Transom mount SideView transducer

[Checkmate]

Has anyone mounted a transom mount SideView transducer to their Ranger Tug? I am taking delivery of a new 2025 R27OB and want to see if somebody has already done this style of mounting before I start drilling holes and end up with something that does not read correctly. There are two challenges here. One is where to actually mount the transducer while it’s not introducing bubbles into the flow, also where to route the cable back in through the transom. Being that SideView is only used while idling it’s not a concern while up on plane.

 

[Pandion]

I installed a Garmin GT51-TM transducer on our '21 R27OB transom. This transducer has mid-CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu capabilities.

I took my best educated guess at where to mount it based on some internet research, a fair amount of just staring at my hull, some time laying on the swim step with my head hanging down over the edge while my wife drove 30 mph so I could see the water flow, and a little bit of WAG. So far, I haven't changed anything from the initial install so it's working well enough to see where the fish might be.

Install: I wanted the traditional transducer element to work as well as possible when on-plane so I needed a way to easily adjust the mounting location along the hull if I didn't get it right the first time. I chose to make a mounting block from Starboard. I glued it to the hull using epoxy so I wouldn't need to drill into the transom. To run the cable through the transom, I cut the hole just above where the wire for the starboard trim tab goes through and used a cable clam to seal it.

CAUTION HERE! I was told by FM when we purchased our boat (directly from the factory) that the transom was made from Coosa. Ours is not, it's plywood, at least in that area. Had I known that, I would have cut this hole differently; over-sizing it, filling it with epoxy, then recuttting another hole in the epoxy just big enough for the cable end. That's the proper way to do it. There was not enough room in the trim tab pocket to cut a larger hole, so I did my best to seal the exposed wood with epoxy and seal around the cable with sealant before I installed the clam. It's above the water line but subject to a lot of splashing so I'll keep an eye on it to ensure there's no water intrusion. Just FYI.

Operation: The purpose for the install was primarily for fishing and to have a second traditional transducer for redundancy. In that sense, it works great. However, I haven't dialed it in yet to keep a lock on the bottom while we're on plane. I run on plane with a chartplotter screen that uses the in-hull transducer, so I haven't put any time into adjusting the transom mount to see if I can get it to read the bottom at speed. I'm not sure what your reason for a side view transducer is but ours is working very well at speeds under 10 knots in any reasonable sea state.

Here's the 1000-word version:

 

[Hamster]

Here is where I mounted mine on an R23. The cable run to the helm requires an extension.

 

[Checkmate]

Thanks for the info.
I went to the dealer today and looked at the transom and will probably mount it in the same location as you did.
I will only be using this extra transducer for side scan purposes, which can only be used while traveling very slow or even at an idol. I have no need to worry about this particular transducer while up on plane. I will use the one that is shooting through the transom that came with the boat while on plane.
One question, was the 25 ft cable that came with the transducer long enough to reach the back of the Garmin?

 

[Pandion]

One question, was the 25 ft cable that came with the transducer long enough to reach the back of the Garmin?

I'm afraid I can't help you there. The GT51 transducer I installed has 30-foot cable and I ran it to a second chartplotter that I installed above the cabin door.

25 feet may reach the helm but I'm thinking it will really close. I have a 25-foot remote throttle cable running from my kicker to the helm and it just makes it with very little slack.

 

[Jcat2010]

Pandion has about as good a location as you can get with that stern profile. Lowrance(virtually same transducer) has a great guidebook. Can't be too close to outboard, or strakes. Height is critical, mostly for higher speeds, because turbulence off the hull/ leading edge of transducer can really screw up imaging at higher speeds. Also runs best when the transducer stern is slightly lower that the leading edge. The starboard blocks make it easy to adjust without tearing up the transom.

 

[Hamster]

Thanks for the info.
I went to the dealer today and looked at the transom and will probably mount it in the same location as you did.
I will only be using this extra transducer for side scan purposes, which can only be used while traveling very slow or even at an idol. I have no need to worry about this particular transducer while up on plane. I will use the one that is shooting through the transom that came with the boat while on plane.
One question, was the 25 ft cable that came with the transducer long enough to reach the back of the Garmin?

The cable that came with my transducer was not long enough in my R-23. My transducer is side vu and clear vu. It probably was 25’. Needed a couple more feet. I think the extension is 10’. The cable run isn’t a straight shot to the helm, which requires added length.

 

[Submariner]

This is where the factory installed one on a test boat of theirs. I'd been waiting to find the right location. I've been looking at a better transducer and would prefer a transom mounted transducer. That would allow us to easily see the crab and shrimp pots hit the bottom. We only get to see the pot in clear conditions when the boat is right on top of the pot as our in-hull transducer is mounted up near the helm.. A transom mounted transducer on our R27 would make it easier to see that pot.

 

[Checkmate]

This is where the factory installed one on a test boat of theirs. I'd been waiting to find the right location. I've been looking at a better transducer and would prefer a transom mounted transducer. That would allow us to easily see the crab and shrimp pots hit the bottom. We only get to see the pot in clear conditions when the boat is right on top of the pot as our in-hull transducer is mounted up near the helm.. A transom mounted transducer on our R27 would make it easier to see that pot.

View attachment 25503

Yep, that’s pretty much where I’ve decided to mount mine as well.
I take delivery of my new R27 next week and I will be running to the Florida Keys for a month doing lots of spear fishing. Then when I get back I plan on many upgrades to the boat.
You can follow along (my Keys trip and upgrades) on my YouTube channel - MV_Checkmate