Eagle Transducer Scupper Hole Installation

Have had some problems lately getting my shoot-through installations to last for longer than a year. May have something to do with the fact that I toss my kayak over fences and drop it down cliffs from time to time.   I decided to go with a scupper hole installation. Only one problem, the transducer scupper hole cut out on my Prowler 15, is designed for a Humminbird and I have an Eagle 250. This has always bugged me about OK, just like the I Phone and ATT thing. After some thought and engineering I came up with a solution.

I started with a transducer I salvaged from another yak. It was installed with a yellow colored marine epoxy which I had to sand off. Ended up looking pretty ghetto and reminded me of NB's drifter.   Next I used a Dremel to cut the stem of transducer down so it would fit inside a 1/2" PVC pipe. Then I mounted the transducer to the PVC pipe with two stainless steel screws. Next I drilled a 3/4" hole in the top of a PVC "T" connector and threaded the wire through. Then I glued the transducer and T connector to the yak with marine goop and screwed a stainless steel screw through the connection to hold the whole unit together. Routed the wire through the hull and it was ready for a field test.

Here is where things get funny.   I head over to Shadow Cliffs to test the installation. Brought a couple of rods rigged with Rapala J7's but no net, boga grip or ice chest because I was going to CNR anything I caught. Get on the water around 10 AM and trolled around for a couple of hours for nada and the sonar was working great. The signal was unbelievable!!! On my hail Mary troll, I turn back to the ramp around 1130, my 6 pound rod with my Brook trout J7 goes off like I had an Albacore on. ZZZZZZZZZZZ goes on for a few minutes. After a 15 minute battle, I get the fish to the boat and it was as expected, a giant tailess mutant trout in the 5-7# class. My wife doesn't like the big trout and I don't like them either as far as eating so I was determined to release him but wanted my Rapala back. I thumbed the lower jaw and with the fish in the water began to work the rear treble hook out of the corner of the jaw with my pliers. All of a sudden the fish goes crazy and drives the front treble into my hand. Luckily the barb didn't go in too deep and I was able to pull it out without crying.   At this point I thought it best to concede the rapala and cut the line and watched him swim away with my rapala.   Headed home to watch the Super Bowl. Life is good.

Scott

Very Nice like the thinking out side the BOX

What, not pictures of the fish?

Nice work on the ingenious invention.

Nice, I have been having been loosing a lot of sensitivity lately with my thru hull.  Likely the goop seperating from the summer heat.  I may have to give this a try!  Matt

Glad you were able to modify the cuda for the OK Scott. BTW, you could have at
least have the rainbow on the hawg trough for some points before letting her go.

Jedmo