F/F recommendations w/o side scan - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Sheephead · 06-15-2017, 04:20 PM

Lowrance Elite 7 Ti

TJones · 06-15-2017, 05:37 PM

From Tony. Gen 3 and Gen 2 flat out have the most power. But you also need bigger battery to feed the power . I have a helix 5 on my other ride . It's good for what we do . 200 ft

Baja_Traveler · 06-15-2017, 06:39 PM

If I had not just dropped several grand fixing my truck, I'd be jumping on Tony's HDS Touch for my Solo skiff. You say you don't want side scan, but the touch has the firmware for it built-in if you decide you want it in the future, just swap out the transducer. The HDS I have isn't a touch, so I have to install the big hub box to do the processing...

FISH11 · 06-15-2017, 07:59 PM

If you want new get the Lorance 7TI with the down scan transducer. It's $100 less then the Total scan transducer model. If that is too high for your budget than get Hook 5 or 7 (no down scanning or total scan available. Or as mentioned get The unit Fullback (Tony) is selling HDS 7" Gen2 touch screen, I believe he's asking $400.

blazian · 06-15-2017, 08:20 PM

OK I think I figured it out after reading a bunch of old posts. But now I have another question about the HDS 7 Touch, an old post mentioned that the touch screen glitches unless the transducer is touching water to ground it? Is there a solution for this if the transducer is mounted in hull?
Baja Traveler I am looking at it for my Solo Skiff, just picked it up last sat.

TJones · 06-16-2017, 01:10 AM

you can build a box to enclose transducer submerged in water and mount this inside kayak. this was one of the best methods of install prior to lowrance ready coming into play . plastic Tupperware works well . should be some posts around on how to do with pics. cut out bottom of Tupperware to create a straight seal to kayak and figure a way of mounting transducer to lid of Tupperware.

Baja_Traveler · 06-16-2017, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazian

Is there a solution for this if the transducer is mounted in hull?
Baja Traveler I am looking at it for my Solo Skiff, just picked it up last sat.

So are you going to be carving out a bunch of foam to get to the outer hull? I've only heard of one guy on the Solo Skiff Owners Group doing it, and it was a big job to get it right. Solo says don't do it.
Again - I know you said you don't want side scan - but if you pick up Tony's unit, ask him to show you the BerleyPro housing on his PA. I saw his at last weekends King Harbor tournament and immediately ordered one - and just installed it in my PA last night. I think it would be the perfect solution to mounting an external transducer to a Solo Skiff. Yes, there will be a bump on the bottom of the boat, but it will be an armor plated mount.

blazian · 06-16-2017, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

So are you going to be carving out a bunch of foam to get to the outer hull? I've only heard of one guy on the Solo Skiff Owners Group doing it, and it was a big job to get it right. Solo says don't do it.
Again - I know you said you don't want side scan - but if you pick up Tony's unit, ask him to show you the BerleyPro housing on his PA. I saw his at last weekends King Harbor tournament and immediately ordered one - and just installed it in my PA last night. I think it would be the perfect solution to mounting an external transducer to a Solo Skiff. Yes, there will be a bump on the bottom of the boat, but it will be an armor plated mount.

OEX will be doing the install so no worries on that. The transom mount in rear has too much turbulance/interference from the prop being so close to it. Also the extra couple inches it stick out the back makes it harder to load/ unload off a pick up bed extender. I'll take a look at the BerleyPro housing, I wonder how big a hole we would need to install it on the Solo?

06-15-2017, 05:37 PM	#2
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,523	Snatch up that gen 2 From Tony. Gen 3 and Gen 2 flat out have the most power. But you also need bigger battery to feed the power . I have a helix 5 on my other ride . It's good for what we do . 200 ft

06-15-2017, 07:59 PM	#4
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,635	If you want new get the Lorance 7TI with the down scan transducer. It's $100 less then the Total scan transducer model. If that is too high for your budget than get Hook 5 or 7 (no down scanning or total scan available. Or as mentioned get The unit Fullback (Tony) is selling HDS 7" Gen2 touch screen, I believe he's asking $400. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

06-15-2017, 08:20 PM	#5
blazian Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 106	OK I think I figured it out after reading a bunch of old posts. But now I have another question about the HDS 7 Touch, an old post mentioned that the touch screen glitches unless the transducer is touching water to ground it? Is there a solution for this if the transducer is mounted in hull? Baja Traveler I am looking at it for my Solo Skiff, just picked it up last sat. Last edited by blazian; 06-15-2017 at 09:29 PM.

06-16-2017, 01:10 AM	#6
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,523	solution for everything you can build a box to enclose transducer submerged in water and mount this inside kayak. this was one of the best methods of install prior to lowrance ready coming into play . plastic Tupperware works well . should be some posts around on how to do with pics. cut out bottom of Tupperware to create a straight seal to kayak and figure a way of mounting transducer to lid of Tupperware.

06-15-2017, 04:20 PM	#1
Sheephead Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	Lowrance Elite 7 Ti

06-15-2017, 06:39 PM	#3
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	If I had not just dropped several grand fixing my truck, I'd be jumping on Tony's HDS Touch for my Solo skiff. You say you don't want side scan, but the touch has the firmware for it built-in if you decide you want it in the future, just swap out the transducer. The HDS I have isn't a touch, so I have to install the big hub box to do the processing...