DIY transducer scupper with hot water? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

sculpins4bait · 06-11-2018, 11:22 AM

I have a tarpon 160i and love the fast sleek hull, and I prefer to have my transducer in the water. Any of you guys think it’s possible to heat the scupper area and create an indentation for my ducer so that it doesn’t create as much drag? I know the hot water method can work for dents and deformations but not sure about the scupper area with the rigid tube going through the yak and how hard that would be. Should I just forget about this idea? Pretty nice out there lately have fun

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goldenglory18 · 06-11-2018, 12:14 PM

I think there are other alternatives out there that are a better/safer way about it.

Do you have a rudder? If not, my suggestion would be a rear keel DIY setup. I had that on my old Ride (original design close to the Pescador) and it was fantastic...

makobob · 06-11-2018, 12:30 PM

Look at the Berley Pro transducer mount, it will reduce
drag and protect your transducer at the same time.

Iceman · 06-11-2018, 12:47 PM

I would not attempt to manipulate the area to accommodate a transducer

Fiskadoro · 06-11-2018, 02:45 PM

I did this with an old Fish and Dive I use for hoop netting. I used a heat gun not hot water. Mine has worked fine, with no issues but it's not an easy thing to do, and I would not recommend it. The deal is it's very easy to make the plastic too thin by stretching it to much, and you cant easily add reinforcement. If you are set on trying this I can take some pics of mine and tell you what I did to make it seaworthy, but once again I would not recommend it.

I mounted inset transducers in four kayaks before the commercial ones were available, using four different methods. They all worked but this was probably the hardest way to do it.

Fiskadoro · 06-11-2018, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

I would not attempt to manipulate the area to accommodate a transducer

Where's the like button? Yeah Andy knows. Scuppers perform both a utilitarian and structural function. You mess with them it's a real can of worms.

sculpins4bait · 06-11-2018, 05:18 PM

ok just as I suspected, thanks everyone for the advice. I didnt wanna butcher my sweet ride anyways. I think ill just get creative with hydrodynamic goop sculpting.

acorad · 06-12-2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Do you have a rudder? If not, my suggestion would be a rear keel DIY setup. I had that on my old Ride (original design close to the Pescador) and it was fantastic...

These sound interesting, what are the rudder and keel options? Do you haver any photos?

Andy

Saba Slayer · 06-12-2018, 09:31 AM

It's tough to get the kelp and eel Grass off of the transducer when it's mounted way back there...
This method might work in fresh water but no so much out on the Big Pond...
Check with Andy...he had an over the side mount on his kayak at the tourney.
There is nothing wrong with mounting inside the yak and shooting your sonar through the plastic. You don't get temp readings but at least you aren't cleaning crap off your transducer all the time.

acorad · 06-12-2018, 09:47 AM

Thanks Jim, that makes sense.

Andy

Hunters Pa · 06-13-2018, 08:45 AM

Hey Jim (Day), do you still have the post on here somewhere that has the mount using neoprene and aluminum plate that puts the ducer in direct contact with the water? My post was on Jason's old site and the forums are no longer accessible. I know it sparked a lot of spirited conversation, but it worked very well for me and I would not be averse to doing it again.

goldenglory18 · 06-13-2018, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acorad

These sound interesting, what are the rudder and keel options? Do you haver any photos?

Andy

http://palmettokayakfishing.blogspot...-for-2012.html

As Jim said, its not ideal for heavy kelp or eel grass, but for everything else it would work just fine.

06-11-2018, 11:22 AM	#1
sculpins4bait Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: SD Posts: 104	DIY transducer scupper with hot water? I have a tarpon 160i and love the fast sleek hull, and I prefer to have my transducer in the water. Any of you guys think it’s possible to heat the scupper area and create an indentation for my ducer so that it doesn’t create as much drag? I know the hot water method can work for dents and deformations but not sure about the scupper area with the rigid tube going through the yak and how hard that would be. Should I just forget about this idea? Pretty nice out there lately have fun Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06-11-2018, 12:30 PM	#3
makobob Baitless on Baja Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vista California, Gonzaga, San Quintin, Asuncion, Mag Bay Posts: 4,250	Look at the Berley Pro transducer mount, it will reduce drag and protect your transducer at the same time. __________________ http://www.mako-ville.com Home 760-630-4470 Cell 760-520-2514 YES YOU CAN

06-11-2018, 12:47 PM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I would not attempt to manipulate the area to accommodate a transducer __________________

06-12-2018, 09:31 AM	#9
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	Rudder mount It's tough to get the kelp and eel Grass off of the transducer when it's mounted way back there... This method might work in fresh water but no so much out on the Big Pond... Check with Andy...he had an over the side mount on his kayak at the tourney. There is nothing wrong with mounting inside the yak and shooting your sonar through the plastic. You don't get temp readings but at least you aren't cleaning crap off your transducer all the time. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

06-11-2018, 12:14 PM	#2
goldenglory18 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Seattle Area Posts: 861	I think there are other alternatives out there that are a better/safer way about it. Do you have a rudder? If not, my suggestion would be a rear keel DIY setup. I had that on my old Ride (original design close to the Pescador) and it was fantastic...

06-11-2018, 02:45 PM	#5
Fiskadoro ....... Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,509	I did this with an old Fish and Dive I use for hoop netting. I used a heat gun not hot water. Mine has worked fine, with no issues but it's not an easy thing to do, and I would not recommend it. The deal is it's very easy to make the plastic too thin by stretching it to much, and you cant easily add reinforcement. If you are set on trying this I can take some pics of mine and tell you what I did to make it seaworthy, but once again I would not recommend it. I mounted inset transducers in four kayaks before the commercial ones were available, using four different methods. They all worked but this was probably the hardest way to do it.

06-11-2018, 05:18 PM	#7
sculpins4bait Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: SD Posts: 104	ok just as I suspected, thanks everyone for the advice. I didnt wanna butcher my sweet ride anyways. I think ill just get creative with hydrodynamic goop sculpting.

06-12-2018, 09:47 AM	#10
acorad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Agoura Hills Posts: 166	Thanks Jim, that makes sense. Andy

06-13-2018, 08:45 AM	#11
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Hey Jim (Day), do you still have the post on here somewhere that has the mount using neoprene and aluminum plate that puts the ducer in direct contact with the water? My post was on Jason's old site and the forums are no longer accessible. I know it sparked a lot of spirited conversation, but it worked very well for me and I would not be averse to doing it again.