How To Install a Transducer on a Jon Boat Aluminum Boat - Garmin Bass Boat Build

[@joesummers9864]

Thank you for pointing out the rib on the bottom of boat that never occurred to me

[@failshot7125]

Super helpful, I’ll be watching your video as I put mine on this spring

[@mvboutdoors]

Awesome man, glad to help

[@riverpirate1022]

Good video, thanks for doing this. Some Advice. Use 3m 4200 which is removeable, not 5200 which they claim is "permanent". Both are more than water tight. Also, you need to coat the inside and outside surface/head of the screws/bolts once installed, and all around the bracket to ensure it is watertight. The little bit you put on the screw holes is not going to cut it long term, best to coat the entire thing like your laying fiberglass, or patching a hole. (which you are) Also based on how thin your hull is, you should be using bolts and nuts with washers inside the hull, never screws in a thin bare aluminum jon boat.

[@netnegryy]

Thanks for taking the time! easy video and super helpful

[@mvboutdoors]

You're welcome!

[@ccccccccccc0]

Great video , nicely explained how to fix on transducer, hope to put my new garmin striker vivid 5cv on my boat now thanks👍

[@chasse-sous-marineTN]

Hello. Thank you for the information I have a question: What do we do if the wire transmitting information to the main device is cut or cut?

[@mvboutdoors]

That's a good question, it should be able to be repaired but I'm not sure how sensitive it is

[@bikerdude2941]

I wouldn’t drill holes in the boat, just use a transducer Stern Saver. I would also add some Locktite on the transducer screws.

[@mvboutdoors]

I used stern savers on my last two boats, they worked really well!

[@calvinhandy3969]

I have the same fish finder on my jon boat I'm still learning how to use side imaging

[@mvboutdoors]

It's a great unit, I really like it.

[@ricardp60]

Hi, thanks for the video but you didn't explain much about the levelling process. You did level the transducer but you did not level the boat (or didn't mention it). Should the boat be levelled first? Once all that levelling is done, how do you account for the boat in the water not being level in roll (more weight on left or right side of the boat)? Thanks

[@mvboutdoors]

What I did off the water was level the boat on the trailer then adjust the transducer so it was slightly angled to account for the angle it will sit in the water, 2-3 clicks up. You can further level by using a digital level like on your phone. When on the water, you lay the phone flat on the floor and tare it so that's the new default level. Then when you're off the water again, level the boat on the trailer using the level set to on the water level. After that you can level the transducer to the exact angle it sits on the water. I didn't get a chance to do that for this video but I plan to demonstrate it with a future video.

[@ricardp60]

@@mvboutdoors thanks I understand. Looking forward to the next video. What about the left or right lean of the boat depending on the people on the boat. It will not be the same if I am alone (leaning right), or with two people (leaning left if heavier), or 3 people (could be centred). Would that matter?l

[@mvboutdoors]

@@ricardp60 Nope, nothing to worry about with side to side tilt. The radar is pretty broad.

[@hondablood3]

@@mvboutdoors that's such a good idea. Smart thinking!

[@ninjagodzilla6402]

Pierre richard.what i did was jacked my boat up in my yard, made sure it was level.then mounted transducer.you then take youre boat out on the lake with a bunch of pennys in ur pocket.and ur level.once ur sitting in the water.set ur level on the side of ur boat.it will be tilted one way or the other.take the pennys & stack them up under ur level until you get it level.then when u get back home.set ur level back on the side of ur boat with the same pennys under it.then jack ur boat back up until its level.then put a torpedo level on ur ducer until its level then ur good to go

[@AllOnTheFly]

Great video. Curious why 3M 5200 (permanent) vs. 4200 which would allow the transducer, specifically the screws to be more easily removed in the future?

[@mvboutdoors]

Thanks Dave -- 4200 would certainly work. 5200 while very strong can still be removed and I didn't want to take any chances on a thru-hull connection. I also had it on hand for the install, haha

[@MrWhiltetail]

What is that you have your motor mounted to? It looks like something homemade. I want to mount a side imaging transducer to my 14" John boat but I think the motor will block one side because my motor is mounted directly on my transom. It looks like you have the space needed.

[@mvboutdoors]

It's a homemade jack plate, I have a video on building it I'll try to get the link but you can search the channel for it.

[@ninjagodzilla6402]

So should i jack my boat up while in my yard to make sure its level?

[@mvboutdoors]

You can do that for a rough level on the water. In another comment I detailed how you can use a digital level to get a perfect level back home on the trailer.

[@njstorozuk]

Just got JB Weld MarineWeld which is advertised to bond stronger than 3M 5200. I'm still uneasy about drilling into my boat. LMAO

[@mvboutdoors]

It's a horrible feeling but once you rip the bandaid its not so bad! Measure 10 times and drilled once.

[@WheresTheSauce]

Jb weld is great and all BUT the problem is it has absolutely no give and on something like an aluminum boat where everything has that little bit of flex it has a bad tendency to chip off. At least from my experience.

[@buckreynolds1779]

You did good thanks

[@ryanferris7841]

How will it do when up on the plane?

[@mvboutdoors]

No issues on plane, you adjust it so its angled up a little for trolling so not much drag on plane.

[@petelivinlarge]

silly question .... On the 2 screws going into the boat, are those self tapping screws or screws with nuts on the inside ?

[@mvboutdoors]

Neither, they are regular screws that come with the transducer.

[@garyworkman7317]

Great video! Is there any concern with side imaging and the trolling motor you have on the back left side? It almost looks as if the side imagining might pick up your trolling motor and block that left side. I'm debating on either a transom mount, or mounting on the base of my tolling motor (my lake only allows those) so I don't really need to worry about the boat getting on plane. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[@mvboutdoors]

I didn't get any signal interference running the trolling motor with the transducer mounted there but it was only a downscan transducer not side scan. From my understanding putting the transducer on the bottom of the trolling motor can lead to signal interference from the trolling motor power cables. I haven't tried it that way myself, its just what I read about in preparing to install the transducer.

[@1SmokeyRider]

I suggest ALWAYS putting a mounting plate on the boat instead of putting the mount directly on the boat.

[@mvboutdoors]

I've installed a few transducers since this video and have used mounting blocks each time. Much easier and works great.

[@1SmokeyRider]

@@mvboutdoors I learned my lesson. Lol

[@oztrekgelsoft8409]

Wrong side less your prop spins anticlockwise than ok

[@maxh.5825]

So did you just drill straight through the aluminum hull? Did you run into any leakage issues?

[@mvboutdoors]

That's correct, right thru the hull. No leaks, I used silicone on both sides and on the screws.

[@davesimcoe3654]

If you don’t want to put holes in your boat like me. Look up “stern saver” it works on glass or aluminum.

[@TheBish00p]

Hi! Is there a Russian language in this device?

[@mvboutdoors]

Hello! Yes, there is a Russian setting for language.