Side Imaging On A Kayak 2024

flyfisher reply :

Anyone use side imaging on a kayak? I currently have a pirhanamax that i am contemplating upgrading and it seems like the SI systems are getting more reasonably priced. I am having some issues finding what the transducers look like but i was curious if anyone on here uses one on their kayak and if so, what type of mount?

Wayne P. reply :

A Side Imaging transducer is larger than what your Pmax has.

The Compact SI transducer is about 4" long and 2 3/4" wide.

The HDSI transducer is about 6" long and 3" wide.

The 300, 500, 600, 700 series and the current 800 series comes with the Compact SI transducer.

The older 800 series and 900 and 1100 series comes with the HDSI transducer.

You cannot use it for shoot-thru so you will have to invent some attachment system that allows the Side Imaging beams to "see" left and right.

The Side Imaging pulses "see" from the water's surface to past vertrical under the transducer on both sides.

At a minumum, the whole transducer has to be below the bottom of the hull or you will loose some range in shallow depths on the side the hull is on.

At the very front or back of your yak would be the best places. Also being centered on the hull, the rocking motion you do when paddling will not be as "disturbing" as if on the side.

Wayne P. reply :

This is the HDSI transducer on a Motor Guide trolling motor.

flyfisher reply :

thanks for the pics Wayne. I definitely could rig something up. I know they make transducer arms that you can fold up and out of the way when needed and they are pretty easy to mount on the back. Am i also correct in assuming that mounting it as close to the centerline of your boat will be the most beneficial from both a disturbance factor with paddling and from a reading perspective of what you are seeing?

Jrob78 reply :

I have the transducer for my HB 798 mounted on a Mad Frog Liberator Arm. It is in front of me but at arms length, so pretty much middle of the kayak. I don't have any trouble with disturbance from paddling or any issue with readings. I made a little plate out of a plastic cutting board and have my Ram Mount and Liberator Arm mounted to it. The whole set up slides in my track system so I can take it on and off easily. I don't have any pictures but I can take a couple tomorrow if you want to see.

Edit: I see that you said centerline. Mine is close to center length wise but off to one side of the boat.

flyfisher reply :

I have that same liberator arm that i used to use on another kayak i had. I am thinking I like that ram ball mount

http://www.rammount.com/NewProducts/ramtransducerarmmount/tabid/4459/

it is aluminum and you bend it to where you need it to be. I also know how stable the ram mounts are as opposed to the liberator mount. mine always seemed to move around on me......decisions decisions

Jrob78 reply :

I thought about getting one of those but my local shop didn't have any and I didn't want to wait. Ram makes good products and that is probably more versatile than the Liberator arms.

Wayne P. reply :

On 10/22/2014 at 7:51 AM, flyfisher said:
thanks for the pics Wayne. I definitely could rig something up. I know they make transducer arms that you can fold up and out of the way when needed and they are pretty easy to mount on the back. Am i also correct in assuming that mounting it as close to the centerline of your boat will be the most beneficial from both a disturbance factor with paddling and from a reading perspective of what you are seeing?

Being at the hull centerline will lessen the blurring of the Imaging from the boat rocking when you paddle.

The farther away from the fulcrum of the hull, the more the transducer will move in relation to the water's surface as you rock from side to side.

The Side Imaging will record the sturred up water that your paddle makes if the transducer is on the back. You will see each paddle stroke recorded. I don't have a screen shot of that, but I have seen one posted somewhere.

flyfisher reply :

that it is really interesting about the paddle stroke. would it make more sense to mount the transducer in front of the paddle stroke then if possible? I know on my boat i could mount something pretty much all the way up to the bow if needed.

Wayne P. reply :

On 10/22/2014 at 9:11 AM, flyfisher said:
that it is really interesting about the paddle stroke. would it make more sense to mount the transducer in front of the paddle stroke then if possible? I know on my boat i could mount something pretty much all the way up to the bow if needed.

It won't make any difference in bottom coverage, just some cloudy returns near the SI view centerline.

If you pass by the path of an outboard, it will record the water that the prop disturbed. It will look like a long cloud at the distance you are from that prop path.

Hanover_Yakker reply :

I know Chad has his Lowrance unit mounted on the RAM Transducer arm you mentioned on his Commander 140. He has his mounted forward of his reach on his paddle stroke. The other thing he does is rotates/pushes the arm toward the front of the hull so that the downward arm is flush against the side bringing the transducer closer to the hull centerline. I had the arm installed on my Revolution 13 and loved it for its purpose, but if you are moving about frequently spot hopping, it can make some noise depending on your paddling speed. Nothing that is too loud but something to keep in mind.

You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irUTRZ_IFfg

I'm contemplating adding a GEN2 HDS in the near future and will likely be doing something like that as well.

Hi Salenity reply :

Keep in mind if your not moving the SI won't work.

It's hard to paddle and fish at the same time.

flyfisher reply :

i get that,i would just want to have the information available so i can pick spots to hit.

flyfisher reply :

Anyone use this Finder? Seems like an old model and has a small screen but on a kayak, i am not sure how large of a screen i want to go with.

