side/down view transducer

[Tardis]

Any suggestions on where I can mount a sonar side/down transducer. I bought a Garmin EchoMAP mainly to view DownVu/SideVu sonar info. It also provides a backup GPS, as my installed system keeps loosing GPS signal and I have not tracked down the issue yet. (Replacing antenna was no help.)
The transducer needs a flat mounting location or can be transom-mounted. I have found no place suitable. So my initial try was to mount it on a SS pipe attached to a flange mounted on the swim platform. That is OK at low speeds (which is the only speed where such transducers work well) but experiences a lot of turbulence when running at higher speed - enough to twist off my first try (with loss of transducer). Getting ready to mount the replacement closer to the swim ladder and using pinned pipe joints, but any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[nzfisher]

As an avid fisherman I looked into sideview downview for an R25SC. I don't believe you will have much luck with anything but the through the hull transducers at around $1400. per pair not including wiring and installation. My intended locations would be just aft of the cabin on the large "flat" areas (right and left sides) that are just below the two storage lockers. The tranducers include spacers that should be cut to compensate for the angle of the hull so that the transducers will point downward close to plumb (towards the center of the earth if you will). They can be used effectively with the right sounder at a moderate speed. The sounders and or black boxes are also quite expensive. I don't think you will get good results with the units designed for smaller outboard bass type boats. Due to the configuration of our boats you will need to run a pair to a sounder/nav unit. Good luck. I ended up with a chirp transducer which has provided excellent results. I may yet expand to the downview sideview as my nav unit can run all of them simultaneously.

 

[nzfisher]

As a response to an older post apparently Garmin now has a PS21-TM transom mounted Panoptix transducer that looks like the way to go to this new system. I suspect it will only work the 7000-8000 series nav systems. I will be looking for more info for my own boat and will update as I get more info. If anyone is using this transducer I would love to hear your comments.