Scupper Hole transducer mount Tarpon 140

[William Patterson]

I am setting up a Tarpon 140 with a Lowrance Elite 4 DSI, and want to use a scupper hole mount.

My two questions are:

Is one scupper hole better than another? and,

Would the transducer perform better (bubbles & turbulence) mounted in the 'trough' of the hull, where it is protected; or extended below the plane of the hull? The latter increases the risk of rub off.

Thanks for your help.

[Ashley Williams]

I've installed many transducers for people over the last seven years and prefer the in hull method just to minimize damage. Something I do different is I cut out a piece of closed cell foam to match the transducer shape and glue it to the floor. Then I use Vaseline as a base for holding the transducer. This way you don't have to worry about getting air bubbles in the glue, prying it back out, and starting over. You can simply pull the transducer out and slide it back in. The only thing you have permanently mounted is the foam.

[Scott Lenton]

Hey Ashley. I want to put a transducer/sounder on my WS140 too. Want to clarify your instructions. Do you make the foam like a sleeve with a hole in the base? Is the Vaso just to provide a medium for the signal from the transducer? If so, how thick does the Vaso need to be? Does the hull interfere with the screen display at all? Thanks for your help. Scott

[Aaron Groom]

I would also like some clarification! Do you have any photos?

[Ashley Williams]

I don't have any photos unfortunately. I'll try to clarify a little more.

Take one section of closed cell foam, 1/2" thick and usually a section 4"x4" works well. Trace the ducer puck into the center of the foam and then cut it out with a razor. Glue the 4x4 section of foam to the inside of the hull. Or if you can find closed cell foam with the adhesive backing you can do without glue.

When this is in place and dry smear a little Vaseline in the center of the foam where you cut the template for the ducer. Then just push the ducer puck into the vaseline as you would if glueing it in. The Vaseline will activate the ducer as well as hold it in place. As always, make sure you are mounting in a flat area.

I use this method because it's easier to fix and there is nothing permanent should you have multiple kayaks. You can pull the ducer out and reset it if there are bubbles or move it from one kayak to another. I have not had anyone who used this method come back and report having issues with bubbles.

There is no interference with the reading due to shooting through plastic. Transducers will shoot through boat hulls if installed the same way.

[Scott Lenton]

Thanks Ashley. Got it now :-)

[Steve Komarinetz]

Ashley your WRONG!!  DSI's must be submerged in the water not in the hull.

[Steve Komarinetz]

William, before you do anything take back the DSI I've found them to be garbage, buy the Humminbird 385 instead, all your going to see on the E4 screen is interference.  The DSI is very sensitive to turbulence

[Steve Komarinetz]

Ashley , is behind times, forget everything he's told you, the transducer MUST be in the water at all times, that's why the scupper turbulence may interfere with your readings.

[Ashley Williams]

Wow, thanks for the "thoughtful" disagreement in technique. I'm sure William appreciates his unit being called garbage just as much as I appreciate my 12 years total experience in kayak fishing summed up in such juvenile opinions as "wrong and behind times".

Now, to further the discussion in a civil manner. I mainly have experience installing Humminbird units and, as I said, my method of through hull works. I have never had an installation come back to me to be redone.

When you get the Humminbird 300 series kayak mount it is a through hull kit. They make a through scupper kit which is engineered specifically for the OK Trident series. To do a through scupper on a Tarpon will leave the transducer sitting below the hull and exposed to damage. The big "H" sells a transducer kit as well. It's through hull as well (and they recommend Lowrance).

I installed an Lowrance DSI unit with said kit from company "H" a little over two months ago. The owner reported back soon after that the unit functioned perfectly and he was getting all readings he expected. He even took a spill going into the surf and the transducer stayed in place through the whole tumble.

Now you don't have do concur with this, but let's keep it professional.

[Mike Zilkowsky]

I have an Eagle and mounted my transducer through hull as well. I actually mounted mine in a sealed box full of water to get a more accurate temperature. But I know first hand that Marine Goop, Vaseline and marine grease all work. The Hummingbird kit was installed by my brother using the marine grease. Only problem was the transducer was junk. He tried to pull it out and set it directly in the water, still no signal. Oh well a new transducer would fix it no problem. Only the grease from Hummingbird got all over hit boat and he had a hell of a time getting it off. Vaseline is easier to remove and better for the environment!!

[Rob Knoles]

I was told that the DSIunits had to be in the water, not through hull. I'm glad to hear that it worked through hull. I was thinking about getting one but did not want to deal with external mount. My buddy has theElite 4 and I think I will borrow it to see how it does. I just replaced my bad Humminbird ducer with the in hull puck style with external temp. I ran the temp in the scupper behind the seat my 06 T160i. I now have accurate temp with an in hull ducer.

[Steve Komarinetz]

Ashley, 12 years or not, we are now installing Side and down imaging, it's a new ball game!!  the Down Imaging transducer has to be IN THE WATER. that's not from me it's from the manufacturer, I personally have had SI for 3 years, I have 3 Eagle Cuda 350i and last week returned a "Elite" DSI because it displayed poorly, I installed it in 3 different locations, added filters, called the factory for advice, I summed it up as a piece of "CRAP" I picked up a Humminbird 385 combo and the "Elite" couldn't even begin to compare to 385. William return it to the place you purchased it from!!!

Keep it professional, have it installed by someone who knows current technology.