Just a note about mounting the transducer bracket... Get you bracket where you think it should go...then drill two holes in the middle of the two slotted holes. Test your installation adjusting if necessary...when you got it were it reads good...then drill the last hole in the top non-slotted hole to anchor the bracket.
Awesome video, Very helpful. I have an aluminum boat so it was tricky to get it perfectly level with the bottom of the hull because where it’s mounted is at an angle. Tried my best will be testing out the imagine ASAP. Would love to see some videos on settings as well!
Thanks for the video and advice / information about positioning the transducer - very helpful. Shame Humminbird don't produce videos that are this helpful in installing their products.
Actually your partially right, 1/16 to 1/8 inch past level with bottom is ideal. But...transducer should be level with boat front to back, not tilted. No rooster tailing will occur and you'll always be clear up to 55Mph or more. Plus the side imaging will be more accurate. Would you take a picture with your phone 90 deg or 100 deg? Think of it that way.
Thanks for taking the time to put this one out there! Getting the most out of your investment comes down to details and Matt does a great job specifically detailing each step. Awesome!
When final tightening screws into fiberglass, I do that step by hand. Power tools are OK for getting it started and running it in some, but stripping and having to do over is no fun.
That stepped transom sure gives you an out of the way place for that transducer! I'm adding a helix 10 si to my dual helix7 si network on my aluminum boat. Currently have a 2d/standard si transducer set up was planning on just swapping out the si ducer for the mega one. Any tips, issues, or clearance/blockage with left/right picture due to motors or transducers you've seen? Current setup works/sees perfectly. A video on tin boat transducer placement would be great! Keep up the good work!
But if the transducer was level with the boat, wouldn't it automatically be at an angle while your driving since the front of the boat lifts as you go forward ???
True. I played around with adjustments for a while and this is how I finally ended up getting the precise angle for my transducer, th-cam.com/video/VpA1qWlm1gY/w-d-xo.html Hope it helps.
As always, "great stuff" in the words of Brad. Why did you suggest that setting up an aluminum boat might be different. I'm doing my new setup very soon on my welded aluminum boat and hope you can elaborate before I commit. Thanks and thanks for always amazing content on the Podcast .
merci beaucoup Matt ca vas m'aider beaucoup, je trouvais que l'image de mon Helix 9 en position side imagine etait pas clair, alors hâte de re-ajuster ma sonde , merci encore. Vous ete un bon professeur.
Hello You video has really helped me reposition my Humminbird side imaging transducer, but I also have a smaller transducer XNT 14 HWT for viewing 2D sonar at high speed with a Y-cable. Should I follow the same instructions for positioning the small 2d sonar transducer as for the side imaging one, so using a straight edge to line it up with the hull and slightly tilting it down? Many thanks Ben
Now I’m really confused. I always thought you wanted it angled you slightly so that when you idle, it’s running level to the ground. There’s a lot of videos out there about the coin and torpedo level trick. Maybe that’s wrong and this is right. Any response would be appreciated.
I did the coin trick to try to get a better picture now my depth finder doesn’t work above 6mph…turns out the best it’s worked was after installing it and just going off my eyeballs ..go figure
Use a level when boat is in the water at 2 mph or so. place level on gunnel, raise end to lever and make note of height . Back in shop place level on gunnel. level boat , then level transducer.
Exactly what silicone do you use? Everybody on TH-cam says the phrase “marine grade silicone”, but I can’t find that description at the hardware stores.
I have a solix 15 , leveled mine with pennys and level at 3 mph , , did you level yours 1st , then found out this was better , did you get a much better pic doing it your way thanks , going to try it your way too ,
Does this also work if the transducer is mounted directly underneath the cavitation area on a 2004 ranger 619? Right now I have the transducer mounted flush and can’t get a reading at speeds over 10mph. Any help would be appreciated.
I got a question. On your first image with the rooster-tail... If you slightly incline the transducer the way you did the last image, wouldn't that eliminate the bubbles also?
I have a brand new lumacraft pro 185 they have it set to the right side of the engine yeah my problem is between two and 4 miles an hour blacks out the left side of the screen until I get to about 4 miles an hour and it clears up so I will see the setting is not correct my question I guess is they have it to the side are you recommending that I do it in the center like that or can i just adjust like you did but i guess the motor would be in the way issue
nice vid and thx for posting this.... 1 quick question... I have an aluminium boat and there is rivets at the bottom edges of the hull.. should I still go 1/16" below the hull or do I need to get abit lower? seems like those rivets mite cause air bubbles across the face of the transducer like you mentioned.
