all wonky and reading 999feet or something weird but if you give it a hit and shut it off and turn it back it tends to figure itself out for depth. But as for marking fish.....not at all accurate. I would see the bottom and it would read schools of passing fish. Its nice when you want to hear the beeps cause the fishing is slow and it gives you hope...lol.. But just dont count on this for a tournament or anything. All and all a good depth reader...

A big "Thanks" and a thumbs-up for pjrflyguy for passing on his old Fishin Buddy 1200. Got a few minutes today up at Patterson Lake and it could find bottom just fine. Since I didn't find any fish with a rod, I have no idea how good of a FF it is.

Hey Pisco, did you stick the buddy in the scupper hole!!?? (sounds kinda bad). Just wondering if it fit.

Nope, stuck it in the hole in the 16" of ice! 

Looks like it'll be a while before I can float a boat, locally. It's been snowing for over 48 hours!

God I love the Southern Oregon Coast!!
We never have to fish through the ICE!
Stay warm my friend.