Side scan transducer on Hobie Revolution - any thoughts?

I don’t own a Hobie Revolution 16 (at least not yet) but am tinkering with the idea of switching from my Hobie Outback 2020.
My main concern is the fish finder installation.
The Outback has a retractable plate below, which is critical for a side scan transducer as it has to be submerged, below the hull. Thankfully, my Hummingbird Helix 7 transducer is small (roughly 3“ wide, 5“ long, 1” tall), and the retractable plate allows pulling the transducer into the cavity below the seat. This way the transducer doesn’t hit the sand or rocks when landing, or when the kayak is laying on the road (when transporting).
Size wise, I think that my transducer would fit on the Revolution plate too. But that plate is not retractable. So I’m wondering if anyone did a DYI on their Revolution kayak to make that plate retractable.
Or just generally, if you have any alternative suggestions.
Thanks!

My 17 outback does not retract . I have the hook2 tripple shot. It sticks out. It gets scratched up pretty good.  I have 80+ trips,on it. It still works like a champ.

For the last six years on my revo 13 I mounted my side scan on the rudder and zip tie the cable to the rudder. But I do loose probably .4mph top speed and a noticeable amount of momentum. If hobie ever restocks the parts I'm going back to the stock flush plate mount and turning off the side scan. I don't get much value with having a small screen and the side scan.

This is something that I'm also looking into.

It looks like berlypro offers a solution:
https://www.berleypro.com/product/berleypro-guardian-transducer-protector-suits-lowrance-garmin-and-raymarine/

Might at least be a starting point if you want to go the DIY route.

This is something that I'm also looking into.

It looks like berlypro offers a solution:
https://www.berleypro.com/product/berleypro-guardian-transducer-protector-suits-lowrance-garmin-and-raymarine/

Might at least be a starting point if you want to go the DIY route.

Neat! Thanks. Maybe I could buy their plastic and cut it to shape..

For the last six years on my revo 13 I mounted my side scan on the rudder and zip tie the cable to the rudder. But I do loose probably .4mph top speed and a noticeable amount of momentum. If hobie ever restocks the parts I'm going back to the stock flush plate mount and turning off the side scan. I don't get much value with having a small screen and the side scan.

I hear you. I’m new to side scan but I can tell you that when I see a bait ball on the traditional sonar, I don’t know if it’s left or right/ front or back. That’s because traditional sonar converts 3 dimensions into 2, so you loose data. Important data! One of my favorite views on my Helix 7 is the combined side scan and traditional sonar. When I see a bait ball on the sonar, the side scan immediately tells me where to turn. I love it.

This is something that I'm also looking into.

It looks like berlypro offers a solution:
https://www.berleypro.com/product/berleypro-guardian-transducer-protector-suits-lowrance-garmin-and-raymarine/

Might at least be a starting point if you want to go the DIY route.

Neat! Thanks. Maybe I could buy their plastic and cut it to shape..

They have this

https://www.berleypro.com/product/lowrance-triple-shot-transducer-mount-suits-hobie/

This is something that I'm also looking into.

It looks like berlypro offers a solution:
https://www.berleypro.com/product/berleypro-guardian-transducer-protector-suits-lowrance-garmin-and-raymarine/

Might at least be a starting point if you want to go the DIY route.

You made my day. Thanks for pointing out this company.
Look, they have exactly what I need.
https://www.berleypro.com/product/berleypro-humminbird-ready-transducer-mount-suits-hobie/

This is something that I'm also looking into.

It looks like berlypro offers a solution:
https://www.berleypro.com/product/berleypro-guardian-transducer-protector-suits-lowrance-garmin-and-raymarine/

Might at least be a starting point if you want to go the DIY route.

^^^ This ^^^  Get it, you will need to protect your ducer from dragging, this is the way to go.  I had it on my Revo 16.

Yup Berley Pro makes good stuff. Any reason for switching kayaks? If I had the $$ I would buy the revo 16 in addition to my 19 outback....

Yup Berle York makes good stuff. Any reason for switching kayaks? If I had the $$ I would buy the revo 16 in addition to my 19 outback....

This is a very good advice IMHO.

Yup Berle York makes good stuff. Any reason for switching kayaks? If I had the $$ I would buy the revo 16 in addition to my 19 outback....

We can’t fit more than one kayak in the garage. The yard is not an option. And I don’t want the complexity of having to store and maintain two kayaks. For me, less is more. I prefer to have one kayak that I’d master.
We actually also have an inflatable tandem (Sea Eagle) for when we go to the lake. So.. yeah. That’s the cap on the “fleet” for me 

Make sure you demo the Revo 16, the stability feels different than the Outback.  If more speed is what you are looking for, you can try to add sail or motor (or both).  When you install the Berley Pro, it does take away some speed (less than 0.5 mph).  So, this question is really about space vs speed.  Also, the Revo 16 takes longer space to store at 16' (You probably need 17' of clearance for storage).

Yup Berle York makes good stuff. Any reason for switching kayaks? If I had the $$ I would buy the revo 16 in addition to my 19 outback....

We can’t fit more than one kayak in the garage. The yard is not an option. And I don’t want the complexity of having to store and maintain two kayaks. For me, less is more. I prefer to have one kayak that I’d master.
We actually also have an inflatable tandem (Sea Eagle) for when we go to the lake. So.. yeah. That’s the cap on the “fleet” for me 

Unless you store it under a cabnet or truck/trailer you could easily diy a rolling rack That stacks 3-4-5 kayaks in the space one sits, also ceiling lifts for over vehicle storage. Just saying once the kiddo gets bigger hopefully you’ll need more plastic in the fleet not just the wallet.

This an an old post but I wanted to follow up.
I decided to go the DIY path and came up with a simple solution : use a piece of plastic to connect the Hobie transducer plate to Huminbird transducer. It looks great in theory (low profile, almost no drag) but the moment I put the kayak on sand, the pressure pushes the transducer in.
So I decided to go with the BPro, and it was easy to install and worked like a charm. If it produces drag, then it must be small.
The plastic is thin, yet sturdy. It doesn’t affect the transducer.
All in all, it’s great, but sticks out more than necessary.