New FF - Lowrance Hook2 5 SplitShot HDI - need transducer advice

Whats up guys. Just my opinion, but I have a lot of experience with the whole through-hull vs. scupper mount vs. tupperware transducer thing. Having the transducer submerged in water in the hull definitely helps, but you are still losing significant ping strength going through the hull. I ended up doing a RAM transducer boom arm. It makes a HUGE difference in the signal strength and return quality. Especially for these under powered entry level instruments. If you only have 200kHz or "hi chirp", you will get drastically reduced performance. 83kHz, 77kHz (or mid chirp) will do much better through hull. I believe the new Hook Reveal series does not offer 83 kHz. You mentioned HDI, so you probably have 83kHz.

The boom arm, in my opinion, gives an even better return than the scupper mount in a hobie. You get the 'ducer like 6 inches under the surface in clean water with no turbulence... Plus you can run sidescan. Its a little annoying at first having the arm there. But I guarantee if you've tried shooing through the hull, and you just do one day with the boom, you will see a night and day difference.