Fish finder transducer vs. magnets

[ampersat]

I'm trying to figure out how to get the transducer for my finder into the water. I've got a fiberglass drifter and the reviews on suction cup mounting are mixed. I'd rather not have some pole sticking down the side of my boat (with the transducer mounted on the end) and mounting it on the kicker isn't really appealling to me either.

However, I have access to some rather powerful magnets. I'm wondering if mounting the transducer on a piece of steel and then using magnets inside the boat to hold it in place is going to cause any interference in the transducer or the wires coming from it. I can dunk both parts in rubberized coating or embed them in epoxy to prevent rust. Anybody out there have some insight for me?

[Mark Vickers]

Why not bolt it on?

You could also use a through hull transducer and just epoxy it to the floor.

[Lured In]

Amp...why not just epoxy on a sacrifical bracket to mount the transducer? I can't imagine a good marine epoxy not being able to hold a metal bracket to fiberglass? Perhaps its a little more permanent than the magnet idea, but probably also more reliable?

Just my $.02.

[Hoosier Daddy]

At one point I mounted mine on a long board and clamped the top of the board to the transom with a Kwikclamp when I wanted to use it. Only problem was the bouyancy of the board. You could do something similar with a chunk of aluminum or steel for less floating. Boat or glue the 'ducer to the bottom, clamp it to the transom at the top as needed. Nothing permanent, not through-hulls, no glue on your painstakingly refinished hull.

[Beefcake]

I have a suction cup transducer and haven't had problems with it when used properly. Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend who had just bought a new jet boat, and he sucked it through the pump somehow. Anyway, the suction cups are supposed to be good to 30 mph as long as you re-install them with fresh spit every time out (I'm pretty sure my buddy left it on there for about three trips in a row without checking it). I have used mine on my little aluminum boat many times with no trouble, and I'm pretty sure I go faster than you would with your drifter.

The only problem I see with the suction cup on a drift boat is where to mount it if using a kicker. I don't think electric motors disturb it much, but I wouldn't want to mount it too close to a gas kicker because of the cavitation. I have been told that they work just as well mounted on the side of the boat as the stern, which would solve this problem.

Anyway, I wouldn't be afraid of the suction cup, but I would probably do a through-hull if it were my newly restored boat.

[Montana]

If you have a thru - hull transducer , take some very fine sand paper and sand a spot on the floor so that it is smooth, splash a little water on the spot and place the transducer on top of the water, if you have enough water it will work, I have goofing around with the same problem , also try putting the transduce in a plastice baggie filled with water and seal it up as good as possible, if you get just right that works also.

[Silver Hilton]

I'd sure go through hull if I were you. If the transducer is outside it's going to get hammered.