Portable Sonar

[Gavin]

Looking for a good unit that is portable. Might put it on my Jon boat but mostly for Canada and the outfitters jons up there. Mostly 14' Lunds with a 15hp,  or a bigger V hull G3 with a 30 or 50. Make your own map with GPS a plus. Do not know where to start.

 

 

[timinmo]

Gavin I bought one several years ago for the same purposes.  Was around $100, no GPS just depth and fish.  I just wanted to know depth.  I am sure they have improved since I got mine.  Tomorrow, unless you get a bunch of answers,  I will find it and let you know brand and model if I can. It has worked every time I tried it, runs on D batteries.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I have one called a fishing buddy.  I have not been able to use it yet, but it is simple.  

[Gavin]

Looking for higher end side view/ down view/ live mapping. Think I could mount  any stock transducer on a stick and use any unit if I have a power supply.

[BilletHead]

7 hours ago, Gavin said:

Looking for higher end side view/ down view/ live mapping. Think I could mount  any stock transducer on a stick and use any unit if I have a power supply.

      Gavin,

 I used an old Junker transom trolling motor mount. Just cut off the motor and the head on top. Made a bracket to bolt to the hollow shaft bottom. Tape transducer wires to the outside of the tube if you cant get them into the tube to run to top. Just bolt to transom. You then have the option of tilting shaft out of the water or loosening adjustment nut and sliding shaft and raising or lowering unit to desired height.   The only downside is transducer rides behind back of boat some and you may get some water spray up behind boat. 

  BilletHead

[top_dollar]

Humminbird has suction cup transducer  mounts which work well for me.  Get a battery and a suction cup transducer and whatever unit you want.  Works really well for me. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I made a rudder for my pond prowler using a replacement tilt bracket from Minn Kota.  https://greatlakesskipper.com/minn-kota-black-plastic-marine-boat-trolling-motor-transom-mounting-bracket?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzdml_eaz1gIVkLXACh1zzg5_EAkYBCABEgLmtvD_BwE

I then went to hardware store and bought a heavy piece pvc pipe. Yyou could put the transducer on it. 

I on the other hand bought a decent sized plastic cutting board for the rudder itself.  Used pipe clamps to mount it.  Now I don't sit and spin.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Kind of on topic, has anyone used the "deeper" depth/fish finder?

[Pat Magee]

On 9/20/2017 at 2:17 PM, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Kind of on topic, has anyone used the "deeper" depth/fish finder?

I know some kayak guys who like them a lot.  I am too big of a klutz to have my smart phone out on the water to look at the screen all day.  Not to mention, it must be a huge drain on your batter having your bluetooth and screen on when you are actively looking for fish.

@Gavin I have seen some people adapt the kayak mounts to john boats and you cannot beat them for portability. Here is a decent DIY one with a Pelican case as a battery holder/GPS/FF mounted on top.   Not sure if you have a good flat space to mount, but an idea like this could / should work with some creativity.

[Pat Magee]

On 9/20/2017 at 7:59 AM, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Now I don't sit and spin.