Nice instructions on how to set that transducer! I would never be able to use the fish finder that far away from the seat... if you have a nice finder, you do need to reach it often and make adjustments... and if its large, there's no good side spot for it w/o being in way of paddling... thinking I'm going to have to put mine right on my hatch cover in front of me... tbd... today's project... ;o)
Watched about 30 videos on how to do this efficiently and cost effectively. By far, this video is the best. Very straight forward. Only thing I would change is adding goop to the the screws on the mount and making the hole for the grommet more water proof. Need a 12v battery as well. thanks for the walk through! Awesome video!
Thank you for watching! That is a good additional step to take for ultimate waterproofing. Let us know if you have any questions that we could help answer.
Weld wood contact cement 2 coats let dry then warm with heat gun both surfaces thrn apply form base. No ling waiting, sticks tenaciously but can be removed with some work.
As far as the amount of GOOP to use, just a thin bead will work and we do recommend using a popsicle stick or a toothpick to spread it around to get rid of the air bubbles because they could interfere with the transducer's reading.
With the 8 cycled AA batteries, you can probably squeeze 6-7 hours of use out of the fishfinder. A lot of what goes into determining your battery life depends on what type of fish finder you are powering and what features it has running. GPS units will suck the AA batteries dry quickly, as well as color fish finder units. For those 2 types of fish finders, I would recommend bumping up to a 12V battery for sustained running times.
Thanks for a very informative video. i'm waiting on a 4x from lowrance to install on my kayak. i hope all goes well. you made it seem fairly easy. wish me luck!
Thanks, I getting a used 535 hummingbird. I like the idea of the 9 volt batteries. With the one connection are you taking power from one battery or all the batteries. Where did you get the 9 volt battery case. Also the water proof bag
Excuse the ignorance on this matter, but i thought the transducer had to be in the water for one. What were the connectors called ? I've never seen that style battery pack.
I know this is about 3.5 years old but I'll ask anyway, if the marine goop/transducer mount fails is the transducer ruined? I assume you can just pull it all off and re do it?
Do you have to glue the transducer to the surface? Could you just glue the foam piece and place the transducer inside it. And then maybe get some double sided velcro strips and strap the transducer down to hold it in place? I dont want to glue my transducer cause I have 1 fish finder for my boat but this would be easy to add to my kayak if I could avoid the glueing of the transducer. Thanks
+Jay DeSimone Yup! But, if you want someone to walk you through the specific process for your Amigo, feel free to stop by one of our shops our call 888-828-3828
How much goop are we using? Is it just enough to adhere the bottom of the transducer to the boat or are we submerging the entire transducer to make sure of a continuous sound wave transfer as I've seen on other tube videos?
YAKtacular Fishing Great question! You can do it either way, but in this case we are only applying enough to adhere the bottom of the transducer to the boat.
so you don't really need a lot of the marine goop for the transducer? I did mines wrong then. I completely fill the inside of the install pad. so you just need a little to hold the transducer?
Joseph Saeteurn Correct. Just enough to hold the transducer. Thanks for watching, if you have any other questions please give us a call (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com! Thanks.
Thanks for watching! This style of install in mainly for sonar and downscan style transducers. If you are going with a sidescan system, we recommend either using an arm over the side, or an under hull mount.
In general, the TI units are faster in response to inputs. This is seen when quickly switching between sonar, downscan, chart, and split screens th-cam.com/users/postUgkxeAxH15LxhjGlg5-CRYqjTGTEH0tbY4vk recommend The Hook units will show some lag on button pushes and screen switching. The big ticket item though is maps. If you install a mapping card such as Navionics or the free C-Map Genesis which has a lot of map detail, then moving around the map with the cursor or when running down the lake can lag significantly on the Hook units, but is seamless with the TI units.
So I have a perception striker. It has no flat surface except the space between the three hulls where the scuppers are, but that space is less than 2" wide. Is that where I should mount the transducer or just use one of the wider spaces on the center hull towards the middle of the kayak? Any advice or suggestions or even tips from others mounting to a Perception Striker would be much appreciated.