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Humminbird-398ci-Si-Gps-Fishfinder-Combo-W-Side-p/hum409380-1.htm?click=19

Wayne P. reply :

On 10/23/2014 at 4:18 AM, flyfisher said:

Anyone use this Finder? Seems like an old model and has a small screen but on a kayak, i am not sure how large of a screen i want to go with.

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Humminbird-398ci-Si-Gps-Fishfinder-Combo-W-Side-p/hum409380-1.htm?click=19

That is a fairly new model.

I would not recommend that one or the 698ci HD SI Combo. A narrow screen is what you do NOT want with a Side Imaging unit.

The size of displayed subjects with any of the side looking imaging products is based on the range setting.

That is why "BIGGER IS BETTER" applies to Side Imaging.

With all the different screen widths available, the wider the screen is, the larger and easier to see subjects will be using the same range setting.

If you are interested in the less expensive units SI, wait for the new Helix 5 to come out in December. That would be the most practical SI unit in the small screen versions.

buzzed bait reply :

flyfisher, i'm a moron about the fish finder itself so i'll let wayne continue to be the expert there. i've pm'd him on a couple occasions and received nothing but intelligent information in his responses.

as far as the mounting goes, i just wanted to offer my input. i have a ride 135 with the slide trax and my fishfinder is a Lowrance 4xHDI. i bought the yak attack cellblok and 3 RAM mounts and used that to mount the transducer arm, screen and it holds the battery internally. at first i was skeptical of the purchase, but afterwards i was very pleased!! kind of like what hanover says, i have mine as far forward in the trax as it will go to keep it in front of my paddle stroke as much as i can. i also have it bent/curving down as close to the hull as i can get to get it close to the center line. my favorite part of having the screen on the ram mount/arm is that i can position it any way i want and can even use it while standing up in the kayak which is really nice.

i considered a mount through the scupper holes, but considering the fact that i like to hit the river and didn't want a big hassle to remove it that plan didn't seem to fit the bill.

good luck either way.

flyfisher reply :

I have looked at the cell block for installation and it does seem like a nice and compact unit that is easily removed. I am most likely going to rig up something off the front thwart on my commander that will hold the battery. Most likely i will then mount the fish finder as close to me as possible without getting in the way of paddling and the transducer arm will also be up towards the front on the slide tax most likely....still trying to figure out if i want to upgrade or not though....i guess it will depend on how many bass pro gift cards i get for my birthday and christmas

Jrob78 reply :

One thing to keep in mind is you will need to be able to reach the transducer arm when you get in really shallow water to prevent damage. The transducer has to be at, or below the bottom of the boat for the si to get a clear view.

flyfisher reply :

getting to the front of my boat is no issue at all. i can and have walked to the front to fish before. Definitely one of the advantages to having an open cockpit hybrid style kayak

Wayne P. reply :

On 10/23/2014 at 6:53 AM, Jrob78 said:
One thing to keep in mind is you will need to be able to reach the transducer arm when you get in really shallow water to prevent damage. The transducer has to be at, or below the bottom of the boat for the si to get a clear view.

If the transducer is at the bow or stern, it just has to be submerged. It does not have to be at or below the hull bottom.

flyfisher reply :

On 10/23/2014 at 8:11 AM, Wayne P. said:
If the transducer is at the bow or stern, it just has to be submerged. It does not have to be at or below the hull bottom.

that is actually an interesting distinction but it does make sense. I had a transducer mount for the stern of my boat but it always seems to get hit by sticks and things that would work there way down the bottom of the kayak and slide onto the transducer. Never caused any damage because i made a spring loaded mount. I imagine these transducers are a bit more expensive so i will be much more careful with this one for sure.

Wayne P. reply :

On 10/23/2014 at 8:15 AM, flyfisher said:
that is actually an interesting distinction but it does make sense. I had a transducer mount for the stern of my boat but it always seems to get hit by sticks and things that would work there way down the bottom of the kayak and slide onto the transducer. Never caused any damage because i made a spring loaded mount. I imagine these transducers are a bit more expensive so i will be much more careful with this one for sure.

A typical fiberglass bass boat with a jackplate has the SI transducer attached to the jackplate which positions the transducer over a foot above the hull bottom. Those setups use another transducer as a shoot-thru for 2D sonar.

SI just has to "see" left and right and just needs enough unblocked water contact to do that.

MSRP of the Compact SI transducer is about $200 and MSRP of the HDSI transducer is about $270.

All the units we have been discussing come with the Compact SI transducer.

Jrob78 reply :

On 10/23/2014 at 8:11 AM, Wayne P. said:
If the transducer is at the bow or stern, it just has to be submerged. It does not have to be at or below the hull bottom.

Good point. Most gear tracks on kayaks are on the sides but I'm sure something could be rigged up pretty easily.

flyfisher reply :

On 10/23/2014 at 9:44 AM, Jrob78 said:
Good point. Most gear tracks on kayaks are on the sides but I'm sure something could be rigged up pretty easily.

