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Anyone have any experience using the SternMate transducer mount? I'm installing my new Garmin 541S on my new to me 2004 Alert 17. I don't want to drill holes, and I've searched on here and seen all the suggestions of mounting the transducer on a piece of starboard, but thought the SternMate might look more professional, and give me more options for adjusting.
Also, I'm more confused now than ever after doing a search on transducer location. According to the owner's manual the transducer should be on the port side above the inverted "V", (my hull is actually a pre 2002 Montauk). I'm confused, since I would think that area would produce turbulance, as it mentions not to install near strakes, etc. Since my swim platform/ladder is on the port side, I would also prefer to mount the transducer on the starboard side. I'm sure there are many of you who have a 17' Montauk hull 1976-2002 that could shed some light on optimum transducer location.
LIL GRUMP wrote:
Anyone have any experience using the SternMate transducer mount? I'm installing my new Garmin 541S on my new to me 2004 Alert 17. I don't want to drill holes, and I've searched on here and seen all the suggestions of mounting the transducer on a piece of starboard, but thought the SternMate might look more professional, and give me more options for adjusting.
Also, I'm more confused now than ever after doing a search on transducer location. According to the owner's manual the transducer should be on the port side above the inverted "V", (my hull is actually a pre 2002 Montauk). I'm confused, since I would think that area would produce turbulance, as it mentions not to install near strakes, etc. Since my swim platform/ladder is on the port side, I would also prefer to mount the transducer on the starboard side. I'm sure there are many of you who have a 17' Montauk hull 1976-2002 that could shed some light on optimum transducer location.
The preferred location to mount a transducer on the transom of your boat or virtually any I/O or an O/B, is aft of an unobstructed slipstream fore of the location and port or starboard a couple of inches aside of a through hull fitting. Also, mounting it too far outboard could result in losing contact with the water in a bank. Generally, do not mount any further port or starboard from center than 3/4 of the way outward. The 15" "rule" from center came about many years ago when transducers were first mounted on inboards when the water was jetted aft into the transducer. The only concern today inside of that 15" window might be a transducer set so low that it could compromise the water flow by displacing it to the lower unit intakes. 6" minimum port or starboard of center on any boat should be adequate. With those in mind, it pretty much boils down to where you prefer it to be mounted. How you might mount your transducer can more often be an issue more so than where.
Ex: 2 identical boats, motors, electronics mounted exactly alike could very well result in soundings operating much differently from one another. There are reasons seldom addressed regarding this phenomenon and frequent occurrence.
