I'm looking at buying a new Humminbird fish finder for the front of my boat. I saw that you can buy a mounting kit for the factory provided transducer or buy a separate trolling motor transducer. 

 

Does this make a difference? Obviously the factory transducer with mounting kit is the cheaper route to go, but is the transducer built for the trolling motor that much better? The product below is what I'm referring to.

 

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1168802&categoryId=0&parentCategoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&indexId=0&itemGUID=2c496e04ac108454348faa2eaee321b6&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products&destination=/checkout/basket.jsp

 

Thanks!

If you want to use a transducer on the trolling motor, use one designed for that purpose.

 

It is never wise to "adapt" a transom transducer for trolling motor use if a TM model is available. It is just a breakage waiting to happen.

 

You can exchange the transom style that comes with the unit by contacting Hummibird Customer Service.

No cost, except for returning the one you have.

 

Do the install correctly, don't settle for second best.

  Look up transducer shield & saver.  I've got one and it works good.   You can get one for either the skimmer type transducer or the pod style.

If you want to use a transducer on the trolling motor, use one designed for that purpose.

 

It is never wise to "adapt" a transom transducer for trolling motor use if a TM model is available. It is just a breakage waiting to happen.

 

You can exchange the transom style that comes with the unit by contacting Hummibird Customer Service.

No cost, except for returning the one you have.

 

Do the install correctly, don't settle for second best.

Ill disagree with you. Ive been using adapted transducers for a long time and have never had one hiccup at all. All that I do use the mounting hardware like normal, but mount the transducer on the mount completely vertical. Then use a pipe clamp (a big one), wrap it around the motor and cinch down and your golden. Not sure whats wrong in your eyes with this mounting way.

What brand of trolling motor.  On MK's the transducer mounts directly behind the skeg making damage very unlikely.

Well, my suggestion is to do the BEST for the application. You can "get by" doing less if you choose.

 

There are two ways to do it, you can just mount your equipment or you can install it.

An installation takes into consideration what the application is and the best way to do it.

 

Some choose to use a transom transducer as a shoot-thru also, but a shoot-thru transducer is the BEST installation considering what the applicaiton is.

I also just mounted the transducer with a large clamp around the TM. I fish lakes that are full of rocks and not much other cover. I had to replace the transducer every 2 or 3 years I think just from banging into rocks. My current TM has a built in transducer. I've had it for at least 5 yers and never had to replace the transducer. I'll never have another TM without a built in transducer unless I put a side scan on the TM.

Well, my suggestion is to do the BEST for the application. You can "get by" doing less if you choose.

 

There are two ways to do it, you can just mount your equipment or you can install it.

An installation takes into consideration what the application is and the best way to do it.

 

Some choose to use a transom transducer as a shoot-thru also, but a shoot-thru transducer is the BEST installation considering what the applicaiton is.

I dont see it as "getting by" by doing it that way at all. If two ways work perfectly for the application, why spend the money, or wait for Humminbird to get an extra transducer when a pipe clamp is all you need with the given equipment.