Fish Finder question again....

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:41 pm

I bought the fish finder I wanted, but can anyone let me know if it's easy to install myself? I know a guy who will do it for $75.00 hr. If it's easy enough, I would like to save money and do it myself. It would be a console mounted/transom transd. Any feedback would be appreciated...again.

Thanks!

Oldschool · Post by **Oldschool** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:55 pm

If you have a unit already mounted and up grading, switches and wiring in place, the installation isn't too difficult. You said a transum mounted skimmer TD, not a through hull puck TD? and water temp probe?
You might want to give Ron Miller a call; 818/324.8735, or 598.0737 and ask what his price is to install your unit at your home.

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:25 pm

Be careful in the placement of the transducer. It is the one thing that can be easily screwed up. If not properly placed you will get interference from the propwash. chines, etc. Other than that, It is just power and ground for wiring. A little finish work in mounting the unit. The transducer is the critical part of the job. Maybe find somebody with the same unit on the same boat?

ash · Post by **ash** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:12 am

Ralph,

You can typically rig the power by splicing to the current power connection. As for fishing the transducer cable from the bilge to the con, you need a fish tape and some patience in guiding the cable through.

I would run all of the cables myself then take the boat down to a dealership and have them mount the ducer, should then only cost you about $50.00 that way if there is any air bubbles or issues with the way the ducer was mounted you can go back to the shop that did the install

macinckirk · Post by **macinckirk** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:09 am

The whole deal is a walk in the park, just take your time and it should only that a few hrs

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:19 am

ash wrote:I would run all of the cables myself then take the boat down to a dealership and have them mount the ducer

+1. If your anywhere in the area, call Anglers and talk to Jordan, and see if they can fit you in... they are very proficient with 'ducer installations and will do it right for a very reasonable charge.

Roger

Brian D. · Post by **Brian D.** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:06 am

Check out BBC for pics of User installs. It may give you ideas for mounting and rigging.

http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=4907

macinckirk · Post by **macinckirk** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:22 am

Brian D. wrote:Check out BBC for pics of User installs. It may give you ideas for mounting and rigging.

http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=4907

That Place ROCKS

Oldschool · Post by **Oldschool** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:39 pm

Ralph,
I don't know anything about your boat, however you need a switched 40 to 50 amp breaker to isolate your electronics from the cranking battery when charging the battery. Your electronics run off the 12V cranking battery circuit and should have a separate switch to for the electronics. The charging system can toast your sonar/GPS head unit.
As noted, if you hull mount the transducer, bubbles in the expoxy affects the run signals.
What may appear like a simple do it yourself project can be ugly if you do not have any prior experience. That is why I suggest a local pro to set up your unit. I'm sure Angler's has good technical staff, however they are a 150 mile round trip from Oxnard area and gas and time is more than the installation cost.
Tom

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:10 am

If you decide to do it yourself, make sure you have all your batteries disconnected before you start fooling around down there.
Electronics don't like short circuts.