This morning I took my kayak out after installing a Garmin striker 4 plus cv. The unit powers up fine and screen is clear temp works but there was no depth reading for 20 mins or so then it starts reading. The graph is really choppy and the depth reading was flashing. The transducer is mounted in the hatch of my kayak using duct. I saw the idea on youtube and figure I would try it. I flattened the duct seal out and pressed the transducer down to it then to the kayak. Do the transducers actually have to be in the water to work properly?

8 minutes ago, Somd Fx4 said:

Do the transducers actually have to be in the water to work properly?

Yes.

No they don't have to be in the water to work properly. For 25 years, my transducers were epoxied to the inside floor of my fiberglass hull. As long as there are no air pockets, or metal, between the transducer and the plastic floor of your boat, it should work fine. 

Clear vu transducer needs to be in the water.  2D sonar does not if installed correctly.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

On 6/10/2018 at 8:39 PM, Scott F said:

No they don't have to be in the water to work properly. For 25 years, my transducers were epoxied to the inside floor of my fiberglass hull. As long as there are no air pockets, or metal, between the transducer and the plastic floor of your boat, it should work fine. 

Good point - as long as that part of the hull is then in contact with the water.

 

It's the air pockets that cause problems.

thanks for all the replies guys. I ended up ordering a scotty transducer arm to solve all my problems.