FF transducer install location?

I'll be getting a 3rd replacement OB hull here shortly, (This should be the last!) and in my last 2 hulls I've always placed my FF transducer right below my seat. Centered, as best I could get it. My thinking on this was I wanted to have a visual of what was directly beneath me. Method of installing transducer is not an issue I have that down!
Now, I'm having 2nd thoughts about this location. I know in PB's the transducer is usually placed at the stern, externally, and on some bass boats they can be mounted to the front trolling motor.

  Having it up front in the hull might be better, but I've never glued one down up in the front. (Naval ships have their sonar domes up front,granted the fish their looking for are slightly bigger)
  Installing it at the back, say, external off the rudder, Transducer will be in the water,which would be a good thing,  but won't display fish or structure until after after I pass over it. which would be to late.

OK the question: What is everyons thoughts on the proper placement of the transducer? Front, middle or back (Bow, Amidships, Aft for you old salts)

I'm leaning for a middle install or possibly an up front install. (In front of drive fins, up in front hatch)
Thanks
Troy

I have a Tarpon 120, and I installed my transducer at the bow.  I just gooped it in.  I haven't had any major problems yet.  Like you said, if it is at the stern, you will have to go back to structure.  With the manueverability of a kayak, I don't see that being that big of a deal either, in my opinion.  Any experts out there correct me if I am wrong, but I think the sonar will take readings from a larger area anyway, depending on depth.

Troy, I placed my transducer in front of the drive but behind the slot for the mast - so I guess mid to front.  I feel like it is kind of "protected" from things shifting around in the hull.  In addition, when stowing rods, the drive and mast protect the puck from rod tips.  That and I was afraid if I placed it behind the drive, there might be interference from turbulance, but I guess you've disproved that fear.

I wasn't concerned about the visual of what was directly underneath me.  Most of my fishing is trolling and since my lure is behind the boat, puck placement didn't matter.  That and even if you are vertical jigging for rockfish or whatever, your bait or lure isn't directly underneath you.  If anything your rod tip is off center towards the bow.

Michael

Mine is in the middle, right under my butt, because it was easy to get to, but still out of the way. Xfactor...............

CHEERS!

Even in very calm water on a still day I would think the yak would drift fast enough to make placement irrelevant in seeing what's directly under you.  Especially with the cone shaped sonar view and front to middle placement is maybe 5 ft apart? 

With all the crap I stow below deck, I installed mine so that is was the most protected (from a sliding weight belt), (experience).

dale

On my Outback, transducer is mounted right in front of the mast holder and my battery box in front of that.  All the extra cable is zip tied to the mast holder.  I would think that if it were mounted aft of the flippers, you would pick up turbulence.

Thanks all.
  Turbulence from the drive was never a problem, never displayed on the FF display.  I like the idea of tying extra cable up to the sail mast.  Previously, my extra cable was wound up in a bunch and cable tied near the transducer. Gonna do things differently with this hull!
   With my last OB, I glued 1 side of some Velcro strip to the flat gunwale surface inside the hull and the other side of Velcro to my battery box.  I kept my battery up on the Velcro on the right side.  This I think threw off the balance of the hull as it would sit leaning to that side.  (Maybe this explains why my OB would not drift straight?)
  In my new OB I'll be positioning the battery box along the centerline somewhere out of the way.

Troy

Man all this talk about rigging is making me want to complete my "pimping article."

Troy, what kind of battery do you have?  I have the "new school power supply" that is extremely light.  In fact it is so light that I too used velcro to secure it.  However not against the side wall as it sounds like you've done.  I secured mine inside the front hatch on the top almost directly above the transducer.  Because it is up and out of the way, I don't worry about water (even though it is watertight in a pelican box), or it getting in the way of other stuff stored inside the hull.

Just my $0.02

Michael

I'm using small 5ah gel out of an old rechargeable hand held spotlight.  I tore the lamp apart when it stopped working and kept the battery & charger for it. (It was a cheapy costco lamp) It works nicely, and is in a pelican case just large enough for the battery. It's probably 1-2lbs in weight.

Troy

I use the pool noodle donut and new school power supply.I keep the extra cable and power supply in a small dry bag which wedges nicely between the hull and the scupper hole.
The donut is located so that it is easy to get to but also in a spot of the kayak which the bottom will always be in the water. You definitely don't want to hit a wave or wake and have the sonar lose contact with the water.

Another consideration: choose a place where you not only can install it easily, but can get at to work away at the old Goop during a reinstall - for my P15, straight down from the 6" center hatch gives just enough room.

  I got a call from my local dealer and my replcaement hull will be delivered to him Wed 20th.  Before I got his cal though I had already stripped my hull of the goodies I had installed, anchore trolly, ff mount, transducer, an extra cleat, and bungi hold downs.  I'm writting off the stickers I had, as I'm sure I have duplicates for most.  I don't have the SOLAS tape though, and the strips I put on the hull are not comming off well.  I'll order another 4 foot strip and go to town again.
  As I removed my transducer, I was pleased to see in the goob of silicon, no air bubbles or pockets.  The surface of the silicon goob still stuck on trasnducer, is flat and smooth!


Troy

It just doesn't make any difference where you put it. If your trolling it will be in front of your fishing line and you can turn and drag over it. If you are drifting you can adjust your position to get over it with your line. If your sturgeon fishing then you will see the sturgeon then paddle back to where you put the anchor in.

The only minor difference in placing would be that a front mounted transducer will occasionally pop out of the water on a somewhat steep swell or wave. If conditions get bad enough for that to happen you most likely will have other concerns.

I always thought it would be neat to have a transducer mounted to a pole that you could unattach and point around by hand to look for fish.