Joey Palmer Typically when you mount a transducer you do it in one of 3 ways. Use an arm mount to dip it in the water off of the gunwale, thru hull mount it which requires gluing it to the inside of the hull, or scupper mount it which is the least safe of the 3 as it can damage the transducer if not done properly. I am assuming you are trying to thru hull mount this. It doesn't really matter where in the hull it is mounted -- as long has he has a flat area for gluing. So, the middle of the kayak should be acceptable. Please give us a call @ 888 828 3828 if you have any further questions. :D
+elhalaka8 While some prefer to have their transducers hanging off their boat, your transducer should be able to shoot right through the plastic and give you a good reading (assuming you pay attention to our video and install it properly!)
+Guy Curtis Typically, this shouldn't be an issue, but if you want to give us call at (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com we can talk about your specific set up and what would work best!
I have used different types of adhesives to hold the transducer in place but after a few months the transducer comes loose. I saw you used "Marine Goop" is that the brand name? and where did you get that transducer holder that you installed first? Whats it made of in case I have to fab one up. Thanks P.S. I used a motorcycle battery inside a water proof box kept inside the kayak.
so if i were to use the hummingbird fish finder you say that i should use the 12 volt battery. and if the battery dies is there a charger that u can use to refuel it. everything in the fisher finders installation kid is everything i need to hook one up. sorry for all the question I'm new to kayak world.
Hey Chad, depends on the unit you want to run! Typically they can run for about 8 hrs but the best way to find out more accurately is to know the Ah draw on the fish-finder unit and divide that by the Am on the battery.
+BAZ1NGA510 Typically this isn't an issue - if you give us a call at (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com we can talk more about your specific set up!
+PrentissRacing Agreed.. I'll gladly call... but?? I contemplated buying a Scotty transducer mount, but don't want it in the way of paddling and I like to paddle over vegetation. In the hull would guarantee no "snags"... but will it diminish accuracy and sensitivity? I understand water temp readings will be affected. Any comments for the masses wondering the pros and cons of in hull vs. outside scotty transducer mounting? I appreciate your videos and will be ordering from you to support your efforts. Thanks!
Hey Kovid, Here is an answer to both questions. Harness: www.austinkayak.com/products/12335/Philmore-Eight-AA-Battery-Connector-with-Snap-Connector.html Connector: www.austinkayak.com/products/12339/2-Port-3M-Wire-Connector.html Both items are included in the package as well.
Hello there! Fishfinder transducers are actually able to penetrate the bottom of the kayak hull with their signal. It won't affect your reading in any meaningful way.
That transducer has a high frequency output, so you shouldn't have any issues getting a clear downscan signal through your hull as long as it is properly installed.
Hey Boris, Sorry for the delayed response! It's not necessary for the transducer of the Lowrance 3x to be submerged in the water, although submerging the transducer in the water with a scupper or arm mount, such as the RAM Transducer Arm Mount, is a very popular and common setup! This video details how to install the transducer to mount within the hull. The Lowrance 3x transducer, since it is not a side-imaging transducer, will perform just fine installed within the hull. Hope that helped. :)
+tglover1986 It really depends on the model and how often you're using it - your best bet is to give us a call at (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com so we can get all the details!
donald ferdinand The material was our closed cell foam. Feel free to come to us with any further questions! Thanks. th-cam.com/video/NvbIVzQVPmk/w-d-xo.html&google_comment_id=z13zsts4ikerc3nqi04cdnyaxre4vrlgjd0&google_view_type#gpluscomments
You can use any rigid foam. We choose to use closed cell foam as it does not adsorb water and is very rigid. We recommend Marine Goop versus silicone as silicone does not adhere well to the plastic surface of the kayak and will peel away easily in a short period of time.
