I saw this item called a Stern Saver for mounting transducer's etc. on so you don't have to drill your boat and while it looks nice it seems a little pricey at $50...are there cheaper alternatives or is this item worth the $50 and I should just stop being cheap?

Here's the cheaper alternative. I know Cabela's isn't the only place that has something like this either. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Transducer-Mounting-Plates/701430.uts?productVariantId=1212857&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02684721&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KEQjw3Le4BRDxx5bk4aDn9t4BEiQAfmxQGayaDfURcpyzh2F962fNeZZSwwGpyGKtZ6nLOKo517MaAowR8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

A couple of things:

1. You still have to drill some holes - you need to attach the plate - but it's a lot fewer holes and it's a better seal, IMO.
2. You can buy cheap (make sure they are thick) plastic cutting boards and cut them down to the size you need...but I can't emphasize enough that they have to be thick enough.

...at the end of the day the $20 piece from Cabela's will work just fine, with less work.

I read the reviews on the Cabelas item and some said they just used marine grade sealant and didn't drill any holes...they said it has worked great, would you recommend just using the sealant to attach something like this?

Is it a permanent installation? If so, I would epoxy it on and seal around it if you don't want to drill holes. Marine silicone will probably hold it on for a year or two, but I'd worry about the day it does come off, hopefully you don't leave enough slack in your cables for it to slide over and hit your prop!  

On 4/14/2016 at 7:36 AM, Brett's_daddy said:

I read the reviews on the Cabelas item and some said they just used marine grade sealant and didn't drill any holes...they said it has worked great, would you recommend just using the sealant to attach something like this?

I wouldn't trust that...a replacement transducer is expensive.

I've never had a hole in a transom leak, but I'm kind of a nut on detail with stuff like that...and sort of a belt and suspenders guy when it comes to the equipment on my boat.

If leaks are the worry, I can put your mind to ease. I have a leak on both of the screws for an old speed sensor that was put on years ago by the previous owner. It leaks, I know it leaks, I can watch it leak. After 7 days of being on the lake I have roughly 2 gallons of water in the boat. Don't worry about that, its not going to sink your boat. Some year I will fix it. 

I can tell you this for sure about 3M 5200 sealant, if the surfaces are properly prepared. It goes on soft and mushy and in a week its crow bar time to get it off.

Buy the small tubes because the large caulking gun tubes go to waste most of the time,even stored in the freezer. 

1 hour ago, Catch 22 said:

I can tell you this for sure about 3M 5200 sealant, if the surfaces are properly prepared. It goes on soft and mushy and in a week its crow bar time to get it off.

Buy the small tubes because the large caulking gun tubes go to waste most of the time,even stored in the freezer.