Tandem set up for single and double

So got a tandem kayak (Necky Cruiser II with rudder) it came with 2 seat and 2 ores. For now until I find another kayak me and my cousin will be riding double. I'm now in the market for a Fish/Depth finder. Couple questions:
1. With tandem were would you mount since 2 peolpe are on it but sometimes if alone will use the middle seat.
2. Wasn't planning on putting an expensive unit on it. Wanted peoples opinions on buying seperate FF and GPS vs combo unit. Seems like cost would be pretty comperable.
3. Transducer through hull or not?
4. Color vs Black and White

Thanks for any advise

You could look at doing Something like the YakAttack Cellblok. Mount a transducer arm and the FF on a battery storage box basically and attach that to a GearTrac. You don't have to buy a Cellblok per say, any box could basically be made to work. Then you just install a GearTrac on each boat and/or in multiple spots on the tandem and you can move the entire assembly with 2 bolts.

This is the CellBlok, it's got a bit more polish to it but you could do the same with any number of cases/boxes that would hold a battery:

You could look at doing Something like the YakAttack Cellblok. Mount a transducer arm and the FF on a battery storage box basically and attach that to a GearTrac. You don't have to buy a Cellblok per say, any box could basically be made to work. Then you just install a GearTrac on each boat and/or in multiple spots on the tandem and you can move the entire assembly with 2 bolts.

This is the CellBlok, it's got a bit more polish to it but you could do the same with any number of cases/boxes that would hold a battery:

That looks pretty slick, but wouldn't it get in the way of paddling?

So got a tandem kayak (Necky Cruiser II with rudder) it came with 2 seat and 2 ores. For now until I find another kayak me and my cousin will be riding double. I'm now in the market for a Fish/Depth finder. Couple questions:
1. With tandem were would you mount since 2 peolpe are on it but sometimes if alone will use the middle seat.
2. Wasn't planning on putting an expensive unit on it. Wanted peoples opinions on buying seperate FF and GPS vs combo unit. Seems like cost would be pretty comperable.
3. Transducer through hull or not?
4. Color vs Black and White

Thanks for any advise

You will find, as a general rule of thumb, that going with two units; one FF & one GPS will be about 1.5X the cost of a combo unit.  Not to mention the increased power consumption which means you either:
a)  Need 2 batteries
b)  Need a much LARGER battery
c)  Run the unit 1/2 as long (3-4 hours on the water)

This, of course, does not take into account the possability of buying a handheld GPS.  I am talking "fixed" screen units.  Most buy a combo unit!  With my combo Lowrance unit, I can mark waypoints right from my fishfinder page so no having to fumble with two units or split-screen pages ... unless I want to 

As for position of a unit on a tandem.  I guess it would depend if your tandem has a center-seat (1 person) option.  If so, maybe mount two ram balls (one for the center seat position) & one for the rearward seat & leave the power cord on the FF/GPS long enough to reach both positions.

If you have any questions on the Lowrance line, feel free to reach out to myself or 'Wingshooter' for any assistance.  There are a lot of guys on here who run H-Bird too that I'm sure would be willing to answer questions on that line.

Bill

So got a tandem kayak (Necky Cruiser II with rudder) it came with 2 seat and 2 ores. For now until I find another kayak me and my cousin will be riding double. I'm now in the market for a Fish/Depth finder. Couple questions:
1. With tandem were would you mount since 2 peolpe are on it but sometimes if alone will use the middle seat.
2. Wasn't planning on putting an expensive unit on it. Wanted peoples opinions on buying seperate FF and GPS vs combo unit. Seems like cost would be pretty comperable.
3. Transducer through hull or not?
4. Color vs Black and White

Thanks for any advise

You will find, as a general rule of thumb, that going with two units; one FF & one GPS will be about 1.5X the cost of a combo unit.  Not to mention the increased power consumption which means you either:
a)  Need 2 batteries
b)  Need a much LARGER battery
c)  Run the unit 1/2 as long (3-4 hours on the water)

This, of course, does not take into account the possability of buying a handheld GPS.  I am talking "fixed" screen units.  Most buy a combo unit!  With my combo Lowrance unit, I can mark waypoints right from my fishfinder page so no having to fumble with two units or split-screen pages ... unless I want to 

As for position of a unit on a tandem.  I guess it would depend if your tandem has a center-seat (1 person) option.  If so, maybe mount two ram balls (one for the center seat position) & one for the rearward seat & leave the power cord on the FF/GPS long enough to reach both positions.

If you have any questions on the Lowrance line, feel free to reach out to myself or 'Wingshooter' for any assistance.  There are a lot of guys on here who run H-Bird too that I'm sure would be willing to answer questions on that line.

Bill

Makes sense, thanks for the input. I do have a center seat option and hopefully I will find another kayak so we can ride solo most of the time. One item I didn't mention is that my primary function is for Ab diving. I haven't yet expanded into spearfishing or kayak fishing. What Lowrance model would you recommend? If I did go GPS seperate it would be hand held.

For ab diving, you could go with an Elite 4 HDI with the 83/200 HDI transducer (4.5" color screen) $299.99

       or

Mark 4 HDI with the 83/200 HDI transducer (4.5" B&W screen) $229.99

   Of course, you CAN go bigger!

Bill

3 seat tandems are hard to rig.  The easiest thing is to mount your rod holders and FF to a crate which you can attach in 2
Positions. Search under Snapperhead tandem rigging.

With a single person paddling a tandem kayak they are going to want to be in the rear seat of the boat. I would want the fish finder in the center of the boat and not on the sides if at all possible and get a Scotty holder and base and mount it where it would not be by the person in the front seat area if that is possible.

I have done a lot of diving with a tandem and it was no fun at all for a single paddler. I bought a Necky dive kayak with a rudder as soon as I could.