+Ed French Hey Ed - it should work, but your best bet is to contact our customer service team directly either by emailing customer@austinkayak.com or calling 888-828-3828. Fish finder installations are a tricky one to explain via TH-cam comment :P
The 8 AA batteries in the kit are not rechargeable but you could buy 8 rechargeable AA batteries and use those if you wish. We are always happy to help with questions. Feel free to e-mail us at customer@ACK.com with any specific questions.
yes you need to drill a hole for the transducer. In fact, you should drill at least 4 holes around the transducer to allow the sonar waves in and out. Let us know how it works.
Rubbish!! Transducers work through the hull as long as they are fitted correctly. If you drill holes in the hull to "let the sonar waves out" lol', it's gonna sink! Stop giving people stupid information!
Andy B omg!!!! r u for real??? u really answered that LOL LOL it was a stinkin joke, ask a stupid question u get stupid answers plain and simple. and I don't wanna hear oh they don't have a yak what would they know. put a hole in bottom of any floating device and see what happens is commen sense CHEESH!!
Palpac, the direction your transducer faces will make a difference on the read outs you get but it depends on your fish finder as well. For a regular fish finder, this shouldn't be an issue but for one with side-imaging it will affect things. I would give our customer service a call or email and they will be able to help you in more detail. Reach them via customer@austinkayak.com or 888-828-3828.
![QUICKEST & CLEANEST KAYAK FISHFINDER INSTALL [ DIY IN 15 MIN!!! ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vxl0xQrn2d8/mqdefault.jpg)
Nice instructions on how to set that transducer! I would never be able to use the fish finder that far away from the seat... if you have a nice finder, you do need to reach it often and make adjustments... and if its large, there's no good side spot for it w/o being in way of paddling... thinking I'm going to have to put mine right on my hatch cover in front of me... tbd... today's project... ;o)
Watched about 30 videos on how to do this efficiently and cost effectively. By far, this video is the best. Very straight forward. Only thing I would change is adding goop to the the screws on the mount and making the hole for the grommet more water proof. Need a 12v battery as well. thanks for the walk through! Awesome video!
Thank you for watching! That is a good additional step to take for ultimate waterproofing. Let us know if you have any questions that we could help answer.
Weld wood contact cement 2 coats let dry then warm with heat gun both surfaces thrn apply form base. No ling waiting, sticks tenaciously but can be removed with some work.
As far as the amount of GOOP to use, just a thin bead will work and we do recommend using a popsicle stick or a toothpick to spread it around to get rid of the air bubbles because they could interfere with the transducer's reading.
Jerron, a great video. I just purchased a new kayak and plan on following your instructions. Thanks.
With the 8 cycled AA batteries, you can probably squeeze 6-7 hours of use out of the fishfinder. A lot of what goes into determining your battery life depends on what type of fish finder you are powering and what features it has running. GPS units will suck the AA batteries dry quickly, as well as color fish finder units. For those 2 types of fish finders, I would recommend bumping up to a 12V battery for sustained running times.
Thanks for a very informative video. i'm waiting on a 4x from lowrance to install on my kayak. i hope all goes well. you made it seem fairly easy. wish me luck!
Thanks, I getting a used 535 hummingbird. I like the idea of the 9 volt batteries. With the one connection are you taking power from one battery or all the batteries. Where did you get the 9 volt battery case. Also the water proof bag
Excuse the ignorance on this matter, but i thought the transducer had to be in the water for one.
What were the connectors called ?
I've never seen that style battery pack.
Good video! Could you make a video on how to put a trolling motor on a kayak?
When you aren't using your fish finder. When you take it off, what do you do with your cable that is hanging out of the kayak?
I know this is about 3.5 years old but I'll ask anyway, if the marine goop/transducer mount fails is the transducer ruined? I assume you can just pull it all off and re do it?
How are you going to get depth and fish finding ability with the transducer inside the boat and not in the water?