I'd really like to see one installed on an aluminum Deep V . I worry about the motor hitting the transducer, I know that the closer to the bottom/center of the boat is preferable. Even showing the motor trimmed all the way down would be useful. Just to see it. Thanks
So I set my up but the side imaging is wavy in sink with the waves of the water. Am I to far to the side? Do I need to be right near middle of the boat?
Yes mount the transducer as close to the center of the boat as you can while avoiding dirty water as in water with turbulence and air bubbles that will help prevent your wavy Imaging.
Gone fishin thanks. I’ll remount it this weekend. I’m also having problems with motor blocking the entire right side of my side imaging. That’s like 200$ feature I can’t use as is lol. Thanks
I would like to run my fish finder on my ski doo ( ice fishing) just for the GPS maps, what do I do with the transducer unplug it or leave it plugged in
Help Please ! I want to install a traditional High Speed Skimmer, and a Hummingbird Mega Side/Down Imaging Transducer on the same mounting board. Which Transducer is mounted lowest on the board ?
I never would have thought about laying down to install the transducer - DAHHHHH a great way to do it. Bending over trying to line things uo is a bitch
By the installation guide, it requires the transducer to be 15" away from the radius of the propellers to avoid turbulence, you are not following that, why?
Can someone please confirm you can get a side image while running on plane? And at such a high speed? Since day one, My side image goes out as soon as I get on plane and I thought that was the norm. Unit installed at a dealer.
I'm concerned about the lower unit of the outboard motor blocking the side imaging signal. How do I know it won't block or is the angle of the transducer such that it will compensate.
Did you say auto chart live should work at 40mph? I had my transducer installed by a marina and auto chart doesn’t work after 10mph. Just want to make sure I understood that correctly.
@@deanwellmer3668 Hey - I never got it to work faster and didn't hear an answer back. Sorry, wish I had better news. I agree w you, would be nice to see it on video.
Most people go about 3-4 mph when using side imaging. At that speed the nose of the boat lifts up which put the transducer at an angle. This means your transducer should actually point up, not down, when the boat is out of the water and level. The transducer will level out in the water when going 3-4 mph. There are a lot of TH-cam videos showing how to set the transducer using a level and some coins/money.
a little angle in the transducer is not an issue, it will cause a slight depth measurement error (less than 0.5ft/30ft at 10 degrees), but the bigger issue is not reading a signal at plane, so I recommend tilting the transducer down a bit as shown in the video, to ensure you get signal at plane. These SI transducers are used for DI/sonar as well so one cannot say that the SI transducer only needs to work at 3 mph.
This actually is opposite of want u want. SI is for slow speeds 5mph and less so your bow is up which tilts the ducer even more actually want it up some so it’s level when at idle speeds
Precise and to the point Searched through a lot of videos and this was great. Thank You
Just a note about mounting the transducer bracket...
Get you bracket where you think it should go...then drill two holes in the middle of the two slotted holes.
Test your installation adjusting if necessary...when you got it were it reads good...then drill the last hole in the top non-slotted hole to anchor the bracket.
Probably the best video out there on mounting a transducer. Thanks guys!
Excellent video with super clear explanations of how to correctly mount a transducer!
4 year old video lol but dang still one of the best on the tube.
Best SI transducer mount video on the internet..
THANK YOU you helped me out a ton! i didnt even know humminbirds transducers can read images on plane lol. this was super helpful
Awesome video, Very helpful. I have an aluminum boat so it was tricky to get it perfectly level with the bottom of the hull because where it’s mounted is at an angle. Tried my best will be testing out the imagine ASAP. Would love to see some videos on settings as well!
Thanks for the video and advice / information about positioning the transducer - very helpful. Shame Humminbird don't produce videos that are this helpful in installing their products.
Actually your partially right, 1/16 to 1/8 inch past level with bottom is ideal. But...transducer should be level with boat front to back, not tilted. No rooster tailing will occur and you'll always be clear up to 55Mph or more. Plus the side imaging will be more accurate. Would you take a picture with your phone 90 deg or 100 deg? Think of it that way.
Thanks for taking the time to put this one out there! Getting the most out of your investment comes down to details and Matt does a great job specifically detailing each step. Awesome!
When final tightening screws into fiberglass, I do that step by hand. Power tools are OK for getting it started and running it in some, but stripping and having to do over is no fun.
