Downscan/sidescan transducer location

[natchomamma]

I'm upgrading my electronics. Lowrance Elite Ti2 12 at the console with Active 3 in 1 transducer.

Where is the best place to put that transducer on my boat? Should I put it on the very bottom where the live well discharge and drain plug is located? It will be low enough the engine will not interfere.

[Dan21XRS]

Have a jackplate???... If so, check with Transducer Shield and Saver... Sorta pricey but well worth it... Dan

https://www.transducershieldandsaver.com/

[grout-scout]

You don’t plan on this thing reading at higher speeds do you?

[natchomamma]

You don’t plan on this thing reading at higher speeds do you?

i don’t have a jack plate.

The new active 3 in 1 has down/side scan and 2d all built it. Would prefer 2d to read at say 30 mph.

[Tx Champ]

That transducer needs to be in the water to get 2d, so I would recommend a Stern Saver and put it down on the step.

http://sternsaver.com/

[Lea]

Reggie...Refresh me....what is a Stern Saver and what do you mean by "down on the step"? I know this info has been here before, but searching with this dial-up is darned near impossible. Thanks!!

[natchomamma]

That transducer needs to be in the water to get 2d, so I would recommend a Stern Saver and put it down on the step.

http://sternsaver.com/

is that down low where the drain plug is?

[Tx Champ]

is that down low where the drain plug is?

Yes ... and you might could find a spot on the transom where you could get it low enough. Lea, it is a poly block that glues to the hull to screw the transducer mount to without breaching the hull.

[natchomamma]

I put a block here for my active 3 in1 transducer. This should be a good spot right?

[Tx Champ]

[natchomamma]

Got it installed. Hopefully will get to test it this weekend.

[Blassiter]

need to angle it upward (rear high) so that when the boat is in the water, the transducer is sitting level with the lake bottom. That's for the best image quality.
Take a small 2' level, some change and sit it on top of the cap and level it up. Trailer the boat, place the same amount of change under the level, then adjust the boat with the front jack until the bubble shows level. Now level the transducer using a small non magnetized torpedo level. This was on youtube and I did the same process and it greatly improved my Lowrance hds image quality.
hope this helps a little. my transducer was mounted in the middle of the underside of the jackplate.

[smokewagon]

i don’t have a jack plate.

The new active 3 in 1 has down/side scan and 2d all built it. Would prefer 2d to read at say 30 mph.

I would advise not using the 3 in 1 for 2d. It would have to be positioned slightly under the keel (unprotected) for good clean water and no interference from turbulence. The side/down scan transducers are delicate and expensive. Use a shoot through the hull 2d transducer for running on plane. No worries about hitting it and will pick up depths at any speed. Mount the 3 in 1 with the sternsaver (no drilling holes in transom) as Tx Champ suggests. Mount it high enough above the keel to protect it on plane and low enough so it's below the water line at idle speeds.

[Glenn_S]

I would advise not using the 3 in 1 for 2d. It would have to be positioned slightly under the keel (unprotected) for good clean water and no interference from turbulence. The side/down scan transducers are delicate and expensive. Use a shoot through the hull 2d transducer for running on plane. No worries about hitting it and will pick up depths at any speed. Mount the 3 in 1 with the sternsaver (no drilling holes in transom) as Tx Champ suggests. Mount it high enough above the keel to protect it on plane and low enough so it's below the water line at idle speeds.

And how do you switch between the two transducers? Y cable? Yes, I can be dense...

[smokewagon]

And how do you switch between the two transducers? Y cable? Yes, I can be dense...

My shoot through 2-D transducer plugs into the sonar connection in the back of the unit and the 3-D,side, and down transducer plugs into the 3-D module. An ethernet cable goes from my 3-D module and plugs into the ethernet connection in the back of the unit.

[Ed R]

The Ti units are not Ethernet compatible, no Ethernet plug on the back of the units. The new Ti2 can be had with or with out transducers. The 3 in 1 plugs directly into the back of the unit. You can buy the 3 in 1 and a 2D with a (Y) splitter cable, Ti2 model #14662-001. I was just reading up on them, so, also pretty cool the Ti2 can share sonar, waypoints, route data info with other Ti2s by wireless connectivity. Also supports N2K for engine data.


Natchomamma did you get the 3-1 out for a test run? How did it do?