Do you have to glue the transducer to the surface? Could you just glue the foam piece and place the transducer inside it. And then maybe get some double sided velcro strips and strap the transducer down to hold it in place? I dont want to glue my transducer cause I have 1 fish finder for my boat but this would be easy to add to my kayak if I could avoid the glueing of the transducer. Thanks
Steve I am also curious aboiut this? Did you find out ?
guys the idea of it not being in the water is all bad
These kits are no longer available or I didn'ts see any on the site. : (
Best how to and great responses! Definitely subscribed
Can you do a video on how to install a fishfinder on a sit in kayak and does the hummingbird 386 ci compqtable with the installation kit
Awesome video, thanks for taking the time to put it together...
how thick of a layer of marine goop do you need for the transducer
Video is a couple years old, but I'm assuming it's the same or very similar with the Hook-4? Installing on a Diablo Amigo
+Jay DeSimone Yup! But, if you want someone to walk you through the specific process for your Amigo, feel free to stop by one of our shops our call 888-828-3828
Jay DeSimone
You can definitely use an inline fuse if you wish!
Can I just use my trolling motor marine battery to power my finder?
Does it matter which one I buy to put on a kayak?
How much goop are we using? Is it just enough to adhere the bottom of the transducer to the boat or are we submerging the entire transducer to make sure of a continuous sound wave transfer as I've seen on other tube videos?
YAKtacular Fishing Great question! You can do it either way, but in this case we are only applying enough to adhere the bottom of the transducer to the boat.
Quick question. Does it matter if the transducer is facing forwards or backwards? I have one mounted in my yak via scupper hole, it is sitting flat
so you don't really need a lot of the marine goop for the transducer? I did mines wrong then. I completely fill the inside of the install pad. so you just need a little to hold the transducer?
Joseph Saeteurn Correct. Just enough to hold the transducer. Thanks for watching, if you have any other questions please give us a call (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com! Thanks.
I tried this without marine goup and my finder read 0 ft is the goup necessary for the transducer to work?
So you can mount the transducer in the kayak and it will pick up signal through the bottom of the kayak? What about side imaging??
Thanks for watching! This style of install in mainly for sonar and downscan style transducers. If you are going with a sidescan system, we recommend either using an arm over the side, or an under hull mount.
i have a Garmin transducer, is it important to cover the sides with silicon also (if not using a foam block)
hey I have a dolphin boat and I'm confuse how I should set my fish finder?
what type of transducer are you using? The one that came with the model or did you buy a through hull unit?
Sorry for the delayed response! This is the stock transducer XNT-9-20-T that comes with the Humminbird 386.
So the transducer doesn't have to be on the exterior of the kayak?
In general, the TI units are faster in response to inputs. This is seen when quickly switching between sonar, downscan, chart, and split screens th-cam.com/users/postUgkxeAxH15LxhjGlg5-CRYqjTGTEH0tbY4vk recommend The Hook units will show some lag on button pushes and screen switching. The big ticket item though is maps. If you install a mapping card such as Navionics or the free C-Map Genesis which has a lot of map detail, then moving around the map with the cursor or when running down the lake can lag significantly on the Hook units, but is seamless with the TI units.
Does your transducer have to be on the exterior of the kayak or can it read through the bottom of it?
+Marques Hoglund Your transducer can read through the bottom of your kayak!
So I have a perception striker. It has no flat surface except the space between the three hulls where the scuppers are, but that space is less than 2" wide. Is that where I should mount the transducer or just use one of the wider spaces on the center hull towards the middle of the kayak?
Any advice or suggestions or even tips from others mounting to a Perception Striker would be much appreciated.
Joey Palmer Typically when you mount a transducer you do it in one of 3 ways. Use an arm mount to dip it in the water off of the gunwale, thru hull mount it which requires gluing it to the inside of the hull, or scupper mount it which is the least safe of the 3 as it can damage the transducer if not done properly. I am assuming you are trying to thru hull mount this. It doesn't really matter where in the hull it is mounted -- as long has he has a flat area for gluing. So, the middle of the kayak should be acceptable. Please give us a call @ 888 828 3828 if you have any further questions. :D
How does it read water temp if no part of transducer is actually touching the water ?
i thought transducers are suppose to be on the outside of the bottom of the boat/kayak. its just as accurate on the inside?
+elhalaka8 While some prefer to have their transducers hanging off their boat, your transducer should be able to shoot right through the plastic and give you a good reading (assuming you pay attention to our video and install it properly!)