That stepped transom sure gives you an out of the way place for that transducer! I'm adding a helix 10 si to my dual helix7 si network on my aluminum boat. Currently have a 2d/standard si transducer set up was planning on just swapping out the si ducer for the mega one. Any tips, issues, or clearance/blockage with left/right picture due to motors or transducers you've seen? Current setup works/sees perfectly. A video on tin boat transducer placement would be great! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the info, this will help a lot of people. I’m getting a mega si this year thanks to the podcast 👍🏼 Keep up the good work
Love the podcast guys and I'm excited to see some content showing up here on youtube. Keep it up!
But if the transducer was level with the boat, wouldn't it automatically be at an angle while your driving since the front of the boat lifts as you go forward ???
True. I played around with adjustments for a while and this is how I finally ended up getting the precise angle for my transducer, th-cam.com/video/VpA1qWlm1gY/w-d-xo.html Hope it helps.
One of the best install videos!
Thanks, I had mine set up wrong, can't wait to try it out now.
As always, "great stuff" in the words of Brad. Why did you suggest that setting up an aluminum boat might be different. I'm doing my new setup very soon on my welded aluminum boat and hope you can elaborate before I commit. Thanks and thanks for always amazing content on the Podcast .
merci beaucoup Matt ca vas m'aider beaucoup, je trouvais que l'image de mon Helix 9 en position side imagine etait pas clair, alors hâte de re-ajuster ma sonde , merci encore. Vous ete un bon professeur.
Great tips! I'll be installing my Helix 10 tonight.
Corey, how is it after 2 year, any adjustments?
Sorry, 1 year
Will doing this work with the lowrance side scan too. I think it’s the lms1 transducer I’m finally adding SI/DI a HDS 8 gen 2 to my ranger 620
Hello
You video has really helped me reposition my Humminbird side imaging transducer, but I also have a smaller transducer XNT 14 HWT for viewing 2D sonar at high speed with a Y-cable. Should I follow the same instructions for positioning the small 2d sonar transducer as for the side imaging one, so using a straight edge to line it up with the hull and slightly tilting it down?
Many thanks
Ben
Great video! I can't find Matt's guide service info online anywhere.
Now I’m really confused. I always thought you wanted it angled you slightly so that when you idle, it’s running level to the ground. There’s a lot of videos out there about the coin and torpedo level trick. Maybe that’s wrong and this is right. Any response would be appreciated.
Thought the same lol
I leveled mine also with the coin and bubble level also at 5 mph. The angle changes significantly.
I just got off the Water following the Coin trick.... confused on what is “best” practice.
I did the coin trick to try to get a better picture now my depth finder doesn’t work above 6mph…turns out the best it’s worked was after installing it and just going off my eyeballs ..go figure
Great video, helped me out a lot.
Awesome video
Use a level when boat is in the water at 2 mph or so. place level on gunnel, raise end to lever and make note of height . Back in shop place level on gunnel. level boat , then level transducer.
Exactly what silicone do you use? Everybody on TH-cam says the phrase “marine grade silicone”, but I can’t find that description at the hardware stores.
Great video thanks 👍🏼
I have a solix 15 , leveled mine with pennys and level at 3 mph , , did you level yours 1st , then found out this was better , did you get a much better pic doing it your way thanks , going to try it your way too ,
And a thousands boats suddenly cried out “please, never drill directly into my haul”.
Thanks Matt!!
So I have a question what about stumps first stump you hit that's going to get ripped off rite???
How did you run the wire from the step?
Does this also work if the transducer is mounted directly underneath the cavitation area on a 2004 ranger 619? Right now I have the transducer mounted flush and can’t get a reading at speeds over 10mph. Any help would be appreciated.
This works if the bottom of the hull is flat. What if the transom is a deep v or slight v?
Thanks makes sense
I got a question. On your first image with the rooster-tail... If you slightly incline the transducer the way you did the last image, wouldn't that eliminate the bubbles also?
How are you attaching the cable I installed it as you showed in the video and it works great but the cable the way I attached it keeps breaking loose.
How do you run/manage the wire after the transducer is installed? On the fiberglass step hull.
I have a brand new lumacraft pro 185 they have it set to the right side of the engine yeah my problem is between two and 4 miles an hour blacks out the left side of the screen until I get to about 4 miles an hour and it clears up so I will see the setting is not correct my question I guess is they have it to the side are you recommending that I do it in the center like that or can i just adjust like you did but i guess the motor would be in the way issue
nice vid and thx for posting this.... 1 quick question... I have an aluminium boat and there is rivets at the bottom edges of the hull.. should I still go 1/16" below the hull or do I need to get abit lower? seems like those rivets mite cause air bubbles across the face of the transducer like you mentioned.
