Side view transducer in hull

[Kyle Ewing]

Anyone have success mounting a sideview transducer in a Catalina 34 or another boat?  I want to see bottom detail and can accept decreased depth performance.  I'm in water <100' most of the time.

I recently bought a Garmin Echo Chart Plus 73sv primarily for chartplotter features (excellent price for discontinued model).  I was hoping to mount the GT52 Sidevu transducer in the hull under the V-berth (very bottom of the V in the center) but was told that sideview transducers don't work through fiberglass like other transducers.

If it doesn't work I'll sell the transducer and still have a good chartplotter.
   

[mdidomenico]

I never used one before or heard they don't work through fiberglass so i can't comment on that part.  But i did want to clarify your plan on mounting.  you said they don't work through fiberglass, which i take to mean you don't want to drill a hole.  does that mean you plan to mount via the internal wax toilet ring, oil vat methods, or something else?  I only ask because i like the idea of side scan, if i don't have to drill another hole i'd be tempted to try it out too

[Kyle Ewing]

Yes, that's exactly my plan, as described here:  https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f47/transom-mount-transducer-mounted-inside-the-hull-in-a-bed-of-jelly-146588.html.

Garmin said it was because of hull thickness however I'm curious why side scan won't work while others using similar frequencies and power seem to work.

[Jim Lucas]

I mounted a side scan transducer - externally in the same described area as you mentioned. It works great and well worth the drilling of another hole. I cannot determine any loss of speed due to additional drag as the size/shape of the unit appears to be minimal at best.
Not sure about an internal mount... I guess you could try it temporarily and if it doesn't work... 

[Kyle Ewing]

Update: Internal transducer mount did not work.  Sidevu and clearvu showed the bottom but no detail.  Traditional chirp frequency seemed to work fine.  I'm going with an Internal mount gt8hw-ih which will give me some bottom definition.

BTW, Cabel