Champion Boat transducer skimmer question

DeltaBound · Post by **DeltaBound** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:15 am

I bought an Elite 7 HDI Lowrance unit which has a Skimmer Transducer with downscan & 2D capabilities. I have a Champion 198. Where would a good location be to install the transducer on the transom? I don't really want to epoxy the transducer inside the bilge area because you won't get good readings with this unit from what I hear. The two obvious areas would be Just to the right of the drain plug area or on the very back where the jack plate is mounted. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

dwise · Post by **dwise** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 5:36 am

Mine is installed at the bottom of the transom, starboard side, NOT where the drain plug and holes are, but on the transom itself. I'm sorry but I don't keep my boat at my house, so it's hard for me to remember to take a picture for you.

DeltaBound · Post by **DeltaBound** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:20 pm

Thanks Dwise! I appreciate it......

dwise · Post by **dwise** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 5:55 pm

Here is a diagram I drew for you.

: Diagram.JPG (7.97 KiB) Viewed 5802 times

DeltaBound · Post by **DeltaBound** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 5:59 am

Much Appreciated Dwise... Great visual!

Champion Jon · Post by **Champion Jon** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:08 am

You may also want to check out a website called bass boat central (bbc) they have a champion boats specific forum. Someone will get you a pic or you could probably search and find it there.

Good luck!

bobbie smyth · Post by **bobbie smyth** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 6:05 pm

deltabound,
The diagram by dwise has the transducer where you DO NOT want it located.

go to Lowrance.com
click on- support
click on- product manuals
click on- fishfiners
go to bottom of page
click on- elite-5x dsi (all skimmer transducers mount the same.)
click on- sonar and dsi installation manual

always remember, the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.

dwise · Post by **dwise** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 8:32 pm

bobbie smyth wrote:deltabound,
The diagram by dwise has the transducer where you DO NOT want it located.

go to Lowrance.com
click on- support
click on- product manuals
click on- fishfiners
go to bottom of page
click on- elite-5x dsi (all skimmer transducers mount the same.)
click on- sonar and dsi installation manual

always remember, the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.

My unit works perfectly where the transducer is installed, just like the diagram I created.
It was installed by a reputable marine repair shop.

bobbie smyth · Post by **bobbie smyth** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:00 pm

As there are no laws against stupidity, there are no rules against bad information on this forum.

A skimmer transducer is designed to read at high speeds. To do this, it has to be just below the surface of
the water at ALL times. If the boat in your diagram,the diagram you created all by your self, was to go on
plane, the transducer would no longer be in the water. Someone who has to pay a boat repair shop to in-
stall his own transducer maybe shouldn't be giving advice.

dwise · Post by **dwise** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:36 am

bobbie smyth wrote:As there are no laws against stupidity, there are no rules against bad information on this forum.

A skimmer transducer is designed to read at high speeds. To do this, it has to be just below the surface of
the water at ALL times. If the boat in your diagram,the diagram you created all by your self, was to go on
plane, the transducer would no longer be in the water. Someone who has to pay a boat repair shop to install his own transducer maybe shouldn't be giving advice.

Okay, I guess I'm stupid for trying to help. Geeshh...maybe someone with more knowledge should have stepped up to help this man.

My transducer is under the water, even on plane. As for giving advice, he asked a question, I replied. No one else was replying so I did, as I have a Champion and I have the Elite 7 HDI that works great with the location of the transducer. I drew that diagram per his request to give him an idea of where to install his transducer. It was not to scale.

And for your information I have to pay someone to install my stuff because 1) I don't have the skills or the strength to install a lot of things myself, and 2) I am 62 years old, a woman, and I can no longer do all the things myself that are needed on my boat.

coachkevm · Post by **coachkevm** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:53 am

I agree with Darlene....no one was giving any advice and I know Darlene....she is always willing to help out in any way she can and is a great person!! Why would ANYBODY get on a forum and say the things like what you did bobbie smyth?? I fish in the same club she does and know for a fact that the transducer is always under water and I also am a boat inspector at Castaic and have seen the transducer in the place like Darlene drew in the diagram on a bunch of boats. Someone asked for some advice and I don't think everyone that responds to posts on here are "experts" on things when they reply...they are fishermen (or women) that love the sport and want to help others that have the same experience and passion for this great sport!!!!!!! Thanks Dar for always trying to promote this great sport and for always wanting to help others out!!!

DL · Post by DL » Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:49 pm

bobbie smyth wrote:As there are no laws against stupidity, there are no rules against bad information on this forum.

A skimmer transducer is designed to read at high speeds. To do this, it has to be just below the surface of
the water at ALL times. If the boat in your diagram,the diagram you created all by your self, was to go on
plane, the transducer would no longer be in the water. Someone who has to pay a boat repair shop to in-
stall his own transducer maybe shouldn't be giving advice.

Really?

I am beginning to rethink the value of freedom of speech.

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:07 pm

bobbie smyth wrote: Someone who has to pay a boat repair shop to in-
stall his own transducer maybe shouldn't be giving advice.

"Her" own. She's cool people

DAKINE198 · Post by **DAKINE198** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:44 pm

You go GIRL!!!!!!
Pretty nifty illustration. I dont think its exactly to propotion of your transom, but a cool illustration none the less.
This is kinda the reason I stopped going fishing because of People like Mr. Smyth.
I would venture to say that Mr. Smyth doesnt even own a boat. Thats why you, Mr Smyth, direct Deltabound to the Lowrance website.
Everyone has their preference of where and how they have a Transducer setup, some work better than others.
And before you start adding your 2 cents Mr. Smyth, I run HDS8 Gen2 on the bow and HDS7 Gen2 at the Helm and an HDS5 Insight Gen1 on the console all networked thru my LLS-1. The HDS8 transducer runs via a Fortrex 101 US2 transducer. The HDS5 has a transducer mounted in the hull of my boat. And my HDS7 runs the LSS-1 transducer under my jackplate. My LSS-1 transducer will not run when I am on plane, but thats okay. I only use it to pinpoint structure at idle or cruise.

You know what..... Keep doing what your doing Darlene.....Good Job....
As for me Im going to go play some PAINTBALL!!!

Rick G · Post by **Rick G** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:12 pm

For what its worth the place to install ANY skimmer xducer is down by the drain plug, especially on a Champion. You want the center of your cone angle the transducer sends to be in the center of you boat not off to the side. In the diagram from the earlier post, there is a chance of alot of spray when turning and all the extra cable exposed to brush ect is a torn or damaged transducer waiting to happen. Rick G.

dwise · Post by **dwise** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 2:26 pm

Rick G wrote:For what its worth the place to install ANY skimmer xducer is down by the drain plug, especially on a Champion. You want the center of your cone angle the transducer sends to be in the center of you boat not off to the side. In the diagram from the earlier post, there is a chance of alot of spray when turning and all the extra cable exposed to brush ect is a torn or damaged transducer waiting to happen. Rick G.

Finally, someone who knows has replied to this man's question.

I'm leaving my transducer where it is, cuz it's working just fine, and I don't want to drill anymore holes in my boat. The placement of my transducer is where my old transducer was, so I told the boat repair place to install the new one there so there wouldn't be any new holes.

See you in November, Rick!