Got a load of gift cards for Christmas, so thinking about a fish finder for the kayak. Anybody have good/bad experiences?

Looking at the Garmin Striker 4C Plus for $180. Kayak mount is another $20. Has GPS, will create a contour map of the bottom, can mark points, has a trolling motor mount so I can move it to the front of my bigger boat.. No sonar scrollback, but I doubt I would use that anyway. All the reviews look good.

Would a finer be different for a kayak?

Doesn't have to be, but I have a pretty big screen on my boat and would rather have a small one on the kayak. And if can double as a 2nd finder at the front of the boat using a trolling motor mount, even better. Not to mention the one I have on my boat doesn't have the contour mapping.. so it's a chance to get more features.

The biggest issue will be mounting the transducer. That can be a headache on a kayak. Most units come with hardware for a transom mount, which is absent on a kayak.

I fitted an older Humminbird to my Hobie, taking advantage of their free xducer exchange program (now limited or gone). The one I went to is a thru-hull design, mounted in a 2" hole in the hull. That worked great until the head unit went south a few years later. None of their newer models are compatible with that old xducer. So I had to exchange and install a different xducer style in yet another hole in the hull.

Some newer kayaks have transducer mounting spots built in. The drawback is that they are designed for one finder maker's products. You can get adapter kits for some but not all other finder maker hardware. Research BEFORE you buy. If there is no xducer exchange program, you're going to have to buy a different xducer, IF they have one that is kayak compatible.

Yep, I'm not willing to put holes in my kayak. Which is one reason I'm looking at this one. The Garmin Striker requires no holes, the transducer can be mounted inside the hull.

Depends on the Kayak if you can get to the actual hull

You should be able to shoot right through the hull with the standard transom mt transducer

Try it first just put the transducer on a flat spot out of the way

When it works tack it down with a blob of silicone works fine

Lots of good stuff hard to beat Garmin

Hank

Well, you must have an air-free connection between the xducer and hull. That usually calls for some kind of putty, liquid, or gel. You can't just lay the xducer against the hull.

Their kayak mount is a cutout with adhesive, it appears. Not getting top of the line reviews, some saying the adhesive is less than stellar.




This guy installed his with plumbers putty.

And I see that there's a Scotty Universal Sounder Mount that works with the 4CV and lets me use the swivel rod holder in front of my seat as the fishfinder mount. Worthwhile $15 it sees..

Some West Coast guys have used Marine Goop, spread on the xducer bottom with good results. It has to be absolutely bubble-free, though. That's difficult to achieve.

One of the retracting mount arms may be the best solution. They clamp to the gunnell, and swing down to put the xducer in the water, up for transportation.

I had few qualms about drilling holes in my yak, but it is indeed a permanent decision. The one xducer that's now unusable has to stay in place because I wouldn't trust a 2" patch.

Did I miss something, how do you power the finder, battery?

Yep, 12V battery, portable ones are plentiful for $50 and under.

Not sure what marine goop is

But standard silicone (NOT 5200 or an elastometic)
Works fine and if you want it out no damage to any part

I have had many work fine just putting the transducer in the hull till I decide where I want it

I minimize cutting into hulls as much as possible years down the road sealants break down (some) and the rot
I picked up a funship and put in a 7 in Garmin it worked just fine without anything but I knew in Big water it would move so I talked her down
Unless you use 5200 or similar not wise to pierce gel
I see it everyday

Hank

There are several Goop products, Shoe Goop, Sport Goop, Marine Goop...They're all pretty similar, but Marine Goop at least has a UV inhibiter.

Oh now I know I have seen other goop didn't know they had a marine version

UV is tough on stuff even in the Midwest let alone South

Hank

Scotty makes a transducer arm for kayaks.

http://scotty.com/product-category/...holder-mounts/fishfinder-sounder-mounts/

My yak has a cutout beneath for a transducer, but I chose not to use it. Within a few years, seems all electronics sooner or later go on the fritz. Then the companies that tout their "best" product refuse to repair them, but instead steer you to trade in for a discount. Rather than dealing with silicone or any other goop, I used this:

https://www.amazon.com/YakAttack-RAM%C2%AE-Long-Transducer-Mount/dp/B01K5ODHUK

Changing out to a new tranducer is a cinch, besides the added benefit to swinging directly into the craft when traveling through reeds, heavy pads, or landing. The whole device can be removed easily when there's no need for the fish finder.

There's a through hull magnet mount that looks neat too, but seems a bit pricey.

https://www.fishfindermounts.com/transducer-mounts

I have two kayaks, the Native Watercraft Slayer Propel 13 and the Perception Pilot 12 - both pedal kayaks.

I shoot through the hull with my transducer secured with marine goop. It won't give me an accurate water temp, but the image quality is as good as the best picture the model will give with a submerged transducer.

Mine is an older Lowrance 4X elite

Thanks, Dan. I've been waiting for a Cabela's code to pull the trigger, but that wait may be in vain. Not sure they are doing them post-Bass Pro.

Finally hit a 10% coupon at Cabela's, so got all the stuff. Just waiting for temps to hit the 40's so I can put it on the kayak. Can't imagine I'll get the kayak out until April as cold as it's been.. but itching for it.

Went with Duct Seal for sticking the transducer to the inside bottom of the kayak. $3 for a 1lb brick at Home Depot, and it's sticky and never hardens (apparently). So it can be reformed and reused if needed, and easy to remove the transducer.

If surface temp is important, here's a tip now that you won't be getting that reading from the transducer:

Get a 4" probe thermometer (digital or analog) from Harbor freight. Stick the probe through a foam golf ball and then insert that in one of your scuppers. I did that for a couple years until I upgraded finders and mounted the new xducer.

I've never monitored temps before, so that part didn't worry me. I probably should start doing it, probably help clue me in to some of the randomness I see in the bites.

Anybody thought about, or used, the Lowrance FishHunter castable sonar?