With the small battery and that particular fishfinder, what kind of battery life can you expect?
What do you do with the exposed wires when storing or transporting the kayak?
+Kenneth Turner (Ken Turner) Your best bet is to use some electrical tape to secure them!
Can a transducer work successfully mounted in a fixed and level position on the outside of a kayak?
+Guy Curtis Typically, this shouldn't be an issue, but if you want to give us call at (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com we can talk about your specific set up and what would work best!
I have used different types of adhesives to hold the transducer in place but after a few months the transducer comes loose. I saw you used "Marine Goop" is that the brand name? and where did you get that transducer holder that you installed first? Whats it made of in case I have to fab one up. Thanks P.S. I used a motorcycle battery inside a water proof box kept inside the kayak.
so if i were to use the hummingbird fish finder you say that i should use the 12 volt battery. and if the battery dies is there a charger that u can use to refuel it. everything in the fisher finders installation kid is everything i need to hook one up. sorry for all the question I'm new to kayak world.
Do you install this for your customers at the store?
+Jay Zarna Yes we do!
how long will the fish finder last on those batteries?
Hey Chad, depends on the unit you want to run! Typically they can run for about 8 hrs but the best way to find out more accurately is to know the Ah draw on the fish-finder unit and divide that by the Am on the battery.
the transducer will read through the kayak? whaaat? so i dont need to have it outside of the kayak? will it affect accuracy on the reading?
+BAZ1NGA510 Typically this isn't an issue - if you give us a call at (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com we can talk more about your specific set up!
+Austin Kayak (ACKTV)
wish you would have given a good answer to this here.
+PrentissRacing Agreed.. I'll gladly call... but?? I contemplated buying a Scotty transducer mount, but don't want it in the way of paddling and I like to paddle over vegetation. In the hull would guarantee no "snags"... but will it diminish accuracy and sensitivity? I understand water temp readings will be affected. Any comments for the masses wondering the pros and cons of in hull vs. outside scotty transducer mounting? I appreciate your videos and will be ordering from you to support your efforts. Thanks!
also what kinda of crimp connector did you use? and where did you get it?
Hey Kovid,
Here is an answer to both questions.
Harness: www.austinkayak.com/products/12335/Philmore-Eight-AA-Battery-Connector-with-Snap-Connector.html
Connector: www.austinkayak.com/products/12339/2-Port-3M-Wire-Connector.html
Both items are included in the package as well.
Where I can find this kayak play how runs the cables through the hole
Try a 12 volt battery like the ones in those electric kids cars there cheap light and work well!
Lemon Bleach ...and you can get them in watertight boxes with connectors. They're perfect for this application.
Where would one find/buy one of these batteries?
How does the fish finder work through the kayak? Will it still read good?
Hello there! Fishfinder transducers are actually able to penetrate the bottom of the kayak hull with their signal. It won't affect your reading in any meaningful way.
Will a garmin striker 7sv transducer go through with strong signal?
That transducer has a high frequency output, so you shouldn't have any issues getting a clear downscan signal through your hull as long as it is properly installed.
Ok, thanks
Will side scan still read good through the hull or is it best just to have a bracket hanging off the side of the kayak?
what is that battery harness that you are using for the 8aa batteries?
What kind of transducer is that?
i got a lowrance 3x, is the transducer have to be submerge in the water?
Hey Boris,
Sorry for the delayed response!
It's not necessary for the transducer of the Lowrance 3x to be submerged in the water, although submerging the transducer in the water with a scupper or arm mount, such as the RAM Transducer Arm Mount, is a very popular and common setup! This video details how to install the transducer to mount within the hull. The Lowrance 3x transducer, since it is not a side-imaging transducer, will perform just fine installed within the hull.
Hope that helped. :)
Boris Cotapohhhgfgjkll
Buy a kayak with a centre console that accepts fish finders... I bought the ride 115X and it is absolutely flawless.
Typically how long will the batteries charge the fish finder?