I know yak attack makes a track system that can be mounted pretty much anywhere.

http://www.yakattack.us/category_s/1831.htm

i will have to really think it through though because i want to make sure the transducer is where it needs to be and also is out of the way for transport.....since i am not buying right this minute, i have some time at least

J Francho reply :

I would get in touch with Luther at Yakattack. If he doesn't have what you need, then he'll invent it.

buzzed bait reply :

On 10/24/2014 at 4:14 AM, J Francho said:
I would get in touch with Luther at Yakattack. If he doesn't have what you need, then he'll invent it.

their cellblok really is the ticket man.... awesome little product. they do make quality stuff, if you can afford it....

flyfisher reply :

I am not a fan of the cellblock actually. I like the idea and the concept but it seems really pricey for a box that basically holds the battery. I also wonder if the weight of the entire unit would be problematic since the battery, fish finder and transducer arm would all be on the same side of the kayak. I also am looking for something that I can leave on for transport and having it on the trax wouldn't work as i use a roof rack on my jeep. I am sure the weight piece really isn't a big deal but that's the kind of thing i think about lol.

Now what would be cool is to have a box of some sort mounted to the front thwart of my commander to hold the battery. Then i could leave it on and only remove it to charge.

J Francho reply :

The Cell Block is a cool product, though I'd rather the battery be somewhere else. Pretty sure he's got a TD arm that will fit his track system. The Mad Frog is a product I've evaluated, and it's pretty good, too.

flyfisher reply :

Yeah the Ram transducer arm fits in the trax system if you get one of his track balls. I use one of the track balls for my fish finder. I have one of the mad frog liberator mini ams and i could never seem to get it where it wouldn't move on me.

Hanover_Yakker reply :

If you rotate it forward flush with the hull, and snug it down with the RAM connector, it will stay put.

One option I have seen and was considering myself was the use of the RAM connector assembly and connecting the transducaer to one end and mounting it to to the hull via one of the GearTracs with a screball. When you want to transport it, just rotate it up and lock it down with the RAM connector.

I've seen it done on a Native Mariner, Ride 135 and a Pro Angler.

flyfisher reply :

On 10/24/2014 at 9:34 AM, Hanover_Yakker said:

If you rotate it forward flush with the hull, and snug it down with the RAM connector, it will stay put.

One option I have seen and was considering myself was the use of the RAM connector assembly and connecting the transducaer to one end and mounting it to to the hull via one of the GearTracs with a screball. When you want to transport it, just rotate it up and lock it down with the RAM connector.

I've seen it done on a Native Mariner, Ride 135 and a Pro Angler.

I tried that on my liberator and it didn't work, it may have been because i was using a mighty mount but not sure. As far as the ram mount goes, that is pretty much exactly what i was thinking of doing. i do like that you can really lock down any of the ram products if you so desire and for a transducer that would be pretty important. the other thing with the side mount as opposed to off the stern is you have to mount the transducer below the bottom of the boat which i guess isn't a big deal but the more i think about it, it seems like off the stern would be the best way to go. Luckily in the commander it is pretty easy to move around and i could move it as needed with little effort.

buzzed bait reply :

On 10/24/2014 at 4:56 AM, flyfisher said:

I am not a fan of the cellblock actually. I like the idea and the concept but it seems really pricey for a box that basically holds the battery. I also wonder if the weight of the entire unit would be problematic since the battery, fish finder and transducer arm would all be on the same side of the kayak. I also am looking for something that I can leave on for transport and having it on the trax wouldn't work as i use a roof rack on my jeep. I am sure the weight piece really isn't a big deal but that's the kind of thing i think about lol.

Now what would be cool is to have a box of some sort mounted to the front thwart of my commander to hold the battery. Then i could leave it on and only remove it to charge.

On 10/24/2014 at 4:58 AM, J Francho said:
The Cell Block is a cool product, though I'd rather the battery be somewhere else. Pretty sure he's got a TD arm that will fit his track system. The Mad Frog is a product I've evaluated, and it's pretty good, too.

it really is an awesome product and flyfisher, i wouldn't let the weight factor deter you. best part for me is with two wing nuts i can have the whole unit (screen, battery, transducer/transducer arm) off of my kayak and into the back seat of my truck. this would help you a TON with transporting on top of your jeep as described. helps me keep my mind at ease when i have my kayak in the back of the truck overnight or stopped somewhere on the road. i dont' have to worry about any theft or damage from sitting out in the open.

j, i thought the same about the battery at first until i realized just how compact the whole unit is.

i have no doubt that someone with more engineering skills than i could come up with an equal or better way of mounting. but for me, this thing just meets all the needs.

good luck to you, hope you get it rigged up just the way you want it.

carlm01 reply :

This is my set up on my pontoon boat . I'm replacing the lowrance with a new Helix 5 but you can see that it is portable and works very well...

EdRitchie reply :

What don't you like about your Lowrance? Just asking,thinking of getting one.

carlm01 reply :

It's not that I dislike my lowrance ,I just find the hummingbird to be more user friendly ...

12920

Side Imaging On A Kayak 2024

related Marine Electronics topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Marine Electronics topic