fish finder for kayaks

[NJfishingMike]

Anyone know of a good, reliable, not to expensive fish finder for a kayak?

[Skunk City]

How much are you looking to spend?

[Jetdrive]

I have a Lowrance m56 GPS/Fishfinder that I used in my Hobie Fisherman Kayak. Great little fishfinder that would find the bait and thus the fish and always get me home. $100 and its yours. I had to give up the kayak.

http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67855

[MikeNJ]

I have a Humminbird PiranhaMAX and so far no complaints. Install was straightforward. I think they are a decent unit for kayaks in the 100 dollar price range.

[Skunk City]

I've got the Humminbird 170 on my kayak and it does the job. Doesn't have the features of the mid/high end FF's out there, but accurately gives me depth, bottom contour, and water temperature. The one spring day last year that I used it to follow around a school of Crappies in 35ft. of water was well worth the money spent. They retail for less than $150 and install is simple.

[Fishinfire]

I picked up this Lowrance X-4 at Dicks for 80 bucks. Built the mounting system for about 25 bucks using 1/2" PVC and a Scotty mount. The transducer mount swings up for transport (or in case it hits something underwater). I power it using 8 AA batteries in a battery holder from Radio Shack inside a single gang pvc receptacle box with a typical 9 volt type plug. (it pays to be handy and good with wiring!)




http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/FishinFire/Mobile%20Uploads/collage_20140528210519540_zps781eee1b.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/FishinFire/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140412_161235_068_zps4daec0ff.jpg

[dboyd101]

I have an elite 4x dsi. Love live live it, but have never used anything else.. Have it on my Pa12 and mounting couldn't have been easier.

[CMJeepster]

I just installed a Humminbird Fishing Buddy 140c on my kayak. http://www.humminbird.com/Products/140c-Fishin-Buddy/ I like the no-nonsense, self-contained unit. So far it works for what I used it for which is small to medium sized freshwater bodies. I plan to test it in the back bays in saltwater in a few weeks.

[billfish16]

Fishinfire,

Awesome set up!!!! Just what I am looking for. Is the oblong disc between the base of the FF and the 1/2" PVC a Scotty mount? I looked on Scotty's website and did not see it. The universal mount they show is rectangular. Maybe they changed the design?

Thank you,

Bill

[QUOTE=Fishinfire;359117]I picked up this Lowrance X-4 at Dicks for 80 bucks. Built the mounting system for about 25 bucks using 1/2" PVC and a Scotty mount. The transducer mount swings up for transport (or in case it hits something underwater). I power it using 8 AA batteries in a battery holder from Radio Shack inside a single gang pvc receptacle box with a typical 9 volt type plug. (it pays to be handy and good with wiring!)

[acabtp]

that mount w/ the scotty is pretty slick, but you can also just mount the transducer inside the kayak, so you don't have anything sticking out the side down into the water. the sonar works just fine through the kayak hull and then you never have to worry about hanging it up on something.

you use either a transducer set up for a through hull mounting, or a standard transducer in a cradle. i'll take a couple pictures of the set up later.

[Fishinfire]

Bill,

Everything under the FF base is pvc. The base is mounted to a round 4" cover for an electrical box which is epoxied and screwed to half of a pvc "universal" fitting.

ACABTP,

The reason I did not mount the transducer inside the hull is due to the fact that I would not be able to read water temp. The "arm" that the transducer is on is not glued so if it does hit something it just pushes out of the way. I also keep it swung up during entry and exit from the water.

Thanks for the compliments on my handy work. PVC is a kayakers best affordable friend. Currently working on a rod/kayak transport system for my pick up.

[acabtp]

The reason I did not mount the transducer inside the hull is due to the fact that I would not be able to read water temp.
ahh, yes, very true... that is a downside of internal mounting

leaving it unglued so it can pivot if needed is a good solution, well played

[acabtp]

for anyone who might be interested, here are the pics of how to set up a standard transducer for internal mounting in a kayak

make a cradle for the transducer out of closed cell foam with a hole cut out that the transducer fits snugly into. anti-fatigue mats from home depot are a good source for the foam. silicone or 5200 that in place on the bottom of the inside of the kayak.
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/kayak_ff_cradle.jpg

then, to use it, fill the hole in the piece of foam with water and stick the transducer in it. the water is important because it works to conduct the transducer signal through the hull. the water doesn't evaporate because there should be a good seal between the foam and the transducer.
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/kayak_ff_installed.jpg

that's it; pretty simple, works great. these pictures are of the mount that KFS put on my neighbor's hobie sit on top, but you can use the same method for any kayak, sit in or sit on top.