+tglover1986 It really depends on the model and how often you're using it - your best bet is to give us a call at (888) 828 3828 or email us at customer@ack.com so we can get all the details!
Can you still get a good temp reading?
Does it matter if it's a insied the hull transducer
what material did you use for your transducer pad?
donald ferdinand The material was our closed cell foam. Feel free to come to us with any further questions! Thanks. th-cam.com/video/NvbIVzQVPmk/w-d-xo.html&google_comment_id=z13zsts4ikerc3nqi04cdnyaxre4vrlgjd0&google_view_type#gpluscomments
Can I cut out a foam pad out of any foam (like an anti fatigue mat)? Also, does it have to be marine goop or can it be any type of silicone? Thanks
You can use any rigid foam. We choose to use closed cell foam as it does not adsorb water and is very rigid. We recommend Marine Goop versus silicone as silicone does not adhere well to the plastic surface of the kayak and will peel away easily in a short period of time.
did you use the 2in or 4in thick foam?
does this work for sit in kayaks?
what kind of transducer is the one you used called
Hey where do you buy the grommet from?
Hi how would i go on installing the transducer on a 3 layer polyethylene kayak?
So would this method work on an old town vapor 10?
+Ed French Hey Ed - it should work, but your best bet is to contact our customer service team directly either by emailing customer@austinkayak.com or calling 888-828-3828. Fish finder installations are a tricky one to explain via TH-cam comment :P
super helpful... luv me some ack
We enjoy watching your videos too Ty!
The 8 AA batteries in the kit are not rechargeable but you could buy 8 rechargeable AA batteries and use those if you wish. We are always happy to help with questions. Feel free to e-mail us at customer@ACK.com with any specific questions.
Do you need to drill a hole for the transducer ???
Dude are you for real? if you drill a hole in the bottom for the transducer the yak will.........! lol
yes you need to drill a hole for the transducer. In fact, you should drill at least 4 holes around the transducer to allow the sonar waves in and out. Let us know how it works.
Rubbish!! Transducers work through the hull as long as they are fitted correctly. If you drill holes in the hull to "let the sonar waves out" lol', it's gonna sink! Stop giving people stupid information!
Andy B
It was a joke dumbass. Get the stick out of your ass and lighten up
Andy B omg!!!! r u for real??? u really answered that LOL LOL it was a stinkin joke, ask a stupid question u get stupid answers plain and simple. and I don't wanna hear oh they don't have a yak what would they know. put a hole in bottom of any floating device and see what happens is commen sense CHEESH!!
What power source should I get
does it work with a garmin echo 300c
do sidescan and downscan work? or just sonar
Hi There! Downscan will work, but for sidescan we recommend having the transducer on either a under hull mount or an over the side transducer arm.
with the transducer not actually being in the water will it affect the reading?
Ok thanks
You to man, keep reelin em in
Don't you have to put the transducer in the water
i would say yes. i def wouldnt do what the video says
works just fine mounted in the hull. I used silicone. no issues. water temp may be off a few, but the depth finder is perfect.
Palpac, the direction your transducer faces will make a difference on the read outs you get but it depends on your fish finder as well. For a regular fish finder, this shouldn't be an issue but for one with side-imaging it will affect things. I would give our customer service a call or email and they will be able to help you in more detail. Reach them via customer@austinkayak.com or 888-828-3828.
What about hte fuse?
Great video
I use a 12v feeder battery its water proof already so works out well not to buy either
very bad idea the transducer is not in the water
This is how I installed my Lowrance Elite Chirp depth finder and transducer on my fiber glass boat.
th-cam.com/video/ULh2fX1JBQA/w-d-xo.html
8AA's holy crap, thats hugely inefficient. just buy a SLA or AGM battery, it will pay for its self in 3 months.
We just sent you a direct message so check your inbox and let us know if there's anything else we can help you with.
ship to australia
thanks
He glued the sonar hardware to the inside of the boat 🤷♂️
I was wondering about that myself. Why glue in place ???? Jim
This is a stupid way to mount a transducer.