I'd like to know the answer to this also.
can you offer any advice on this question? I have a boat with big strakes and lots of rivets along the back edge of the stern as well. Thanks!!
@@allanhalls6335 they are putting out a new vid for aluminum boats shortly... stay tuned
@@jimmyg8656 thanks. in the meantime did you make any particular adjustments to your install?
@@allanhalls6335 nothing yet.... waiting for the vid
I'd really like to see one installed on an aluminum Deep V . I worry about the motor hitting the transducer, I know that the closer to the bottom/center of the boat is preferable. Even showing the motor trimmed all the way down would be useful. Just to see it. Thanks
The instructions say 15" off center of the boat
@@igadget56 thanks
So I set my up but the side imaging is wavy in sink with the waves of the water. Am I to far to the side? Do I need to be right near middle of the boat?
Yes mount the transducer as close to the center of the boat as you can while avoiding dirty water as in water with turbulence and air bubbles that will help prevent your wavy Imaging.
Gone fishin thanks. I’ll remount it this weekend. I’m also having problems with motor blocking the entire right side of my side imaging. That’s like 200$ feature I can’t use as is lol. Thanks
I would like to run my fish finder on my ski doo ( ice fishing) just for the GPS maps, what do I do with the transducer unplug it or leave it plugged in
Help Please !
I want to install a traditional High Speed Skimmer, and a Hummingbird Mega Side/Down Imaging Transducer on the same mounting board. Which Transducer is mounted lowest on the board ?
I never would have thought about laying down to install the transducer - DAHHHHH a great way to do it. Bending over trying to line things uo is a bitch
Thanks for the video. I believe mine is set up wrong.. :-( I'll be changing that.
By the installation guide, it requires the transducer to be 15" away from the radius of the propellers to avoid turbulence, you are not following that, why?
Can someone please confirm you can get a side image while running on plane? And at such a high speed? Since day one, My side image goes out as soon as I get on plane and I thought that was the norm. Unit installed at a dealer.
I'm concerned about the lower unit of the outboard motor blocking the side imaging signal. How do I know it won't block or is the angle of the transducer such that it will compensate.
I have exactly the same issue on my v hull.
@@saewatkao Do you have an SI unit on your boat? If so, it sounds like my concerns are justified!
@@charlesmiller5431 yes I do hummingbird helix 10 si.
@@saewatkao do you have transducer close to lower unit and do you have signal problems?
@@charlesmiller5431 yup about 6 " distance.lower unit side all dark. Can't seem to find a good spot
Will this work on helix 9 SI generation 1 or 2 as well
Did you say auto chart live should work at 40mph? I had my transducer installed by a marina and auto chart doesn’t work after 10mph. Just want to make sure I understood that correctly.
This was my question as well. If this is actually possible, I would like to see it work on video.
@@deanwellmer3668 Hey - I never got it to work faster and didn't hear an answer back. Sorry, wish I had better news. I agree w you, would be nice to see it on video.
Is it just me or is this a little risky in that you would damage the transducer if you hit your bunks?
Very simple when you have a flat horizontal surface at the bottom. You do not have that in a Deep V..much more difficult..
What do you recommend on a pontoon boat?
What would be the recommendation setup on a Helix 7 G2N Si on a pontoon? Thanks great video.
Most people go about 3-4 mph when using side imaging. At that speed the nose of the boat lifts up which put the transducer at an angle. This means your transducer should actually point up, not down, when the boat is out of the water and level. The transducer will level out in the water when going 3-4 mph. There are a lot of TH-cam videos showing how to set the transducer using a level and some coins/money.
a little angle in the transducer is not an issue, it will cause a slight depth measurement error (less than 0.5ft/30ft at 10 degrees), but the bigger issue is not reading a signal at plane, so I recommend tilting the transducer down a bit as shown in the video, to ensure you get signal at plane. These SI transducers are used for DI/sonar as well so one cannot say that the SI transducer only needs to work at 3 mph.
This actually is opposite of want u want. SI is for slow speeds 5mph and less so your bow is up which tilts the ducer even more actually want it up some so it’s level when at idle speeds
Don't you have to worry about knocking your transducer off when it's at the "perfect" location?
Too has two 'o' s
Oh wait never mind, it's not that low
Not fooling me, thays not the right Marine sealant