Fish Finder install

Hello Everyone,

Do you know if the transducer from a fish finder will work if it is installed inside of a canoe? The canoe it is going in is made out of Three Layer Polyethylene. Here is a short write up of what Three Layer Polyethylene is.

Thank you for any help
Frank

Three Layer Polyethylene
Using our three-layer roto-molded process, we offer canoes constructed of three layer polyethylene. This technology allows us to produce a stiffer craft than traditional single-layered canoes and omits the need for a keelson. Because the foam core provides such exceptional stiffness, less material is needed in the hull so weight is kept low. The core also provides built-in flotation and insulation from cold and noise.

 
Superior strength and durability
Lighter, stiffer and stronger than single-layer designs with keelsons
Foam core provides built-in flotation, and insulation against cold and noise

The foam core may interfere due to he little pockets of air in the foam. 

-Craig 

I would also say the foam core is going to mess up your sonar signal.  I would probably fab up an arm that would be positioned to hang off the side of the canoe similar to what coosbayyaker has on his kayak.

Thank You for all the help.

If I was to try it out by mounting it inside the canoe how could I tell if it was working correct? Would I have to have a buddy next to me with a fish finder and compair are readings?


yaknitup

I did not know it was you in all them Youtube fishing videos. I have been watching them over and over for a while now.

I agree the foam may interfere, but take the boat out hold the 'ducer against the hull and try it. The best way to see if it is working is to have someone with a finder right next to you to compare or if the company that made your finder has an app on the internet that is a simulator of the finder you have? That will give you a picture in your head of what it should look like.

Might be best to do an TDA(transducer employment arm) like i did. Making the swiveling pvc joint isn't too hard if it was needed. I did the joint to get the 'ducer out of the water when i was making a run to another spot and didn't care about marking fish. It's a little noisy at full clip, but you could just pull it off and set in the Canoe.  and attaching it to the boat should be no issue, i got some ideas, if you go that way i'd be happy to share them with ya.

Nice portable setup there, CBY! I also like your demonstration Model "pointing" to the product.

I am making a custom canoe front thwart. I Have it now that it will hold 3 Scotty mounts. I am hoping to use one of them for the fish finder and the other two for rod holders. I have all the holes cut out but I am waiting for a friend with a table saw so I can finsh it. I have been taking pics and I will do a write up when I am done with the front one. I plan on making a new rear one also but the front is my main priority this week.

Hey coosbayyaker,

I like the look of that set up there. I would like to know how you made it swivel. Yes if you have an idea please send them my way. I am always looking for another way to do things. It sure beats standing in the back yard while looking at the canoe and talking to myself.  

CBY, that is SO how I set my own Cuda 300 after I couldn't get it to properly read through the hull. Glad to see I wasn't the only wacko to set it up that way. This also makes it portable with any other yaks I get in the future.

Thanks for the pics.

True

Frank,
totally understand where you and these guys are coming from. it can get frustrating getting things set up your own way.

have you bought a fishfinder yet? i'm asking because i think in your situation, one of the portables made by one of the major manufacturers might be a good starting point.

for instance there are these made by humminbird that clamp onto the thwarts; http://store.humminbird.com/category/271308/Fishin%27_Buddy_Series

they have these two portables; http://store.humminbird.com/category/307378/PiranhaMAX_Series

and then theres offerings from lowrance ; http://www.lowrance.us/Products/Marine/Compact-Sonar-Fishfinders/

probably more out there, but i'd think starting there would cut some of your issues down to manageble bits and chunks.

thats not to take away from CBYs innovation. he did a great job with what he had on hand. just trying to give you some other options rather than trying to do a shoot thru and it not working due to hull construction...

but, your idea does bring up an interesting question for all you with old school aluminum canoe experience... will a transducer shoot thru one of those hulls or do you need to rig an arm or a stern mount?? my suspicion is that you cant shoot thru due to too much resistance.

Hello WR,

I have not gotten a fishfinder yet. I looked at the clamp on fish finder like the Humminbird Fishin Buddy 110. I see Bi-Mart sells it for a fair price. 
http://www.bimart.com/skudetail.aspx?loc=k.507616_s.210A_c.73A_d.56&nm=Marine Goods

I like going to Bi-Mart as they always seem to treat me right. Thanks for the ideas. I was just worryed that the clamp on style was of a lesser quality than the other style. I now have to do a lot of research and see what will work for me.

Thanks for the help, ideas and the links.
Frank

any time, thats what we're here for.

Here is what Humminbird says.

Thru-Hull Mounting
Thru-hull transducers install through a hole drilled in the hull of the boat. Larger boats or boats with inboard motors create turbulence that make transom mounting ineffective. Also, hulls that are very thick or are double layered, or made from materials such as wood or metal, (which do not conduct sonar signals) make inside the hull mounting inadvisable.